Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-22
57TH CONGRESS.
Senator Lodge Opens Debate
on Philippine Tariff.
Gives Reasons for the Measure and
Urges EARLY Enactment.
All Kinds Of Debate crecps in Under Urgent
Deficiency Bill.

Grafton for nearly three hours, today.
I'll. measure was made the unfinished
| business and it probably will hold that
position OF preference until it shall
| have been finally voted upon.
The debate was opened by Lodge.
Macs. chairman of the committee on
Philippines. In Il free hand way he
! ske;ched the reasons which actuated
the majority in presenting the measure
and strongly urged its enactment into
| law at an early date. With some mi
nutenesS he explained the necessity for
the legislation embodied in the bill and
concluded with an appeal to the Sen
ate and to Congress to deal with ques-
tons relating to the Philippines as they
might arise and to keep clear of vague
words and vague promises which would
likely be misinterpreted and raise
false hopes in the minds of the Flipi
nos. In an impassioned peroration he
besought Congress not to give mort
cages on an unknown future.
Rawlins. Utah. delivered a vigorous
speech in support of the minority sub
stitute. in which independence is prom
ised the Filipino people as soon as a
stable government can be established
ir the Philippines. His discussion Of
the general question OF the Philippines
covered much of the ground that has
been gone over during the past two
years. Throughout he was given care
full attention. s@al
AT the conclusion of the debate. Ba-
con, Georgia. sharply criticised the sec
rotary of war for an alleged violation of
the law, in issuing an order permitting
vessels flying a foreign flag to partici-
pate in the commerce between the
United States and the Philippines.
In introducing n bin in the Senate for
the reclamation o: arid lands, Hans
brough tNorth Dakota) said that 1t was
. measure unanimously agreed upon by
senator's and representatives In Congress
CT 10 states and three territories. He had
been directed by the conference, he said,
to introduce the bill.
a resolution offered by Mitchell (Ore.)
fcalling upon The secretary of war for
complete information regarding the trans
pert service of the United States was
adopted.
The Senate passed number of private
pension bills and bills granting permis
sion to CONSTRUCT bridges. and then at 2
q clock Lodge took the floor TO speak on
the Philippine tariff bill. He said the
United States rights in the Philippine is
lands were Settled.
Lodge reviewed briefly the past method
of the government of the Philippines By
the United States and then took up tie
recent supreme: court decisions holding
the Philippines to be domestic territory
and all duties levied upon articles void.
There was also. he said. doubt whether
the tariff adopted for the islands for
themselves would stand without further
action CT Congress. There was. however,
fhA Nrt a rtcta
doubt of the right of Congress to act.
Lodge called attention to the necessity
OF coastwise legislation for the islands
under decisions of the supreme court. He.
said that the tariff as fixed by the Phil
ippine commission had been established
only after the most careful investigations
lowering several months, and it was OBJ
vious to the c:'nmittees Of the two
Houses that they could not hope to i'm
prove upon that act.
Lodge said that to discriminate in IA
FOR of the United States on products &C.
iHg to the Philippines would diminish the
revenues and wc:ild break down the pol
icy of the open door The United States
had. by its fir.nness and excellent diplo-
macy, accomplished the establishment of
that pohcy in china and China would be-
for years the most important market fer
products of the United States
He explained the Senate committees
reduction of the Dingley rates to the ex-
tent of IS per cert. saying that the conf
mittee lad not felt it wise to make 4
further reduction. The exaction of TIL.
remaining duty could not be considered
onerous in view CT the fact that all the
moneys thus co,.ected would be returned
to the Philippines.
Lodge said he removal of export du-
ties did not affect the open door policy;
liz 1t did he would oppose it. Nor could
the policy give otense to Spain under the
treaty between that country and this.
He defended tbs policy of the free i'm
portation of hemp as in the interest OF
the agricultural element
Spooner asked II the policy of refunding
the export tax on hemp would not have
the effect of causing al the hemp grown
in the Philippines to be brought to the
United States anC thus deprive the Phil
|irpines OF the entire revenue derived from
that source. Lolge replied that provis
ion applies only to hemp Tor use Ill the
United States
The regula don of that matter wouc
have to be left 70 the treasury depart
rnent. but he would be willing 10 so
possibility He said in reply to Senator
Foraker that this same objection to the |
removal Of the export duty on hemp
would apply 10 Ill other articles orisi
mating in the philippines.
Speaking on general lines Lodge said
that the Philippine Islands are prosper
cas-. SPANS commercial prestige was
being replaced by that of the United
States
In reply to Bacon, Lodge said that the
war department had Ind to meet an ex-
igepcy in issuing its orders temporarily
authorizing ali vessels TO engage In the
coastwise trade OF the Philippines. To
have failed 10 do so would have wrecked
the commerce Of the islands and, al
though the order might not have been
authorized by law. it was justified by the
combinations and by the certainty OF
speedy action by Congress.
Lodge said h.. had no desire to go be-
yond the present situation. The minority
proposes to sweep away all tariff and 10
encourage the FiiipinaS to leave us. They
also make largo promises for the future
AS for his mind II was certainly clear
as 10 what we should do with the Phil
liunines In the future. but he would never
willingly agree to put into bill a iegis-
liative promise-vague. uncertain and per-
laps impossible Of fulfilment, raising vain
hopes and doing no good
Lodge spoke for about an hour and
was followed by Rawlins.
After reviewing the bill proposed bs-
the majority of the committee Rawlias
said 1t must be plain that the majoritv
measure would not tend to promote peace
and order in the Philippine archipelago
War. instruction. brisandage, robbery
and assassination would continue. Indus |
try and trade would be paralyzed
The Philippine commission. he asserted |