The semi-weekly messenger., 1901-12-17
IpHILIppIJ TARIFF BILL
!, ,oo,,v - MINORITY REPORT OF
uoIsA COMMITTEE.
lJpoN A sIRgGT PARTY VOTE
Ordered-One Re-
sces His Intention
the Bill and pne
prt ft-Majority
Democrat to suppl
Report Shows WorkN
the Islands and NecesA
ing Reyenue-The Mn
yolyed.
December

| VOWED.
Washington. December 1s.A com.
meeting of the way and means <ion
mittee today for the final consideraAa.
of the Philippine tariff bill Represent
tive Robertson. democrat. of Louisiana,
ANNOUNCED that he would vote for the\
lbin in the house. and Representative
Mccall. republican. of Massachusetts.
ANNOUNCED that he would vote against
lit. With these exceptions the repubu-
cans Of the committee expressed them
selves in favor of the measure and the
democrats opposed to it, and by a vote
lof to on party lines, Messrs. Nc
Call and Robertson answering present"
but not voting. the bill was ordered re-
ported.
Chairman Payne. of the committee
presented to the house the majority re-
lport on the bill. 1t says:
This bill is designed to raise revenue
flor the government and benefit of the
philippine archipelago 1t is intended
Ito restore the status which existed pri-
Tor to the late decision of the supreme
Icourt in the diamond rings case. Pri-
lor to that decision the government had
Ibeen collecting duties on goods coming
into the United States from the Philip
pine archipelago at the same rates as
those provided in our tariff laws for like
PARTICLES imported form foreign coun-
tries.
'The court holds that the Philippine
archipelago is not a foreign country.
land. therefore, the general tariff law
does not apply. This bill extends the
rate now existing upon imports from
foreign countries to articles brought in
from the Philippine islands.
I'm the Philippine archipelago the
United States Philippine commission
prepared tariff act after much care
and study. Their object has been and
lis to raise sufficient revenue to support
IA government in the Philippines, to pro-
vide amply for the education of the
people. to open up the highways Of COM
merce both foreign and domestic, and
to provide ample police force for the
preservation of order.
This bill proposes, In the first section.
to make this Philippine tariff a part of
the statutes Of the United States.
The necessity for a continuance of
revenue which shall be both ample and
certain is imperative. If we continue
the police and constabulary system
IWnlch mas been inaugurated, and which
Us doing SO much to restore and con-
serve order in the islands, it will can
Tor a large increase in appropriations
We have enrolled 100000 school children
IN the public schools. Of this number
more than one-half are without any
lscnool mousse accommo notation. 1t is nec-
Iessary that we build suitable houses at
once 9
n -Four thousand teachers have been
Iefnployed, nearly all of them recently.
ana their salaries must be paid. This
great work of education must not be
l.ilEpieu, even for a short time, for
Sck of funds.
2ur government has gone to work
natlcaily through the commission
Improvement of the harbor at
Ihey nave let the contract
public advertisement and COM
>blds. to the lowest bidder This
calls for the expenditure Of
IN the near future. 4 wthese
nres are preparing Eand in the
sof the army benefit to the
ted States
ideS for the col
les on vessels ply
is of the United
pDine archipelago
lat vessels not OF
Iay-s ply between
inding our coast
until the first day
RGn it is believed
lfely come under
present statutes
the United States
commerce with
ehardson. OF Ten
he minority report
hOcratS of the ways
ittee except Mr.
;iana. The report
put another step in
Of imperialism. 1t
of pure colonialism
Of that policy. We
Rur government at
territories or colonies
inhabitants thereof as
posing upon them a
rec. This is the meth
instead of that of the
pose the whole policy
in dealing with the
elago. We believe that
Effort they are making
mold permanent colonies
I'd long since have in
icy assuring to the peo.
Islands stable government
heir ultimate independence
even if there is to be an ad-
hange in our institutions and
OF government and a wide de-
kpm the old landmark of DO
THAT all governments insti-
D(7n1 their lust DOW
the governed
>at we are
md des-
sub.
W.