The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-12-12
FREE TRADE WITH MANILA TO
BE SHORT
Measure Already Introduced in the
Senate TO Apply Dingley Tariff 10 Inn
portations from the Philippines.

WASHINGTON. December 5.-Every.
body from the President down is al
sea for the time being as TO the Phi
llppines. The full scope Of the Su-
preme Court decision is unknown yet
The decision was the topic Of discus
sion at the Cabinet meeting and at tht
CAPITOL IL shared with the message tnt
attention OF Senators and Representa-
tives. Attorney-General Knox says
frankly that he is not prepared yet tC
advise the President in the matter,
and IL Is said that Justice Of the Su-
preme Court declared that that august
body was by no means acquainted with
the extent Of changes demanded by the
decision.
That the duties heretofore collected
must be refunded ~ clear. That free
trade exists at present between the ISL
ands and the United States Is not 81
clear. Some people think the Dingley
tariff has jumped across the Pacific
forthwith. while others believe there is
no law until Congress acts. The navi-
cation laws the revenue laws, immigra-
ton laws and other important general
laws are in doubt 80 far as the Philip
pines are concerned. The Treasury De-
partmeDt IL inclined TO believe that the
Dingley tariff is effective I'm the Philip
pines and that the war tariff Is revoked
expected outlining the legislation need
ed.
The Secretary Of the Treasury today
issued to Collectors Of Customs I'm the
United States a telegraphic order di-
re .ing them TO admit free Of duty 3 DDS
imported from the PhiliDDine islands.
MANILA December 3.-The annOun-
cement of the decision caused JOY
among the merchants and general pub
lie here. Representatives. OF the bust
ness houses say IL viii revOlutiOniZe the
entire trade Of the orient ana the civil
Hans and military men are pleased AT
the prospect sending presents home
without having to pay duty on them.
The Spanish merchants are pleased,
since Spanish goods have the same
treaty rights as American goods.
WASHINGTON. December 4.-The
tariff wall against the Philippines is to
go up in a hurry II the Republican lead
ers can force IT. Senator Lodge has in
troduced his bill placing a tariff on
goods from the Philippines. This bill
was introduced today, and is an Ad-
ministration measure. The Executive
having been denied the power of special
tariff making which belongs to Con-
gress. the Lodge bilIenacts into law the
tariff act passed by the Philippine Com
mission and thus provides for a contin-
uance Of the revenue derived from i'm
pDIlS lllO lut iHldHuS. lHdl comprises
the first section of the bill.
The second section imposes the Ding
ley tariff on all goods from the Philip
pines, the same as from any other coun-
try
Section provides that the statutory
laws Of the United States shall not be
operative in the Philippines, except as
adopted by military order or by the
Philippine Commission.
Section ( gUnrnuTi9tgg a all dHtiga and
taxes heretofore collected in the Phil
lippines for the use Of the Government
there and approves all expenditures
made to date. All receipts hereafter in
the Philippines under the acts of the
Philippine Commission are appropriated
to the use Of the Government Of the
islands and are not to be covered into
the general fund Of the Treasury Of the
United States. Thus, in four brief par
agraphs, the whole Philippine situation
is disposed of.
But there are signs of a commotior
in the Democratic camp. The Demo
Gratis see a chance of making trouble
BY delaying the passage of the bill a
lot of Philippine merchandise can get
into the United States duty free. Thai
1t is understood, Is the programme thai
has been tentatively agreed to by a
number of Democratic Senators. They
have the power, as usual, to delay le-
gislatiOn If not to Kill 1t. They hope Il
postpone the enactment Of the bill lone
enough to prove that the country would
be better off with absolute free trade
between this country and the islands
il this they are abetted by more thar
one Republican Senator. While there IL
little doubt that the Senate will pass
the Lodge bill. substantially as offered
and that the House. under it rigOrou.
rules, will follow suit with little debate
they may be a considerable lapse OF
time before the bill is pushed through
the Senate.
The War Department is going on the
theory that the tariff in the Philippines
Is effective. There will be collections
there as usual on imports from the
United States. as well as from other
countries. AS to imports to this coun.
try from the Philippines the Repub-
licans argue that the chief beneficiaries
would be the sugar and tobacco trusts
and that the Dingley tariff should be
put in operation against the islands as
soon as possible