New-York tribune., 1902-01-21
THE PHILIPPINE TARIFF.
LINES OF BATTLE ORA WIN IN
THE SENATE.
MR.. LODGE INTRODUCES THE REPUB-
LlCAN AND MIR. RAWLINS THE DEMO
CRATIC BILI-A NOTIFICATION
WHICH MAY CAUSE TROUBLE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BuNE.l

WHICH MAY CAUSE TROUBLE
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEI
washington, Jan. 20-The lines of battle on
the Payne bill temporarily to raise revenue for
the PhlIlppine government were sharply drawn
IN the Senate to-day, when Senator Lodge for
'he majority reported that measure with i'm
portant amendments and Senator Rawlins of
Utah made report for the minority Both
reports have been foreshadOwed in The Trib-
une's Washington dispatches in the last week
and each as made to-day bore out The Tribune's
forecasts, except in one important particular in
the majority repOr-. At the last moment Sena-
tor Hale secured a modification of the matoritv's
policy. which, if agreed to by the Senate will
lead to confusion and irritation in the admin
lsuation of Philippine affairs. AS originally de-
cided upon by Senator Lodge and the other Re-
PuoHcan members of the Philippine Committee
the Payne bill to be amended to the extent
or reducing the tariff on imports from the island
- per cent and on all articles that pay an ex-
port tax under the schedules formed by the
Taft Commission for the purpose of raising
revenue for the Philippines an additional reduc-
ton OF duty was TO be made that these arti-
cles would not be handicapped by double tax
alton when brought to the United States for
sale senator Hale induced the majority of the
committee to strike out this provision for an
adoluonal reduction on export tax articles and
relieve them of paying the export tax in the
Philippines when they are consigned to the
United States. 1t is estimated that if this pro-
vision is adopted by the Senate it will cost the
Philippine revenues annually about 5000 900,
and thus will seriously interfere with the care
fully matured plans of the Taft Commission for
the administration of the Philippine govern
ment. Senate leaders say that 1t will also en-
danger the open door policy which Congress
and the Taft Commission alike are striving so
earnestly to guard In view OF this fact it is
probable that the Hale provision will be re-
1ected by the Senate. and the original pro-
gramme of stright reduction of - per cent.
plus an additional reduction OF the amount Of
export tax borne by certain articles brought
here from the Philippines, will be made
DEBATE TO BEGIN TO-DAY.
The debate the bill will be opened to-
morrow by Senator Lodge the manager
on the part OF the Republicans. Senator
Rawlins will lead off for the Democrats.
and 1t is expected that his speech will last the
greater part of the afternoon 1t is not thought
that Senator Lodge VIII make a long argument,
since ii Is probable that he Will be engaged in a
running debate with the minority until the bill
is disposed OF. If present plans carried out
it is likely that nearly every member OF the
Senate will have something to say on the bill
before the debate closes. as the Democrats are
of the whole question OF the administrators
colonial policy. and particularly the Philippine
situation. Owing to this determination. il is
believed that the debate will last fully month.
and perhaps longer.
SENATOR LODGES REPORT.
In presenting the bill TO the Senate. Senator
Lodge also presented 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 a very substantial benefit. |
The reduction of - per cent, added TO the re-
duction of the export duties. makes a net re-
duction on sugar, the principle article of export,
Of about 80 per cent. The report continues:
In view of the demand for money for public |
purposes in the Philippines and the expert |
mental character of tariff relations with !
those islands, - per cent reduction in our
tariff rates is as much as it is prudent to make
this time in a law which is OF necessity tenn |
porary. to meet a pressing emergency.
In Section 3. line s. your committee proposes
to insert after the word vessels the word for
eign" because without this amendment Ameri- !
can vessels coming from the Philippines will he |
obliged to pay the tonnage duties imposed upon |
foreign vessels in the ports of the United States
Mr.. Lodge gave notice that at o'clock to-
morrow he would call up the bill and make a |
brief statement concerning it. This is a BILL"
said Mr. Lodge, which in the judgment of the
majority of the Committee the Philippines !
requires immediate attention. 1t is my desire |
to bring II before the Senate from day TO day |
until action upon it shall have been taken 1 |
have no desire 10 press its consideration un- |
duly and l know of no desire upon the part of |
it's opponents to obstruct unduly its considera- |
tion or passage, although there is a proper wish |
to debate the subject thoroughly" He hoped |
that those who opposed to the enactment of |
the bill would be prepared to proceed promptly |
u idprat rna Of he
Senate might not be wasted.
Senator Culberson. OF Texas. to-day intro |
duced a resolution directing the Secretary OF |
War to transmit to the Senate copies of all |
suggestions, criticisms and correspondence be- |
tween the War Department and any officer or |
any person corporation, and between the !
War Department and any official and the Phil !
ippine Commission. relating to the customs !
tariff affecting the Philippine Islands, culmi |
mating in the Philippine tariff measure pending |
in the Senate. The resolution went over until
to- morrow.
EXPECT SOMETHING BIG |