The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-29
War Department., However. VIII Soon
PromuIgate a New Tariff Law
for the Philippines.
SENATOR FAIRBANKS VIEWS
MONDAYS DECISION A VICTORY FOR
THE ADMINISTRATION.
Ex-Attorney General Griggs Also Of
Opinion that the Government Has
Been Upheld ON Main Points.

WASHINGTON. May 2s.-After a session
OF three minutes to-day the United States
Supreme Court adjourned until the second
Monday in October. The brief session was
devoted TO a final disposition of motions
The remaining insular cases, one OF them
that Of the fourteen diamond rings"
dealing with importations from the Philip
pines. and the other known as the second
Dooley case, involving the question OF ex-
portstions from the United States TO Porto
Rico. failed to receive attention to-day, and
they go over until the next term.
Interest in yesterdays decisions OF the
Supreme Court centered at the War De-
partment to-day. and efforts were made
10 ascertain the intention OF the de-
partment regarding the Philippines. as they
under the departments control. Secre-
tary Root would express no opinion. say
ing that he had not yet the full text Of the
decisions before him and that it would re-
quire careful consideration before the en-
tire import Of these opinions could be as
certained with a view OF governing future
executive action. Several senators and
representatives called on the secretary to-
day and discussed the situation with him.
giving their views and interpretations OF
the opinions rendered yesterday and the
bearing they would have in the future gov
ernment OF the Philippines. Among these
were Senator Lodge. of Massachusetts.
chairman Of the Philippine committee OF
the Senate. He expressed the opinion that
the decisions Of the court would make
Philippine legislation absolutely necessary
In the coming session of Congress lie
also was clearly of the opinion that under
the Spooner law the President had abso-
Lutte power TO provide for a revenue, both
customs and internal, for the Philippine
islands in the general scheme for the Phil
ippine government. Another suggestion
made by senator's previous TO the time
when II was not supposed that a decision in
the Philippine case would be rendered by
the court similar TO the De Lima case ia
Porto Rico was that an export duty on
goods coming from the Philippines TO the
United States could be levied ia order TO
prevent free trade from the islands 10 the
United States. Any such necessity Will be-
obviated, however, by the determination or
the Treasury Department TO continue to
collect Dingley rates on Philippine products
and goods coming from the islands.
Figures were furnished at the War De-
partment showing the collections from the
Philippines. From April IL. 1893. TO Feb. y.
1901 there were collected on goods imported
from the United States into the Philip
pines N,Ol2.S25. During the same period
there we're collected on exports from the
Philippines TO the United States sI96, ,149.
From April II. 1893, until April u. 1900. the
date OF the passage OF the Foraker law.
the collections on imports from the United
states 10 Porto Rico were sf36, 81.
TARIFF LAW PROPOSED.
II is believed that the War Department
will promulgate tariff for the Philippines
soon. The Philippine commission. together
with officers in charge of the customs In
the island, prepared a provisional draft for
a new Philippine tarift which was pub
lished in March. That draft has been un-
dergoing a number Of notifications at the
War Department and is still receiving con-
sideration. Secretary Root hes been hold
ing back this tariff awaiting the decision
OF the Supreme Court in the insular cases.
and IL Is now probable that II VIII not De
promulgated until he has had time 10 ex-
anime the opinions OF the court with care.
The following statement is made con-
cerning the proposed tariff and what Is be-
ing done at the War Department:
The tariff as prepared at Manila was
based entirely upon the specific system or
duties, which levies customs charges ac-
cording TO weight or number OF imported
articles rather than according 10 value
This principle has the approval OF Secre-
tary Root but IL Is thought desirable TO
apply an ad valorem limit IN certain cases
where there is a wide difference between
the values OF articles classified under the
same paragraph. The specific duties Will
be retained in most OF these cases. but IL
Will be provided that the articles shall pay
not less than a certain ad valorem rate.
The ad valorem rate on the necessaries OF
life and articles essential 10 the develop
nent OF the islands will not run higher
than IS per cent, but upon articles less
necessary IL Will rise 20 - per cent, ana
in the case OF luxuries 10 higher proper
tions In such cases the specific duty VIII
first be assessed, the value OF the article
will then be estimated and IL Will be de-
termined whether the amount OF the specino
duty IS as much as the ad yalorem limit.
II the amount OF the specific duty
falls below the ad valorem limit
sufficient amount Will be added 10
bring the net duties up 20 the limit. IL the
specific duty Is higher than the ad valoren
limit IL will be collected In full without
reference 10 such limit. IL l. believed
that this method OF assessing the duties
will obViate the objections made by The
Philippine commission 10 any al valorem
duties upon the ground that they would
AFFORD temptation TO differentiation and be
difficult 10 FIX in the absence or competent
experts in the custom house AT Manila.
The effect OF any practicable degree of
undervaluation under the system proposed
would be trining upon the net duties paid
and not worth the risk OF seeking 10 Oe~
fraud the revenue. Absolute accuracy 10
valuation will be less important. moreover
than under the American tarif. and the
proposed system. In the nature OF the case