The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-17
In DEFENCE OF
INSIJLAR TARIFF
Mir. Payne Talks On Philip
pine Bill In House.
THE MEASURE DULY REPORTED.
Tilt Between Chairman Of WAYS
and Means Committee and Rep
resentative Gaipes-Swan-
son Speaks for Minority.

After the reading Of the journal this
morning, the House. on motion OF Mr..
Payne, resolved itself into The Committee
OF the Whole for the consideration Of the
Philippine Tariff bill Representative
Gaines Of Tennessee. owiag to the brief
time for debate, sought to have n night
session, but Chairman Payne opposed this
and in this course was upheld by the
House.
The Speaker called Representative Hep
burn Of Iowa TO the chair and the bill was
read
Representative Payness Speech.
Representative Payne took the floor in
behalf Of the bill. A majority of the Re-
publicans and many Of ths Democrats gave
him attention He explained the purposes
of the proposed tariff bill and devfewed
briefly the history OF the Jurisdiction OF
the Uuited States in the Philippines He
took up the work Of the Tan Commission
in framing tariff which was adopted Sep
tember II. last. Mr. Payne compared the
rates between the old Spanish schedules
and the Commissions tariff, showing that
upon ali the necessities Of life the Com
Missions schedules were much lower
than under the Spanish regime.
Rest TariT Plan suEEestcd
Nj Payne said that at first glance the
export tax On certain articles provided for
in the Taft Commission tariff was cor
trary TO his way OF thinking, hut upon
Investigation that he found it the best
that could. rader the Circumstances. be
adopted. Land titles in the islands we're
50 insecure. he said. that il was inapos-
sIble 10 impose a direct land tax upon the
small portion Of the landed area which
is owned or claimed to be owned BY pri-
yate individuals or others than religious
orders
strengthened Presidents Power.
The military power OF the. President to
act in the Philippines, Mr.. Payne said.
was strengthened by the passage OF the
Spooner amendment of March I. 1901. and
under these ampIifed powers the Taft
Commission had acted. Mr. Payne con
trasted the duties existing Under the old
Spanish regime with those established BY
The Commission and which went into ef-
feet November Is. The reaus ton ranged
from . 10 75 per cent and the scheme
was put into force only aszer -Sesr-s
discussion and criticism. 9aa act con-
tinued the Spanish method o. taxation Of
imposing duty upon certain. exports.
such as henp and sugar. The amount OF
this tax collected since American occu-
patton began vas 81. zoo, ,0G0.
Well tn Continue the Tax.
It seemed to tie Commission. in view
OF all the conditions existent in the isl
ands," Mr. Payne continued. that it
would be better to continue this export
tax than to burden the people with lana
or internal revenue tax, which would ba
unfair and oppressive. It was not in VIC
lation Of the Constitution, which farbjds
a tax upon articles exported from anv
State, for no one would claim that the
Philippines were State. 1t had seemed.
at first that with time, the ComTnittee on
Ways and Means could prepare 4 more
satisfactory bill than that Of the Taft
Commission, but further examination led
70 the conclusion that that act vas as
good as any that could be prepared here.
A Tilt Between Representative.
During the discussion lively tiIt took
place between Representative Payne and
Representative Gaines Of Tennessee. Mr..
Payne had said something about fitting
the Filipinos for citizenship.
DO you mean citizenship for The Phil
ippine Islands or citizenship for the
United States?'' asked Mr. Gaines.
If you on that side of the chamber viii
join with US, we viii fit them Tor citizen
ship in the Philippine Islands. in the
United States. or in any other country.
replied Mr. Payne. amid Republican an
plause- You can't make American citi-
zens Of them without the Constitution,
and you refuse to allow the Constitution
to follow the flag there was Mr. Gaines
retort-
Carried Copy of CoRstita;ton.
Il knew" replied Mr. Payne. athat the
gentleman from Tennessee had been for a
short time in the islands Is it possible
that he had not taken a copy cf the Con
stitution with him?' ELaughter.l
Mr. Gaines replied that he had to do so
surreptitiously
When Mr. Payne concluded Mr. Swan
son (DemocraD Of Virginia took the floor
in opposition to the bill
PACIFIC CABLE BILL TAKEN Up.