Evening star., 1901-12-04
lNSULAR GUST OMS
Philippine Tariff Bill Introduced by
Senator Lodge.
DESIRE FOR PROMPT ACTION
VIII Continue TO Take Tariff at
Manila.
ATTITUDE OF DEMOCRATS

The administration desires early action on
bill to perfect the Philippines tariff situa-
ton in conformity with the recent decision
of the Supreme Court. 1t was intimated
today that Speaker Henderson may appoint
the committee on ways and means Friday,
in which case the committee will probably
get to work on bill early next week. The
new committee will show an increased re-
publican majority in it's membership. A
democratic member will be dropped and a
republican added. Mr.. Underwood of Ala
bama will go off the committee, having
been given a more important place on the
committee on rules. high tariff republic
can will succeed him on ways and means.
Establishing DfngIey Rates.
The understanding is now that resolu-
ton will be reported from the House COM
mittee putting the Dingley tariff rates into
operation against imports from the Philip
pines into the United States. The rates
fixed by the Philippines commission on
goods imported into the Philippines from
foreign countries will probably be enacted
and will also apply to goods sent from the
United States to the Philippines
Until Congress acts there will be free
trade between the Philippines and the
United States on merchandise coming this
way. The Treasury Department has al
imports free. 1t is not believed that the
customs revenues will be seriously affected
in the interim. however, unless there should
be extraordinary delay in erecting the tar
if walls.
Imports From the Philippines.
The main items of imports from the Phil
ippines are sugar, hemp and tobacco. Hemp
is the free list under the Dingley bill.
The importations Of sugar since Septem-
Der 1. 1893, have aggregated 93,0O0,OOO
pounds. which a duty of 81 ,492, 900 was
paid. The imports of tobacco might be a
little greater in value.
1t Is generally believed by some republic
can senators and representatives that the
sugar trust and the tobacco trust will ex-
ert the utmost efforts to bring in large
consignments of sugar and tobacco during
the period of free trade.
The republican argument is that a tariff
is inevitable and that the only beneficiaries
of policy of delay in passing the law
will be the sugar trust and the tobacco
trust. The remoteness of the sources of
production and the necessary delay in as
sembling and shipping cargoes will, they
hope, prevent serious harm being done to
the revenue.
status of the Philippines.
There is uncertainty in the minds of some
legislators as to the status of the Philip
pines revenues in the interim. Customs re-
ceipts furnish the money for carrying on
the government and system of schools and
public works in the islands. 1t is regarded,
therefore as very important that a definite
tariff system should be provided at the earli-
est moment possible for imports into the
Philippines.
Secretary Root is taking counsel with
some of the republican party leaders in the
preparation of a program. This morning ne
talked with Senator Spooner who is par
ticularly interested in the Philippines and
he is in frequent conference with the chief
of the insuiar division. Colonel Edwards,
and the law officer of that division, Judge
Magoon. II is said that the present purpose
is to ask Congress to legislate Immediately
to define with precision the status of the
Philippines from a revenue point of view
The Governments Program.
While neither of the cases decided Mon
day the Pepke fourteen diamond rings
case nor the Dooley case, affirmed or denied
the right of the Philippine authorities to
collect duties on goods entering Manila
from the United States, the officials of the
War Department, in the absence of legis-
lation intend to continue the collection Of
the duties al the present rate at Manila.
They are satisfied that they have authority
so TO do This claim is based on two propo-
sitiOns. First, that the islands being in a
state of insurrection are under military
control and the Supreme Court has already
affirmed in the Porto Rican cases the right
to collect duties under military occupation.
This view accepts as a premise Secretary
Roots statement in his recently published
annual report that the Philippine commits
d
authority as vested in the President him
self.
The Secretary says: 1T is well settled
that the military authority of the President
IN occupying territory may be exercised
through civil agents as well as military Of
ficers. etc"
Then it is also held that the Spooner reso-
luton. comforting upon the President un-
limited powers to govern and administer
the Islands, certainly carries with it power
to impose customs taxes absolutely neces-
sary to such administration.
Effect of the Debates
However. ii is expected that the debates
in Congress. that are sure to follow tie in
troducJion of an administration bill, will
crystalline the views of the War Depart
ment on this point. Meanwhile the finan-
cial officers of the department who have
looked into the trade figures for the past
three years find that the sum of 81 800, coo
represents about the total of the duties COL
lected from Spaniards on goods arrived at
Manila, which might have to be refunded
in the event that it should ,-dmately be
held that the collection of duties on Ameri-
can goods there was Illegal The Spaniaris
would secure like nquiuation u.der the
terms OF the peace treaty guaranteeing
them equal rights with American -ner-
chants in the Philippines.
obstruction Tactics Not Expected.
Senator Jones of Arkansas the demo-
cratic leader in the upper chamber of Con-
sress, said to a Star reporter today in
answer TO a question, that he did not fore
see unusual debate On the Philippines tariff
bill in the Senate. He thought the oues-
tloh OF discussion OF the measure, when ii
came up in the Senate would be iarga,v
one of the individual disposition of sena-
tors. He did rot expect obstruction from
democratlc sources, upon grounds of DO
litical policy. In the House there viii he
no delay at all in considering the bin when
IL comes from. committee, or in reaching a
vote. The iron-ciad rules and the whip
and spur of the committee on rules will
take care of that.
Senator Lodges BiII