The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-05
Meaning Of Phrase is Told By
Rep. DinglGy
SOMETHING MUCH TALKED OF
Equality of Treatment and Not
Free Trade'-Can it Be Applied
to the Philippines.

The phrase 'open-door policy which
is now being talked about SO much in
the newspapers" says Congressman
Dingley, means simply equality of
treatment and not free trade AS ap-
piled to the dependencies OF a country,
it simply means that imports from all
countries are to be admitted on the
same terms as imports from the moth
er country. AS applied to the Philip
pines, it would mean that imports
| from Great Britain and all other for
eign countries are to be admitted at
the same rates of duty as imports from
the United States.
.'Of course, this policy could not be
applied to the Philippines if they
| should be admitted into the Union with
territorial form of government, be
cause the Constitution provides that
duties shall be uniform within the
United States unless there should be
an amendment TO the Constitution per-
| hitting this.
Whether it would be possible TO ap-
| ply this policy to the Philippines after
| they should become party OF the ter
ritory of the United States under that
provision of the Constitution which
authorizes Congress to make needful
rules and regulations respecting the
territory or other property of the
United States l am not prepared to
say. 1t is noticeable, however, that in
| the resolution providing for the annex
alton of Hawaii, passed at the last SeS-
sion of Congress, it was provided that
the Hawaiian tariff should continue in
| force until Congress should otherwise
determine.
1T is to be borne in mind, however,
| that the present talk about an open
door policy for the Philippines is in
tended to apply entirely to these
| islands while under a military admin
| istration, which would be permissible,
and not to apply to those islands after
| they shall have been formally recog-
nized as a part Of the United States.
"Of course it would be competent for
| the Paris commissioners to incorporate
| in the treaty with Spain a provision
granting to Spanish imports into the
Philippines equality of treatment with
| imports from the United States for
term of years, and that provision In the
| treaty, when ratified by the Senate and
projected into law by Congress, would
| be the law of the land.
In the discussion of the 'open-door
policy | notice that many papers as
sumo that it is the uniform policy OF
Great Britain in her relations with her
colonies 1t should be borne in mind,
however that there is conspicuous
exception to this in the case Of Can
ada. her most important colony, which
admits imports from Great Britain at
| % per cent less duty than they are ad-
mitted from the United States ana
other countries. 1t is understood that
| this policy was adopted by Canada, II
not on the suggestion, at least with the
approval, of Mr.. Chamberlain, British
Secretary for the Colonies, and that he
| is urging other colonies of Great Brit
ain to give similar preference to that
| country.
ct should be borne in mind that a
very vital point as to revenue is IN
volved in the possible admission OF
Porto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines
| into the Union as Territories or States.
These tropical islands are capable OF
producing every pound of sugar ana
many other tropical products that the
| United States consumes. If they should
be admitted into the Union in such
| manner as to extend our tariff over
| them. and thereby allow the free i'm
| portation of their products, we should
probably lose not less than $6O,O0O,0OO
of revenue annually, which would be
very serious situation under existing
| conditions.
All of these difficulties only serve to
emphasize the soundness of the sugges-
ton that the true policy for the next
year is to continue the military admin
| istration of whatever islands fall into
our hands, and in the mean time make
such a thorough investigation OF every
phase of the serious problems which
must be met as will properly prepare us
to meet them with wise legislation"