The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-08
A PHILIPPINE TARIFF
MIR. ROOT FINDS THE PROBLEM A
KNoTTY ONE.
HE CONFERS WITH SENATORS.
PROPOSED PROGRAMME MAY NOT
BE PRACTICABLE.

philippine Tariff May BE Attacked
as an Export Tax and the lues-
ton May Become Party Issue in
ConGress-The Secretary Urges
Cuban Reciprocity philippine
Bin May Also include a Re 'ipr0"-
lily Provision similar to That in
the DingIey Act.
Washington, Dec. An important
conference was held at the War De-
partment to-day in regard to the leg
islaton necessary to meet fiscal con-
ditions in the Philippines as a re-
the Supreme Court. There were pres
ent Secretary Root, Senators Lodge,
and Platt of Connecticut and Repre-
sentatives Payne and Dalzell.
During the afternoon Senator
Spooner called at the War Department
the legislative necessities of the Phil
ippines. 1t appears that the problem
is not as easy as was supposed when
1t was thought that a single joint reso-
luton could be put through Congress
within few days to continue practt>
callv existing tariff rates DIS to Phil
ippine exports and imports. Some
members of the Ways and Means Com
mittee see difficulties growing out of
the existence of an export tax in the
islands, and there is much apprehen-
sion that the issues may be made d
party one, with the result that there
will be bitter struggle at least in
the Senate, if not in the House, be-
fore satisfactory legislation can be
had. II is the expectation, however
that after hearing from all of the
leaders Secretary Root will be able
to perfect a plan of action by Tues
day, when the, House next meets.
1t is learned that in the course of
abe conferences to-day Secretary Root
took advantage of the opportunity to
talk freely with his callers about the
pressing needs in Cuba, and to urge
early action upon legislation along the
line recommended in his last annual re-
port.
A movement is on foot among the
Republican members of the Ways and
Means Committee to incorporate a re-
c1proclty feature in the forthcoming
Philippine tariff bill. AS roughly out
lined in the informal talks thus far
had among members of the committee,
the reciprocity provision would recite
that when the Philippine Commissions
ers reduce the duty on certain desig-
mated articles, including American tex
tiles and various goods easily market
able in the Philippines, then the Pres
ident of the United States shall by
proclamation grant stated reductions of
duty on Philippine sugar and other
products shipped to this country. This
reciprocity provision would be along
the lines of that provided in the Ding
ley act whereby President Mckinley,
by proclama ton. made tariff reduce
tions in a limited number of articles
without the formality of a treaty.
reciprocity provision on the fore
going lines was discussed at the meet
ing of Republican members of the
committee last Friday afternoon and
received very favorable consideration,
although action was deferred until the
reassembling of the Republican mem
bers on Monday. Chairman Payne
probably will cell meeting of the full
committee on Tuesday, by which time
the Republican draft of a Philippine
bill may be ready. although no definite
understanding on this point has been
reached,