The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-21
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Philippine Bill RepOrted-Franking
Privilege for Mrs. Mckinley,

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2O.-Debate on the
Philippine tariff bill will begin in the SEN
ate tomorrow. On behalf of the majority
of the committee on Philippines, Chairman
Lodge to-day reported the measure and
gave notice that he would call it up at 2
o'clock tomorrow. Mr.. Rawlins, acting for
the minority of the committee, offered a
substitute for the bill of the majority and
announced that he would submit some re-
marks ON it at the conclusion of Mr..
Lodges statement in support of the ma
Jority report.
In presenting the bill Mr.. Lodge also pre-
sented a written report showing the effect
of the different amendments made by the
committee The report says the reduction of
the export duties will give to the producers
in the Philippines very substantial bene-
fit. The reduction of % per cent. added to
the reduction of the export duties makes
net reduction on sugar, the principal
article of export, of about 80 per cent The
report continues: I'm view of the demand
for money for public purposes in the Philip
pines and the experimental character of
our tariff relations with those islands a
% per cent. reduction in our tariff rates is
a much as 1t is prudent to make at this
time in law which is of necessity tempo
rary, to meet a pressing emergency. In Sec
ton 3, Line s, your committee proposes to
insert after the word vessels the word
foreign because without this amendment
American vessels coming from the Philip
pines will be obliged to pay the tonnage
cues imposed upon foreign vessels in the
ports of the United States4
During the greater part of to-day's ses-
sion the measure providing for establish
ment of a Department of Commerce was
under consideration. An effort was made
by Mr.. Nelson. of Minnesota to secure a
vote, but the opposition 10 many of its pro-
visions became so strong that the effort
had 10 be abandoned. Mr.. Nelson replied
TO the criticisms which had been made of
the bill, especially those which related to
the transfer of bureaus from other depart
ments to the proposed department. The
departments principally affected by the
measure are those of the treasury and in
terror. The former he said had on its rolls
4,SSl-each having a greater number of en-
ployes than all the other departments COM
bined. Many of the bureaus of the treas
ury and interior departments really had no
relevancy TO the general purpose of the de
partments, and one of the purposes or the
pending bill was 10 relieve them of such
bureaus and place them where they prop
erly belonged. In conclusion Mr.. Nelson
said he believed there was strong public
sentiment in the country in favor of the
establishment of Department of Com
merce. I'VE need il. said he Ito put our
selves parity with other nations of the
world We need IL to put commercial
and industrial development under govern
ment control"
A House bin comforting upon Mrs. Ida S.
Mckinley. widow of the late President Nc
kinley, the mail ranking privilege was
called up by Mr.. Mason. chairman of the
committee on postoffices and post roads.
and passed.
Mr. Cullom introduced a bill Ito prevent
the transportation OF deeterious food and
drinks and 10 provide for the appointment