Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-26
PHILIPPINE TARIFFS.
Status Not Affected by Porto
Rican Legislation.
PROVISIONS OF SPOONER BILL.

PROVISIONS OF SPOONER BILL.
Government of the Islands to he
Vested In the Prc.idcnt-Importnn
Features of the Mcasure-An Ex-
ample of Indian wit.
WASHINGTON, April al Special. l.
Some misunderstanding seems to exist
concerning the tariff status of the
Philippines in consequence of the
Porto Rcan legislation and the Spoon
er bill now pending before the senate
or course the Porto Rican bill did not
in the least affect the status of the
Philippines. and so far as our CONNER
cial and tariff arrangements go the
Spooncr bill will make no change after
it is enacted into law. The Spooucr
bill is very simple. 1t is really unncc
essary, but it provides for a contin
CcnCy which may arrive, but which Is
very remote. 1t provides that the gov
eminent of the islands. when the in
sllrrcCtion is suppressed, shall be vest
cd in the president. through such per
sons as he may designate. While there
is an inSurrcction the whole govern
mcnt of the islands is under the presi
dent as commander in chief of the
army and navy. Now, this Spooner
bill is not likely TO become operative
for some time because no one believes
the instruction will he suppressed i'm.
mcdiately and n guerrilla warfare may
continue even when there is no real
army opposed TO the United States.
Its Principal Importance.
The most important feature of the
Spooner bill is that it gives congress
Sional recognition. if il passes, to the
right of the United States to govern
the islands acquired from Spain. 1t
confers no more power upon the presi-
dent than he now has. hut it gives him
the right in institute civil govern
mcnt. recognizes by legislation the IT,
tie of the United States to the group
and. so far as the world knows and
in fact the inference drawn is. the
United States intends to maintain its
sovereignty over the islands. Under
this bill there Is no change in the tariff
arrangements The bill makes no ref
ercnce to the tariff, and the president
and his advisers, as well as the ablest
lawyers of the senate, declare that the
president cannot change the laws re-
lating to the tariff on goods coming in
to this country from islands acquired
from Spain. OF course, if the supreme
court should hold on the test case from
Porto Rico that when the islands were
annexed they were entitled to the priv.
ileges of our tariffs the president would
have nothing further to do in the mat
ter. 1t is conceded the president has
authority to establish any rate Of duty
he pleases on goods going into the
Philippines, but that he can make nc
regulations regarding the entry of
goods coming into the United States.
For Schools of Mines.
| Western states, and especially states
with mines and minerals, have for 6
| long time endeavored to have a por
| ton of the proceeds from the sale OF
public lands of the country applied tC
the support of schools of mines in the
| public land states. Each time that thi.
/ has been attempted the bill has failed
| in the house or senate. Although til,
! public land states include largel
portion of the territory than the non
public land states, those states which
had no public lands for sale felt tina
this was discrimination against then
to Il certain extent. Now n bill ha
been prepared and introduced by Sen
ator Tillman to establish mining ant
metalurgy departments in each Of tn,
agricultural colleges which were es
tablished under the Morrill, law of 1862
AS this bill Is intended to apply al
the proceeds of the sale OF public land
for the support of such department
and to establish departments in al
states. there is quite a good possibili
ty of its passing. The receipts from
the sale of public lands are not ncarl.
as great now as they were a few year
ago. but it is believed that a sutticien
sum can be created to make the mining
departments of the agricultural col
leges a success
An Indians Wit.
! was going down in the car witt
Senator Kyle of South Dakota on
night recently. and both of us wer
obliged to hang on to the straps, all tn
seats being occupied. The car ierke
around several curves and threw tn
standing passengers about considera
bly, This reminds me of the stor
they used to tell on Senator Voorhees,.
remarked the senator. zone day. afte
the adjournment of the senate, he, i
company with a representative Of tn
ChoctaW Indians, boarded a crewde
car and went through much the sam
experience that we have just had. TIL
car gave a particularly strong lurcl
and the senator's companion wa
thrown from his feet forward into tn
10. .,sF.