The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-19
DUTIES REDUCED
rs PER CENT
House Debates the Philippine
Tariff Bill.
THE VENEZUELAN IMBR0GLIo
This Matter Was incidentally Referred
to in the House Of Representatives.
Inquiry as to l.aiy's
Position.
(Ry Associated press.)


WASHINGTON, December 1s.-The
House to day passed the bill to reduce
the duties on the products Of the Philip
r,ne Islands coming into the United
States from IS per cent- Of the Dingiey
rates uhe present duues) to % per cent
OF these rates.
The discussion Of the bill was accom-
panied by considerable manoeuVering on
me Democratic side to secure test
votes upon various amendments designed
10 lower the tariff barrier sui iurther.
and recorded vote was forced upon d
,nution to recommit with instructions TO
re1ort bill piovIuins for absolute Tree
uaue with the Islands. Inc DIVISION
Upon this proposition was on party lliies'
with the exception OF MT. McCal tHe,
publican, Massacnusetts), VINO Voleo
with the Democrats.
The discussion Of the pure food bill.
which had been made continuing order
Until disposed of. was begun.
Mr. Tompkins. of Ohio. and MIR. Adams.
OF Georgia, opened the debate respec-
lively for and against the bill. Mr.. Gard
lei, OF Massachusetts,. opposed the Gill
The Mccall resolution upon the State
Department for the correspondence in
the Venezuelan inlbroglio was adopted
at the beginning of the session.
Mr.. Hit. of Illinois. for the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, reported back the
DeArmond and Mccall resolutions call
ing upon the Secretary of State for the
facts as to the claims of Great Britain
and Germany against Venezuela, and
generally for a statement as to the
diplomatic relations with reference to the
Monroe doctrine. The committee recon-
mended that the DeArmond resolution
lie on the table and that the Mccall reso-
luton be adopted
1TALY's POSITION.
Mr.. Richardson. Of Tennessee. asked
why Italy and other European countries
which were named In the controversy
were not named in the resolutions. Mr..
Hit said that the correspondence was
similar in each case.
The recomm endations Of the commit
tee were agreed to. The House then
went into Committee Of the Whole and
took up the consideration of the bill re-
rcrted by the Ways and Means Commit
tee Yesterday to reduce the duties on
articles and products Of the Philippine
a1chineiaSo from IS per cent. Of the
Dirglev rates. as at present. to Is ner
cent. Mr.. PAYNE explained them The
Philippines. he said needed revenue. and
Tor that reason if was inlpracticable to
Mr.. RICHARDSON'S PROTEST.
Mr.. Richardson. Of Tennessee said he
believed duty was unjust and u1lcon-
stitutiona1 and un-American. but he fa-
vored any reduction. He gave notice that
he would vote to recolnmit the bill, with
instructions to report it back amended
so as to provide for free trade with the
Islands. Mr.. Mcclellan. Of New York.
recalled the fact that General Wright.
Vice-Governor of the Philippines. in
hearing before the Ways and Means
the free Importation of Philippine pro-
ducts would best subserve the interests
Of the islands.
Mr.. Swanson, Of Virginia. also argued
in favor Of free trade with the Philippines.
The bill was further discussed by Mr..
DeArmond. of Missouri; Mr.. Ball. of
Texas: Mr. Crumpacker of Indiana. and
Mr. Greene. of Pennsylvania. All
amendments were voted down in the
Committee Of the Whole. In the House.
Mr.. Richardson moved to recomn,it the
bill with instructions to the committee
to report it back amended SO as to pro-
vide for free trade between the United
States and the islands. The motion was
defeated.
The pure food bill was then taken up.
Mr.. Adamson. of Georgia. opposed 1t in
an extended speech. taking the ground
that the States could adequately deal
with the situation He said he believed
thoroughly in the protection Of the public
AGAINST fraud. but he did not believe in
imposing the task upon the Federal gov
eminent. No one could contend. he said.
that a State could not punish common
cheats and swindlers if they deveived in
that they sold one thing and delivered
another.