The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-23

Washington. December 1S-The house
today passed the bill TO reduce h
duties on the products OF the Philip
pines Islands coming iato the United
States from IS per cen OF the Dingley
rates (the presen: dutiesl to Is per
cent. of those rates. The discussion OF
the bill VAS accompanied by consid-
lerable manoeuvring on the democratic
side TO secure test votes upon various
amendments designed to lower the
ltarif barrier still further and a record
vote was forced upon a motion to re-
commit with Instructions to report N
bill providing for absolute free trade
with the stands. The division pom
this proposition was on party lines with
1.-THE exception OF Mr.. Mccall. repub-
llican of Massachusetts,. who voted with
1.-THE democrats.
The discussion Of the pure food bill,
(which has been made a continuing or
der until disposed OF. was begun. Mr.
ITompkins. OF Ohio. and Mr.. Adamson.
Iof Georgia, opened the debate respect
lively for n agains: the DILL.
Mr.. Gardner, of Massachusetts,. OPP
Iposed the bill. The Mccall resolution
Icalling upon the state department for
the correspondence il the Venezuelan
Iimbroglio was adopted at the begin
ming of the session.
Mr.. Hit. OF Illinois, for the commit-
tee on foreign affairs reported back
the DeArmond and Mccall resolutions
calling upon the secretary OF state for
1.-THE facts with rela ton to the claims
iof Great Britain AMI Germany against
Venezuela and generally for a state
Iment of the diplomatic situation with
reference to the Monroe Doctrine.
| The report recommended that the De-
lArmond resolution lie upon the table
and that the Mccall resolution which
called for all the correspondence In the
lease be adopted.
Mr.. Richardson. of Tennessee. asked
lwhy Italy and other European countries
(which were figuring In the controversy
were not named in the resolution.
Mr.. Hit replied that he was ad-
lvised that the correspondence was SIM
lllar in each case. The recommends
Itions OF the committee were agreed to.
The house then went into cJmmittec
lof the whole and took up the consid-
~leration of the hill reported by the ways
and means committee yesterday. tn re-
Iduce the duties on articles the growth
and the product Of the Philippines
archipelago from IS per cent. OF the
IDingley rates (the present tariff 10
rs per cent
Mr.. Payne explained the bill. The
philippine government. he said, needed
revenue and for that reason IL VIVA
.mpracticable to totally abolish the
ldutieS.
Mr.. Richardson, OF Tennessee. said
he believed any duty was unjust, IN
constitutional and un-American, but he
Favored any reduction. He gave notice
that he would vote to recommit the bill
with Instructions to report IL pack
lamended so as to provide for free
trade with the islands.
Mr.. Mcclellan, of New York. recalled
the fact tina General Wright. vice
governor OF the Philippines, in a hear
ing before the ways and means com
mittee, expressed the opinion that the
free importation OF Philippine products
would best subserve the interest of the
islands.
Mr.. swanson. of virginia, also argued
lin favor OF free trade with the Philip
lpines.
The bill was further discussed by Mr..
lDeArmond. of missouri, Mr. Ball, Of
Texas. Mr.. Crunpacker, of Indiana.
land Mr.. Greene of Pennsylvania. All
amendments were voted down in COM
~linittee of the whole. In the house Mr..
Richardson moved to recoInmit the bill
with Instructions to the committee to
report back amended 20 as TO provide
for free trade between the United
States aid the islands. The motion
was defeated.
The pure food bill was then taken
lup.
Mr.. Adamson. of Georgia. opposed IL
i'm an extended speech taking the
ground that the states could adequately
deal with the situation. He said he be-
Ilfeved thoroughly in the protection o:
the public against fraud. but he did
not believe in impo=ing the task upon
the federal government. No one eor
contend, he said, tnat a state could not
punish conmo cheats and sw1ndlers
If they deceived In that they sold ore
thing and delivered another.