The age-herald., 1902-02-07
SENATOR CARMACK
 QUESTIONS TAFT Says Opposition Against U. s.
 is Not General WERE GREATLY AROUSED Thinks Removal of Export Duties Would Have Greater Effect on Sugar Than on Hemp-Anx-
 ious for a Reduction.
WERE GREATLY AROUSED

Washington, February Ex-Governor Taft appeared before the Senate commit tee on the Philippines today with the intention of taking up the Senate Philip pines tariff bill and of devoting his at tention to the revenue and tariff condi- tions of the Philipine Islands, but be- fore beginning with the subject he re- piled to number of questions by Sena- tor Clark, bearing upon subjects hereto fore covered by the governor in his testimony before the committee
 MT. Carmack quoted from the reports of General Macarthur of 1900 to the eff feet that there is substantial unity among the Filipino people in their opposition to the United States Replying, Governor Taft said the commission had not ori- ginally accepted the generals conclusion and that the commissions tour of the archipelago had convinced them they were correct In their conclusion.
 That originally the people of the Phil ippine Islands were most aroused, I do not doubt" he continued, but the oppo- sition does not continue in it's general aSPNCt. olllCe lic SSCOIu eltCllOl Ol IIeS- ident Mckinley the great majority of the Filipions have been favorable to the peace and the acceptance of the sovereignty of the United States and 1t would be impos- sible to continue the present guerrilla war fare without the system of terrorizing which now prevails"
 Differs With General Bell.
 Governor Taft also said he differed from General Bell on the point of the general desire of the inhabitants to maintain hos tilities in Batangas; he did not believe the common people self so inclined
 Governor Taft explained the present system of taxation in the Philippines. Supreme Court no duties are now being collected on articles going into the islands from the United States.
 The plan of the commission had been to have no internal system of taxation for the support of the general government of these islands. Under the Spanish sys- tenn there was a general poll tax which netted about $7000,O00, while the receipts from the customs were only about $5, ,000. GOO. Even children were taxed under that system.
 Under Spain there was also a tax upon business enterprises and that system has been continued to an extent by the com mission. The commission had also decided to maintain the poll tax to the extent of $1 on adult males; but to apply it only to paying the governmental expenses of the towns and provinces. The people of the islands had generally urged the impo- SifinTl of to of their numbers to work. Under the Spanish regime the plan had been used to enforce a sort of slavery.
 Can Sell All the Hemp.
 Regarding the effect of the removal of the export duty on hemp from the Phil ippines, Governor Taft said:
 We can sell all the hemp we can raise. The effect of the provision would be greater on sugar. I apprehend that the anxiety of foreigners to secure the hemp product of the Philippines has led to the furnishing of much of the sinews of war in the Philippines"
 In reply to a question from Senator Culberson concerning the effect of plac- ing a lower tariff on American imports from the Philippines than upon Philip pine exports from the United States, Gov ernor Taft explained that the commission had devoted no time to the Dingley tariff law; that they were looking solely after the Philippines interests.
 Senator Patterson reminded the wit ness that he had in his report recom- mended a reduction of 50 per cent, and asked why such a reduction had been suggested Governor Taft replied:
 ''I am bound to say that at present our principal reason for asking a reduction Is sentimental. The effect of a reduction of 50 or 75 per cent on Philippine im- ports into the United States would not be great for the next few years and any concession of that character would be beneficial in our dealing with the people of the Philippines. Such a course on the part of Congress will be a great aid in giving them assurance of the friendly feeling of the American people. Tobacco would be benefited somewhat as would also sugar, the product of this latter article amounting to about 175,0 600 or 2O0,- GOO tons annually; but the benefit of the proposed reduction would not be great in actual money saving"
 Asked to explain the statement in his report that the reduction would cause commerce with the islands to increase by leaps and bounds Governor Taft replied:
 That is a theoretical expression, but we want the reduction very much''