New-York tribune., 1901-05-29
AT THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
SECRETARY ROOT NOT READY TO GIVE
AN OPINION-VIEWS OF SEN
ATOR LODGE-THE PHILIP
PINE TARIFF.

Washington, May 2S.-Interest in the Supreme
Court decisions centred in the War Department
to-day, and efforts were made 10 ascertain the
intention OF the department regarding the Phil
ippines, they under the departments
control Secretary Root would express no opin-
ion. saying that he had not the full text OF the
decisions before him. and that it would require
careful consideration before the entire import
of the opinions could be ascertained with a view
TO governing future executive action.
Several Senators and Representatives called
on the Secretary to-day and discussed the situ-
alton with him. giving their views and inter
pretations Of the opinions rendered yesterday.
and the bearing they would have in the future
government of the Philippines. Among these
was Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts, chair
man of the Philippine Committee Of the Sen
ate He expressed the opinion that the decisions
of the court 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 revenue, both Gus
toms and internal. in the general scheme for
the Philippine government
Another suggestion made by Senators. previ-
Gus TO the time when it supposed that a
decision in the Philippine case would be rem
dered by the court similar TO the De Lima case
In Porto Rico, was that an export duty on goods
could be levied in order TO prevent free trade
from the islands TO the United States Any
such necessity will be obviated, however, by the
discrimination OF the Treasury Department TO
continue TO collect Dingley rates on Philippine
products and goods coming from the islands.
Figures were furnished at the War Depart
ment showing the collections from the Philip
mines. From April IL 1899 to February 2S,
1901 there was collected on goods imported from
-.
In the same period there was collected on eX-
ports from the Philippines TO the United States
Sl96l49 From April II, 1899. until April II,
1900 the date Of the passage Of the Foraker
law the collections on imports from the United
States to Porto Rico were S436,23I.
IT is believed that the War Department will
rrornulgate a tariff for the Philippines soon
The Philippine Commission, with officers in
charge Of the customs in the island, prepared
provisional draft OF a new Philippine tariff
which was published in March. That draft has
been undergoing number Of notifications at
the War Department. and is still receiving con-
alteration Secretary Root has been holding
hack this tariff awaiting the decision of the Su-
preme Court in the insular cases, and it is now
probable that il will not be promulgated until
he has had time TO examine the opinions OF the
court with care.
PHILIPPINE TARIFF EXPLAINED.
The following statement is made concerning
the proposed tariff and what is being done at
the War Department:
The tariff as prepared at Manila was based en-
trely upon the specific system Of duties. which
levies customs charges according TO weight or
number Of the imported articles. rather than
according 70 value. This principle has the ap-
proval of Secretary Root, but il is thought de-
sira bic 10 apply an ad valorem limit in certain
cases where there is a wide difference between
the values of articles classified under the same
paraPraph The specific duties will be retained
in most Of these cases, but il VIII be provided
that the articles shall pay not less than certain
ad aIorena rate This rate the necessaries
Of life and articles essential TO the development
Of the islands viii not run higher than II per
cent but upon articles less necessary IL VIII rise
10 20 Der cent and in the case OF luXurles 10
higher proportions. In such cases the speclhc