Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20
The New Insular Tariff Bill.

Immediately after reconvening in January
the Senate should pass the bill reducing the
Dingley tariff rates on imports into the
United States from the Philippines to %
per cent of the full schedule. The bill was
passed by the House on Thursday with
practically no opposition. 1t is not parti-
san measure. being demanded by the insular
administration in the interests of a fuller
development of the trade between the is
lands and the mainland. When the general
Philippines revenue law was under discus
sion last winter The Star pointed out that
the welfare of the archipelago demanded
four distinct enactments: First, a tariH on
imports into the Philippines SO framed as to
protect the industries of the islands and to
raise the necessary revenues. being care
fully adapted to the needs and conditions OF
the islands and substituted for those Ding
ley schedules which possibly then applied
under the terms of the Supreme Court de-
cision; second tariff on imports into the
United States from the Philippines giving
to those products all concessions In a re-
duction of duties which could be safely and
wisely granted; third payment into the
Philippine treasury for the benefit OF the
archipelago of all duties collected, whether
on imports from the Philippines into the
United States or from all the world into the
Philippines; fourth. the temporary tarin
measure to be Immediately enacted to cor
rect inequalities.
The measure passed last winter met prac-
ticaly all these needs. Congress refused
to go far enough, however. In the reduction
of the mainland Dingley rates. imposing
a duty of IS per cent Of the full schedule
From this tariff very little revenue has
accrued to the islands and trade has not
been fostered under 1t. 1t Is believed by the
insular authorities that with the tariH res
duced to % per cent the insular products
will be brought into this country In large
volume. not only yielding as much II not
more revenue than that which is now OBJ
tanned from the rs per cent schedule out
fostering the trade and thereby building up
the industries and developing the resources
of the islands.
1t is highly desirable that large volume
of the Philippines trade should be between
the islands and the United States. In this
country the native products can easily, II
given tariff encouragement, find market
sufficient to absorb the greater part of the
surplus left from nsuiar consumption.
The bulk of the imports into the Philippines
should be from the United States. The lat
ter END VIII De III part dcIltNeu ou3h Vic
attainment of the former. Reciprocity in
trade is fundamental feature of commerce,
and to the extent that the Filipinos find a
market here for their goods they will lean
toward the American goods in their own
purchases.
The reduction of the mainland tariff to %
per cent of the Dngley rates will afford a
guarantee of continued watchfulness over
the welfare of the islands, which will have
a beneficial effect in itself, apart from the
commercial advantages accruing. Last win
ters measure was conspicuously liberal in
many respects to the islands. 1t supple
mented the situation created by the Su-
preme Court decision in manner to cement
the fidelity of the Filipinos to the American
sovereignty Had it gone at one stroke
to the limit of tariff reduction which
this new measure reaches it would
have left little If anything to be de-
sired in the way of tariff legislation
for the islands Now that the House has
so promptly corrected last years omission
it is for the Senate as promptly to agree and
to put the bill upon it's passage at first OPP
portunity. 1t requires little study, and the
reports and recommendations in the case
are so clear and explicit that 1t should
arouse little debate