Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-29
TARIFF FOR PHILIPPINES
PROVISIONAL DRAFT CONSIDERED
AT THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Discussing the Bearing of the Su-
preme Courts Decisions on
the Matter.

Interest in the Supreme Court decisions
centers at the War Department, and efforts
are being made to ascertain the intention
of the department regarding the Philip
pines, they are under military control.
Secretary Root will express no opinion say
ing that he has not yet the full text Of the
decision before him, and that it would re-
quire careful consideration before the en-
tire import of these opinions could be as
certalned, with a view of governing flu
ture executive action.
Several senators and representatives
called on the Secretary yesterday and dis
cussed the situation with him, giving their
views and interpretations Of the opinions
rendered Monday and the bearing they
would have in the future government of
the Philippines. Among these were Sena-
tor Lodge of Massachusetts, chairman OF
the Philippine committee of the Senate. He
expressed the opinion that the decision of
the court would make Philippine legisla-
ton absolutely necessary in the coming ses-
sion of Congress. He also was clearly of
the opinion that under the Spooner law
the President had absolute power to pro-
vide for revenue, both customs and in
ternal. for the Philippine Islands, in the
general scheme for the Philippine govern
ment.
partment showing the collections from the
Philippines. From April IL, 1899, to Feb
ruary %, 1901, there were collected on
goods imported from the United States to
the. Philippines, $1,012,923. During the
same period there were collected on ex-
ports from the Philippines to the United
States S196, 149. From April IL. 1899, until
April 12 1900, the date of the passage OF
the Foraker law, the collections on i'm
ports from the United States to Porto Rico
were S436, 237.
1t is believed that the War Department
will soon promulgate a tariff for the Phil
ippines. The Philippine commission,
together with officers in charge of
the customs in the island, pre-
pared a provisional draft for a new Phil
ippine tariff, which was published In March
That draft has been undergoing number
of notifications at the War Department
and is still receiving consideration.
Considering Draft of Tariff.
The War Department has made the fol-
lowing statement in the matter:
Some important changes are under con-
sideration at the War Department in the
provisional draft of the Philippine tariff,
which was published In March. The tariff
as prepared at Manila was based entirely
upon the specific system Of duties, which
levies customs charges according to weight
or number of the imported articles, rather
than according to value. This principle has
the approval of Secretary Root but 1t is
thought desirable to apply an ad Valorem
limit in certain cases where there is wide
difference between the values of articles
classified under the same paragraph. The
specific duties will be retained In most of
these cases, but it will be provided that the
articles shall pay not less than certain
ad Valorem rate. The ad Valorem rate on
the neceSSarieS of life and articles essential
to the development Of the islands will not
run higher than 10 per cent, but upon ar
ticles less necessary it will rise to 20 per
cent, and in the case of luxures to higher
proportions. In such cases the specific
duty will first be assessed, and the value of
the article will then be estimated, and 1t
Will be determined whether the amount
valorem limit. If the amount IF The spe-
cifc duty falls below the ad valorem limit
sufficient amount will be added to bring the
net duties up to the limit. If the specific
duty is higher than the ad valorem limit it
will be collected in full, without reference
to such limit. 1t is believed that this
method of assessing the duties will obviate
the objections made by the Philippine COM
mission to any ad valorem duties, upon
the ground that they would afford tempta-
ton to differentiation, and be difficult to
fix in the absence of competent experts in
the custom house at Manila. The effect of
any practicable degree Of differentiation
under the system proposed would be trifiing
upon the net duties paid and not worth the
risk of seeking to defraud the revenues.
Absolute accuracy in valuation will be less
important, moreover, than under the Amer
lean tariff, and the proposed system VIII
in the nature of the case tend to equalZe
differences arising under the system Of
purely specific duties, even If the equaliza-
ton is not perfect.
The limit of Is per cent will apply to
great variety of articles under the metal
schedule which it was found impossible to
distribute under specific duties Tools and
implements, cutlery, needles, pens, miscel
lancous manufactures of iron and steel and
of zinc, copper and nickel, will be required
to pay duties Of not less than Is per cent.
In all these cases the specific duty will be
collected, whether 1t amounts to Is per
cent or more, but where it falls below 10
per cent ad volorem an estimate Of the
value Of the article will be made, and the
amount Of duty raised to 10 per cent ad va
loren. Plate glass and mirrors will be re-
quired to pay not less than 20 per cent,
while the limit in the case of cut glass
watch glasses and similar fine products will
be fixed at not less than 80 per cent 1t is
probable that the rate on precious stones
Will be fixed at 10 per cent, In order to OBJ
viate the temptation to smuggling. The
rate on nickel will probably be higher than
In the provisional tariff prepared in Ma
Mia.