The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-11
PLAN SCHEDULE
FOR PHILIPPINES
Members Of Ways and
Means Committee in
Conference.
Republicans Agree on a Meas
ure Involving Duty
Rates,

WASHINGTON. Dec. 10.-The Republi-
can members of the Ways and Means
Committee to-day agreed on a Philippine
measure, and later the entire membership
of the committee Democrats and Repub-
Iicans, was called together for the first
time.
At an early meeting Of the Republican
members Colonel Edwards, chief of the
insular division. of the--War Department,
was further heard as to the methods en-
-ployed in framing the schedule of rates
on imports to the Philippines. In particu-
lar he brought out the fact that care was
taken to consult with the interested in
dustries whenever delicate question of
adjustment arose.
The War Department showing brought
out the fact that in effect the United
States enjoys preference under the pres
ent Philippine rates, for, although no
preference is expressed. yet articles are
so described as to prefer the American
products. Canned goods are specified as
a marked instance of this, the description
being such as to mt the American product
and give decided advantage over for
eign canned goods.
The Republican members began voting
various features of the Philippine bill
as soon as Colonel Edwards had been
heard. The first vote was on Representa-
tive RusSelPS Comm motion TO impose
so per cent of the Dingley rates and the
Philippine Commission rates. The mo-
ton was defeated, to 8, Russell. Long
(Kans.) and Tawney (Minn.) voting in the
affirmative and the remaining Republican
mambers in the negative. TaWney moved
that the bill repeal the export tax in the
Philippines. The motion was defeated oy
the same vote.
This cleared the way for the bill pre-
pared by Payne, which was agreed to
without formal vote. Its first paragraph
is as follows: AN act temporarily 10
provide revenue for the Philippine Islands
and for other purposes-Be 1T enacted,
etc, that the provisions of an act entitled
an act to revise and amend the tariff
laws of the Philippine archipelago, en-
acted by the United States Philippine
Commission on September IL, 1901, shall be
and remain in full force and effect.
The Democratic members were called in
at IL o'clock and the committee was for
mally organized, the former clerks and
employees being reelected and the sub
committees announced. The Democratic
members were furnished copies of the
Payne Philippine bill and were advised
that it would be taken up at meeting OF
the committee tomorrow, reported to the
House on Friday next and considered in
the House next Tuesday. The debate i'll
the House will be brief, probably not ex-
ceeding a day, with special rule provid-
ing for bringing the question to final
vote probably on Tuesday evening.
Chairman Payne stated that the Cuban
Commissioners had asked for a hearing,
and he suggested hearing next Monday.
Russell then interposed a motion. which
prevailed directing the chairman to adj
wise the Cuban Commissioners that it
would not be convenient for the commit
tee to hear them before the holidays, and
that after the holidays the committee
would consider the question. The signi-
ficance of this resolution, it was explained
after the meeting, was to postpone the
question of Cuban reciprocity until action
had been matured on the Philippines.
The Ways and Means subcommittee as
announced by Chairman Payne to-day,
are as follows:
On Customs, Customs Districts and Customs
Offcials-Payne, Dalzell, Hopkins, Grosvenor,
Russell, Richardson and Robertson.
On Administration of Customs Laws-Rus-
sell, Payne, Steele, Babcock, Swanson and Nc
Clellan.
On Internal Revenue-Steele, Hopkins Rus
SELL Tawney, Long, Mcclellan and Newlands.
On the Public Debt, the Preservation of the
Public Credit and Reduction of Government
Notes-Dalzell, Payne. Mccall. Richardson and
Cooper.
Hopkins, Dalzell. Tawney, Long, Babcock,
Swanson and Cooper.
On Revenue from Other Sources than Gus
toms and Excuses and on Miscellaneous Sub
iects-Grosvenor Steele, Mccall, Long, Rob
ertson and Newlands.