The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-05-30
ARE SUBJECT TO TAX
Treasury Officials Say Goods from
Philippines Must Pay Duty.

Washington, May 29.-The treasury
| officials discussed with much interest
Tuesday the decisions of the supreme
court Monday in the insular cases and
the conclusion has been reached that
nothing in these decisions is conclu-
sive upon the government to change
its administration of the customs laws
rs to the Philippine islands, and, there
fore, duties will continue to be collect
ed on imports from those islands as
heretofore and until the court shall
have decided specifically that the is
lands are in the same situation with
aspect to the United States as Porto
Rico.
AdjOurns for Long Vacation.
Washington, May 29.-After a ses-
sion of about three minutes Tuesday
the United States supreme court ad-
iourned until the second Monday in
October. The brief session was devot-
ed to the formal disposition of mo-
tons. The two remaining insular
cases, one of them that of the fourteen
diamond rings dealing with importa-
tons from the Philippines, and the
other known as the second Dooley
case, involving the question of ex-
portations from the United States to
Porto Rico, failed TO receive attention
Tuesday and they go over until the
next term.
The Philippines Question.
Washington, May 2o.-Interest in
the supreme court decisions centered
at the war department Tuesday, and
efforts were made to asce rtain the in
tention of the department regarding
the Philippines, as they are under the
departments control. Secretary
Root would express no opinion, saying
that he had not yet the full text of the
decision before him, and that it would
require careful consideration before
the entire import of these opinions
could be ascertained with view of
governing future executive action.
Several senators and representatives
called on the secretary and discussed
the situation with him, giving their
views and interpretations of the opin-
ions rendered Monday, and the bear
ing they would have in the future gov
eminent of the Philippines Among
these were Senator Lodge, of Massa-
chusetts,l eharmap of thf' Philippines.
committee of the senate. He eN-
pressed the opinion that the decisions
of the ocurt would make Philippine
legislation absolutely necessary in
the coming session of congress. He
also was clearly of the OPINION that
under the Spooner law the president
had absolute power to provide for Il
revenue, both customs and internal,
for the Philippine islands in the gem
eral scheme for the Philippine gov
eminent.
1t is believed that the war depart
ment will promulgate a tariff for the
Philippines soon. The Philippine com
mission, together with officers in
charge of the customs of the island.
prepared provisional draft for new
Philippine tariff, which was pub
lished in March. That draft has been
undergoing a number of notifications
at the war department, and is still re-
ceiving consideration. Secretary Root
has been holding back this tariff
awaiting the decision of the supreme
court in the insular cases, and it is
now probable that it will not be pro-
mulgated until he has had time to ex-
anime the opinions of the court with
care.
disappointment I'm Porto Rico.
Washington, May 29.-Administra-
ton officials displayed keen interest
in the reports from San Juan show
ing the manner in which the deci-
sions of the supreme court in the
insular cases were received in Porto
Rico. They are not surprised at the
disappointment expressed, as they re-
alize that the islanders would prefer
free trade with this country instead
of continuation of the imposition
of the IS per cent. of the Dingley
rates. The operations of the Hol-
lander bill providing scheme of in
ternal taxation will be carefully
watched here, and the hope is ex-
pressed that it will prove adequate
for the purposes for which it was
intended 1t is said President Nc
Kinley viii obey the provisions of
the Foraker law and proclaim free
trade when the Porto Rican legisla-
ture declares an adequate system of
insular taxation is operative. The
Foraker act is mandatory on this
subject. As the Hollander bill has
not yet become effective, the officials
here suggest it Is rather early to dis
cuss the question Of the amount Of