The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-07
THE PHILIPPINE TARIFF
A Provisional System Formulated
by the Commission.
Suggestions for Amendments to BE
Received for Several Wceks-Mny
be Put In Force About May 1.-The
Rate of Customs Duties Proposed

The Insular Division of the War De-
partment has published the proposed
Philippine tariff as enacted by the United
States Philippine Commission by the
authority Of the President of the United
States" Secretary Root has announced
that suggestions and recommendations
will be received by the department until
April Is. 1891, and. considered with view
10 amendments before the act is approved
by The President and promulgated. No
time has been decided upon definitely as
to when the proposed law VIII go into
effect. but it is presumed that the date
will be not far from May j.
In transmitting the proposed tariff to
the Secretary of War, Mr.. Taft, the Pres
ident Of the Philippine Commission, says:
In the preparation of the bin the class
ification of the Cuban tariff has been fol-
lowed largely, but has been considerably
expanded by the Introduction of articles
requiring special treatment here by rea-
son of different surroundings and greater
distance from the markets. The bill con-
tains only two numbers ! assessing AN ad
valorem duty. AS these numbers embrace
only crude materials and goods not else
where provided for, they are likely to be
resorted to only in exceptional cases
where importations are unusl al and
values not likely to be misrepresented,
while the rates of duty impossible per
cent on crude materials and Is per cent
on all other goods-hold out little induce
ment to importers to evade the lower
duties imposed by the regular schedules.
THE bill in its present state has not
been printed here. Only the first nine
classes OF the proposed bill were printed
INNER
fectly. The intention of the commission
that. proposed legislation affecting the
public should be published before action
failed. therefore, of accomplishment as to
this act
The limited facilities of the newspapers
prevented the publication in time of the
greater part of the bill, and, although
business interests were represented to
some extent throughout the discussion
the public generally had not the oppor-
tunity which has been afforded it hereto
fore in all important legislation.
1T is quite probable however, that the
fullest publication would have caused
small increased attention, as the DISPOSE
tion of the business interests here is to
accept any tariff which the commission
proposes. provided that the duties are
specific and not ad valorem. Upon that
subject the mercantile community is
practically unanimous. and with reason.
The just and proper appraisement of i'm
ported merchandise is entirely beyond the
present or prospective equipment and per
sonnet of the customs service, and the eX-
peuse of importing and paying ade luate
talent would be extremely burdensonle.
On that subject the report Of the army
loard appointed to revise the tariff which
of the Military Governor. may be profit
ably referred to. That report as whole
was of great assistance in the preparation
of the present bill. The framework of
the alinentary schedules has been OF
especial value. and. with slight modifica-
tions. is embodied in the present bill.
Throughout the bill thequestion of reve-
nue. has been kept steadily in view. The
necessary food products, the raw mate
rials of industries here, the tools, nipple
ments. and machinery of production, the
materials of transportation by land and
sea. and the producers and transmitt=rs
of power have been as lightly taxed as
possible.
ITO manufactured goods and articles |
have been assigned rates graduated to
Che means and necessities OF the con- |
sumers, due regard being had to the many I
existing industries and to those which |
must inevitably be introduced in the near /
future.
''Luxuries. whether in beverages, food, |
clothing, carriages, or ornaments, have |
been taxed as highly as is consistent with |
the production of the most revenue.
Kerosene oil, which even now is |
cheaper than the native cocoanut oil, has /
been reduced to that point which, in our /
opinion, viii cause the greatest importa- |
ton and the largest revenue.
The duty on coal has been reduced 50 !
per cent.
The duty on crude petroleum, which, /
owing to the great and still advancing !
price of coal, must soon come into use as
a fuel, has been reduced to almost a !
nominal rate.
Building materials of every description |
and all industrial machinery bear but lit /
tie burden.
1.-THE scheme of duties on jewelry and !
precious stones We believe will /
quite fairly adjust specific duties accord /
ing to values. The income resulting there !
from we believe will be very greatly in /
creased. The tariff on watches is so regu- /
lated as to very greatly reduce the present /
prices Of the lower grades. The present |
tariff taxes all gold watches at $3.25 and !
all other at sI-54.
the new Dill the cheapest watch [
unjeweled is charged % cents. and the |
cheapest jeweied watch in a silver case
will pay 80 cents. The market. therefore, |
among this 1ewelry-loving people is enor- |
mously broadened. and great increase
of revenue must necessarily result.
Dressed leather, boots and shoes, hard
rubber goods. and waterproof stuffs are
very moderately taxed.
In tissues of cotton and linen the heav-
lily weighted goods are greatly reduced. |
The earths and sizing introduced therein !
and to give a deceptive finish must be re-
moved by washing and dying before as |
Sc sing the duty. !
silks have been raised about 80 per
cent.
IAN food products and canned goods !
have been largely reduced.
The duty on wheat -four reduced To !
81 il All will hasten its already increasing |
adoption throughout the islands, with |
benefit TO the revenue.
lin exports the tax on abaca has been /
and as ii is not capable OF pro- /
duction elsewhere the revenues therefrom /
will be doubled without being burdensOme |
here.
''On copra also increased demand and /
rising prices justify the opinion that a |
similar increase of 100 per cent in the du-
ties Will yield similar result without ap-
probably affecting the producer or bur
dcning his power Of competition.
What revenue will result from the tar
If as a whole is necessarily matter of
speculation.
In our judgment. while the importa-
ton Of articles with reduced duties will
cease until the lower duty becomes oper-
y,----,r-y, $50