Evening star., 1900-03-06
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Porto Rican Tariff Bill Discussed by
the Cabinet.
MUST HAVE 4 TEST Case DECIDED
Relation Of Porto Rico to the
United States to Be Settled
NEW PHILIPPINE COMMISSION

dent and his advisers discussed long and
earnestly the strenuous opposition which
the Porto Rican tariff bill has encountered
throughout the country. The discussion, it
may be stated from authoritative sources,
did not in the least change the views of
the administration.
The President and his party are commit
ted to a tariff on Porto Rican goods and
will not turn back now, 1t is said. The
President and his advisers believe that the
country will indorse their policy before the
November elections.
Must Have a Test Case.
1t Is stated in official circles today that
there is no ill-feeling against Porto Rico,
but the government must have test case
as to whether the new possessions bear the
same relations to the United States as the
present states and territories of the Union.
1t is anticipated that SO soon as Congress
passes the bill providing for a tariff of 10
per cent. a test case will be brought by
some of the New York importers. The
case will be speedily fastened through the
courts and will finally be determined by the
United States Supreme Court That court
will say whether Porto Rico is so closely
part Of the United States as to receive the
same customs and other laws of this coun-
try, without special enactments by Con-
gress.
If the court determines that Porto Rico
became part and parcel of this coun-
try, to be on exactly the same footing as
the balance of the United States, that
means free trade with the Philippines free
trade with Hawaii, with the island which
has been acquired in the Samoan group
with Guam, with the Sulu group, and with
every new possession which comes under
the flag of the United States in the fu-
ture. This is at least what the cabinet
decided today.
And here it may be emphatically stated
that before President Mckinley and his
administration will submit to absolute free
trade with the Philippines they may con-
slider an important revolution in their plans
as to the islands remaining under Ameri-
can authority. This. however, is too re-
mote and 100 speculative for immediate
thought
Effect of Free Trade With the Philip
pines.
A cabinet officer said today that free
trade with the Philippines meant the
breaking down Of the protective tariff sys-
tenn; II meant competition by inferior
labor with American labor; the manufac-
ture Of goods in the Philippines with cheap
labor and their shipment to this country
IN competition with goods manufactured
here; the disruption OF the open door pol
Icy with the European nations in China
Free trade with the Philippines, 1t was
pointed out by the same official meant
that every port of the Philippines became
the same, under the law, as ports of this
country. and goods going into them from
the outside world would pay the Dingley
tar1n rates or whatever rates were in ex-
istence- At the same time the United
States and the islands would exchange
goods with each other free of duty. Spain
would for ten years have the same privi-
leges as this country. but all the rest of
the world would meet the tariff wall. The
consequence would be the protests of the
remainder of the world against maintain
ing an open door in China for the benefit
OF this country and possible complications.
II 1t Depends on Congress.
On the other hand. it was pointed out at
the cabinet meeting today, if the courts
and Congress hold that Congress alone has
the right 10 determine the position of the
new possessions 10 this country Porto Rico
will eventually have free trade and free
relations but the Philippines will have laws
enacted for them which will look to their
protection as well as the protection of the
United States These laws. it is declared
WIZ protect American labor, American in
d':>tries and make of the Philippines
gleat warehouse for the American business
man who wants TO trade in the east They
will likewise permit of Europe according
us the open door in China
The adninstrat tion confidently believes
that when the people of this country fully
= appreciate the situation they will accord
with the position now taken. 1t is assert
ed that Porto Rico IS already satisfied. and
that every day cummendat0ry letters are
coming from there,
Philippine Commission CompIete.
The official announcement OF the compo-
sition of the new Philippine commission
will early be made from the White House
inasmuch as It was fully completed TODAY
by the acceotance of Prof. Bernard Moses
of the position rendered him by the Pres
ident- Prof. Moses arrived here late YES
terday from California, and called on the
President this morning. in COMPANY with
Senators Perkins and Bard. the latter hay-
ing taken the oath in the Senate yesterday
The President postponed fonger confer
ence with Prof. Moses until this afternoon
or tomorrow. as the cabinet met at IL
O'Clock. At the next conference the Pres
ident will talk fully with Prof. Moses as to
the work desired of the commission.
The resignation of Judge Taft as cir
cult judge takes effect March 10. and it is
thought the commission will assemble here
for organization between that period and
April l. How soon thereafter the members
will sail for the Philippines must be deter
mined They will probably not get away un-
Ill the last of April or first of May. great
deal OF preliminary work must be done
here A secretary TO the commission and a
large number of minor officers must be
lected. Arthur Ferguson. secretary of the
expiring commission, is most prominently
spoken of for secretary. He speaks several
languages, Spanish included and while in
the Philippines learned some of the native
tongues.
As the chief work of the commission will
be the establishment of civil government
in the Philippines. it is likely that the com
mission will be divided when it reaches
Manila Judge Taft Will have charge of
the big island Of Luzon and the Others will
be sent to leading islands. in MANY re-
spects these civil commissioners will be-
come supreme over the military authorities
The new commission consists Of judge
William r. Taft of Ohio, Prof Dean G
Worcester of Michigan, Gen. Luke z
Wright Of Tennessee. Henry C. Ide of YER
mont and Prof Bernard Moses of Califor-
MIA Each section of the United States Is
represented, and so is each of the two
great political parties Each member Of