Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-19
THE PH|L|PP|NE BILL,
MEASURE REDUCING DUTIES On
IMPORTS PASSES THE HOUSE.
DEMOCRATIC MANOEUVERING.
Considerable Effort To Secure Test
Votes on, Propositions To Lower
Tariff Bars Still Further - Mr..
Swanson SpenIxs-Purc-FoodB Bill.
Votes on Pre-

WASHINGTON, D. c., December IS
The House to-day passed the bill to re-
duce the duties on products of the Phil
ippine Islands coming into the United
States from IS per cent OF the Dingley
rates Ghe present duties) to % per cent,
of these rates. The discussion of the
bill was accompanied by considerable
manoeuvring on the Democratic side to
secure test votes upon various amend
| ments designed to lower the tariff bar
rier still further, and record vote was
forced upon a motion to reconnit, with
instructions to report bill providing for
absolute free trade with the islands.
The division upon this proposition was
on party lines, with the exception of Mr..
who voted with the Democrats.
The discussion of the pure-food bill.
which had been made a continuing order
until disposed of. was begun.
Mr.. Tompkins. of Ohio, and Mr.. Adams,
| Of Georgia, opened the debate respec-
lively, for and against the bill. Mr..
Gardner, OF Massachusetts. opposed the
bill.
VENEZUELAN TROUBLE.
The Mccall resolution, calling on the
| State Department for the correspon-
derce in the Venezuelan imbroglio, was
adopted at the beginning of the session.
Mr.. Hit, of Illinois, for the Committee
on Foreign Affairs. reported back the
DeArmonl and Mccall resolutions, call
! ing upon the Secretly of State for the
facts as to the claims of Great Britain
and Germany against Venezuela, &nd
generally for a statement of the diplo-
matte 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.
Mr. Richardson. Of Tennessee, asked why
Italy and other European countries,
which were engaged in the controversy,
We're not named in the resolution. Mr..
Hit said that the correspondence was
similar in each case.
The recommendations of the commit
tee were agreed to.
| of the Whole. and took up the considera-
ton Of the bill reported by the Ways
and Means Committee yesterday TO re-
duce the duty on articles. the growth
and product Of the Philippine archipel-
ago, from Is per cent of the Ding!ey
rates (the present tariff to Is per cent.
Mr.. Payne explained the bill The Phil
| ippine government. he said needed reve-
nue.. and for that reason 1t was imprac-
ticable to totally abolish the duties.
Mr. Richardson. of Tennessee, said he
believed a duty was unjust. unconstitu-
tional. and un-American, but he favored
diiS 1SduStIoi. gave EOltce lildC he
would vote to -recommit the bill with in
structiens 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-Gov-
ernor Of the Philippines in hearing
before the Ways and Means Committee,
expressed the opinion that the free i'm
portation Of Philippine products would
best .subserve the interests Of the
islands.
SWANSON FOR FREE TRADE.
Mr.. Swanson. of Virginia. also argued
in favor OF free trade with the Philip
pines.
The bill was further discussed by Mr..
DeArmond.N Of Missouri; Mr.. Ball, Of
Texas: Mr. Crumpacker. OF Indiana, and
Mr.. Greene, of Pennsylvania.
All amendments were voted down in
Committee Of the Whole. In the House.
Mr.. Richardson moved to recommit the
bill. with instructions to the committee
to report It back amended SO as to pro-
vide for free trade between this United
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