New-York tribune., 1901-12-04
PHILIPPINE PROBLEMS.
URGENT NEED OF PRONPT'
ACTION BY CONGRESS-.
TARIFF BARS LET DOWN BY THE ST.
PREME COURT TO BE PUT
Up AGAIN
Up AGAIN
ley TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUxE-l


washingtc-.. Dec. 3.-The Supreme Courts de-
rision in the Philippine case is causing greater
activity among the leaders Of both the Senate
and House at present than any other subject
with which the new Congress will deal. With
out preparation warning, the leaders find
themselves confronted by situation that is Of
pressing importance. regardless Of what may be
thought Of its intrinsic merits. While there is
nothing of gravity danger in the situation
yet it is conceded on all hands that it belongs
10 that category Of unavoidable accidents the
sooner mended the better il is with the view
Of avoiding all embarrassments in the future
that immediate action by Congress on the Phil
ippne question is now being urged.
Until the breach made in the DingIey tariff by
the Supreme Courts decision is filled by legisa-
ton, there will be absolute free trade in all
products that comprise the commerce between
The United States and the Philippines. AS un-
der the operations of the Dingley law this trade
averaged more than SIG00o00 year. the great
bulk of which in articles already the
free list. IT can easily be seen how this trade
viii be largely increased during the period Of
fEte trade at this end of sha Tine urdereo 1y sne
Supreme Courts mandate Cane sugar is about
lae only dutiable article from the Philippines
that has been brought here in any considerable
Quantity since American sovereignty
tended over the islands In three years and one
north from September i. 1898. TO October j,
1901 %. 0o0. 600 pounds of Philippine sugar,
tnyoiced at 81 6t;1 coo. have been imported to
the United States. On this amount 81. 1.442,00O
has been paid by the importers in tariff duties.
Nearly all this money will have TO be refunded
70 the importers, at least to all who paid
customs dues under protest. What proportion
Of them failed TO enter formal protest cannot
now be learned. 1t is reasonable TO suppose
-ni
from the Philippines when they had to pay the
full Ding1ey rates on it will now take advantage
Of the opportunity 10 bring in as much Of this
commodity as possible while the tariff bars are
down
SUGAR MEN BESTIRRING THEMSELVES.
In point of fact it is known that the interests
IN this country which utilize raw sugar from
the Philippines are already bestirring them
selves energetically profit to the utmost limit
BY the present favorable situation. Reports
from the islands, some of them brought by re-
turning members of Congress indicate that an
unusually large crop of sugar was produceo IN
The Philippines this year. and this fact or
course is additional spur TO the desire 10
get n an unusual amount OF the prouuct Nnlie
II is the free list. Hence the volume OF free
sugar that can be brought from the Phlhpplnes
depends only on the two factors OF the duration
Of the free trade period and the ships to carry
hin
The chief concern of Congress IS not to shut
tLilppne sugar out OF this country, Dul Id1lieI
70 provide the necessary nevenue Tor the ifsuIdr
government Every cent OF the S1.JeoooO that
has been collected at San Frarcisco and other
ports sugar from the PHILIPPINES mas
heea devoted to the needs OF the Philippine
government. Therefore, the question arises as
te how the deficit which viii he caused by the
nes TO the Philippine revenues by the supreme
Courts decision, be made up Congress, oi
sourse, will appropriate :he amount required
br The payment OF refunds. but there is no ois-
pEien Congress to appropriate money out
tae Federal Treasury for the support OF the
TnMppine government. The basis OF the "iioie
ss'llal scheme is that each inSuIar SoNsIhIn,e"lI "
saoad and can be made self-supporting. Thus
u: this scheme has worked admirably, but II is
contended that unless some new method is i'm
nediatefy devised for raising revenue for the
fhilipplnes through import taxes at both ends
o. the line. there will have TO be a compete
isslsion of the well -matured> plan OF govern
"irni Tor the archipelago
NAY EXTEND DINGLEY LAW TEMPORA-
RILY
As under the terms of the Supreme Courts
cecision Congress is empowered to levy tariffs
On products from the Philippines imported 10
the United States there is scarcely any lkeii-
hood that the lawmakers will fail to take ad- !
vantage Jf this privilege. But as the element oL
time is big factor in the problem, it is pretty
seneraliy agreed that the most Up ~ tbe
course open TO Congress is found IN the
suggestion of the adoption OF JOINT resoiutloi
extending the Dingley rates to Ph1Hpplne, con, f
mooities. This would restore the OLD oruer VI
sn:nes that was upset 10y the Supreme Court on 4
Monday and pending the enforcement OF the
Ongley law by this method a new ana aoequate
revenue scheme for the Philippines can pe =
sised and passed by Congress at TINS sessl1I, IL
nat course eventually is considered acFlsapfe-
Therefore IL is thought that Wlth-n the h.Ae
Few days Senator Lodge as chairman OF the
rhilippine Committee. viii offer JOINT etSoiu-
pon formally extending the Dingley law 10 tle
Aands' commerce with this country How long
Il should take 10 get such resolution through.
18th houses is a mere matter of speculation at
taas juncture, and depends largely on what the
Hinorfty In the Senate would do. The resolution
ean be put through the House in short order
under the rules of that body which limit de-
Ine only through Sleeping route New York to
quebec and intermediate Northern points. is via
SSpnnecticut River Line. Train leaves New York,
Z n r. II X r. at j. m. daily except :