The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-04
.IGELED 10 DEATH
Merchants in Philippines Haye
Jubilee Over Courts Decision
OF DIAMOND RINGS CASE
Day Is Spent in Discussing
Islands Good fortune.

Manila. Dec. s.-The local papers here
published extras when they received the
news of the United States supreme courts
decision in tie II diamond rings case
that the Philippines were American ter
ritory and t.lat the imposition of duty
on articles imported into the United States
from the Philippines is improper. The
announcement Of the decision caused
great excitement and jublatlon among the
merchants and general public here. The
representatives of the principal business
houses say it will revolutionize ne en-
. tire trade of the Orient, and the civilians
and military men are pleased at the pros
! pect of sending presents home without
having to pay duty on them. The civil
authorities here have not yet formed an
opinion on the subject, but they think
the law only applies TO goods going 10
the United States, and are anxiously
I awaiting an official communication on the
subject, since if the decision holds here,
new means for obtaining funds for the
! government to run on viii be necessary.
General Luke Wright. the vice gov
crnor. thinks that a general revision of
taxation is imperative.
The Spanish merchants are pleased,
since Spanish goods have the same treaty
rights as American goods The collector
of the port, w. Morgan Shuster, says
it means returning the 100000 collected
in duties by the customs officials. The
customs house was beseiged today by
importunate inquirers, and the decision Of
the supreme court was the only thing
talked about at the clubs, in mercantile
circles and in the civil and military Off
ces.
Washington, Dec. 3.-The cabinet meet
ing today was principally consumed in
discussion OF the insuiar decisions handed
down yesterday by the supreme court.
On the whole, it is believed the views
of the majority of the court were quite
satisfactory to the administration. 1t was
pointed out that the ultimate results of
the decisions are in a measure speculative
at present, with the exception that the
customs duties collected in this country
on goods shipped from the Philippines
since the ratification of the Paris treaty
will have to be refunded. 1t is not
thought however, that the aggregate will
be large, and Secretary Gage expects
that it will be within one million dollars.
He called attention to the fact that the
great bulk OF the imports from the Phil
ippines were admitted free of duty under
our general tariff laws, notably hemp,
which is one of the leading staples of the
islands The present tariff now in opera
ton in the Philippines, Mr.. Gage thinks,
prepared after the most thorough and in
telligent investigation, and is said to be
highly satisfactory to the business inter-
ests of the islands. The preparation Of a
tariff on Philippine importations into the
United States. however, is expected to
consume considerable of the time Of con-
gress, but there is expectation that pend
ing a final settlement of the question.
congress. by joint resolution, may con-
tinue the duties imposed by the Dingley
tariff, and thus. If it IS 80 disposed OF,
cut of a food of imports which might fol-
low the announcement that all duties
were removed.
Ii was stated at the war department
TODAY that the decisions of the United
states supreme court do rot call for any
change in the existing tariff arrange
nents in the Philippines, and that it
was not even deemed necessary to ISSUE
instructions to the civil governor Of the
islands on the subject as consequence
of the decisions. Secretary Root has
had several conferences with other Of
fcials in regard to the enactment Of leg
islation necessary to meet existing con-
ditions. but he said today that as he
had not yet received an official copy OF
the court S decision, he was unable even
to indicate what steps should be taken.
The secretary of the treasury TODAY is
sued to collectors Of customs in the United
States a Geographic order directing them
to admit free of duty all goods imported
from the Philippine islands Following
is the order:
Discontinue requirement entry and
collection Of duty on merchandise shown
by manifest Of vessel to be shipped from
Philippines. Allow free delivery goods
in bond. Detain cigars and cigarettes
until internal revenue stamps are affixed
under circulars No. 81 and s. current
year. Refunds viii he made by certified
statement where protests duly fled