The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-14
Majority of the Ways and Means Com
mittee of Opinion that the
Measure Is Urgent.
REPORT OF THE MINORITY
SPECTER OF IMPERIALISM RAISED
BY MIR. RICHARDSON.
Secretary of War Said to Have More
Power Than Most kings-Ding-
ley Law Denounced.

tariff bill was reported to the House to-
day. 1t is a substitute for the original
Payne bill, which, however, it follows
throughout, except in a few minor partic-
ulars and the addition of a proviso to Sec
ton that all articles subject under the
laws of the United States to internal reve-
nue. tax, or on which the internal revenue
tax has been paid and which may under
existing laws and regulations be exported
to foreign country without the payment
of such tax, or with benefit of drawback
as the case may be, may also be shipped
to the Philippine islands with like privilege.
Where imported materials on which duties
nave been paid are used in the manufacture
of articles manufactured or produced in the
United States there shall be allowed on the
shipment of said articles to the Philippine
archipelago a drawback equal in amount
to the duties paid on the materials used,
less l per cent. of such duties.
At a meeting of the ways and means COM
mittee this morning for the final consider
alton of the bill, Representative Robertson,
of Louisiana, announced that he would
vote for the bill in the House, and Repre-
sentative Mccall, of Massachusetts, an
nounced that he would vote against il.
With these exceptions the Republicans of
the committee expressed themselves in
favor of the measure and the Democrats
opposed it, and on vote of to 5, on party
lines, Messrs. Mccall and Robertson an
swering present" but not voting, the bill
was ordered reported. The majority re-
port as presented to the House by Chair
man Payne, says:
hfg fc 70
for the government and benefit for the
Philippine archipelago. 1t is intended 70
restore the status which existed prior 10
the late decision of the Supreme Court in
The Diamond Rings case Prior to that
decision the government had been collect
ing duties on goods coming into the United
States from the Philippine archipelago al
the same rates those provided in our
tariff laws for like articles imported from
foreign countries The court holds that
the Philippine archipelago is not a foreign
country, and therefore the general tariff
law does not apply. This bill extends the
rate now existing upon imports from for
eign countries to articles brought in from
the Philippine islands.
In the Philippine archipelago the United
States Philippine commissioners prepared a
tariff act after much care and study. Their
object has been and is to raise sufficient
revenue to support government in the
Philippines to provide amply for the edu-
cation Of the people, to open up the high
ways of commerce. both foreign and do
nestle, and 10 provide ample police force
for the preservation of order. These diff
ferent forms of tariff in force there have
produced a surplus of revenue after pay
ing the expenses of the government. 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 reve-
nue. which shall be both ample and GER
tain is imperative If we continue the po-
lice and constabulary system, which has
been inaugurated, and which is doing sc
much TO restore and conserve order with
in the islands, IL will call for a large in
crease in appropriations. We have enrolled
10000 school children in the public schools
OF this number more than one-half are
without and schoolhouse accommodations
Ii is necessary that we build suitable
houses at once. Ten thousand adults were
at last accounts, enrolled for night schools
and we are told that this number has since
increased probably to at least $4,000. These
people, anxious to learn our language and
to better their mental conditions, must bt
amply provided for. Four thousand teach
ers have been employed, nearly all of them
recently, and their salaries must be paid
This great work of education must not be
crippled, even for short time, Tor lack OF
funds.
"Our government has gone to work sys
tematically through the commission for the
Improvement of the harbor at Manila They
have let the contract, after public ad
vertisement and conservative bids, to the
lowest bidder This contract calls for the
expenditure Of So, 900 in the near future
Roads are being contracted, and the build
ing of roads in this tropical country Is
expensive. These are but a few of the
many items of expenditure, which are i'm
perative All these expenditures are pre-
pairing the way for a reduction of the ar
my, and in the end will prove of direct
benefit TO the taxpayers OF the United
States.
THE bill also provides for the collection
of tonnage taxes on vessels plying between
the ports of the United States and the
Philippine archipelago. 1t further provide:
that vessels not of the United States may
ply between these ports, Notwithstanding
our coastwise navigation laws, until thu
first day Of January, 1905, when these isl
ands may safely come under the operation
of our present statutes, and vessels only o.
the United States may be employed In oul
commerce with them
AT present our own people who ShiI
goods to these islands are handicapped by
the internal revenue tax and duties paiC
upon foreign goods imported here and useC
in the manufacture of articles sent TO TIT
Philippines. The sixth clause of the pro
posed bill is designed to remedy this.
The fourth section provides that all th'
duties and taxes collected under the &C
shall not be covered into the general funC
of the treasury of the United states, bu
paid into the treasury of the Philippine
islands, TO be used and expended for tn
use and benefit Of these islands.
THE object of the bill Is to meet press
ing emergency, practically and htungly
We present the tariff act of the commits
sion as the best that can be devised In TIT
limited time left for us TO act.
THE MINORITY REPORT.