The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-10
TARIFF CONCESSIONS
Relations With Cuba and the Phil
5 ippines.
PROBABLE ACTION OF CONGRESS
Proposed Lowering of ningley Ratea
ON Philippine Products Less Inn
portant Than 1t Seems.

From The Journal B,vreuu, Room, A5, Post
BHdtdtaa0s Woshtn0to7s.
Washington. Jan. 1O.-Proposed conces-
sions In tariff rates to Cuba and the Phil
ippines will soon become leading topic
for congressional consideration. The Phil
EJipp1ne bin, having passed the house, is
now in tie senate committee, while the
Cuban matter will promptly be taken up
by the house committee. On Wednesday
the 18th, hearing will begin, first to all
advocates OF concession to Cuba to be fol-
lowed be rem0nstrants., It. is expected
that Edwin r. Atkins of Boston will be
The first witness. This will open a de-
termined contest the result of which may
be OF history shaking Importance. Most
people believe that the trouble in Cuba is
economic. and that should this country adj
here to a policy which would. leave Cuba
no market for her products, that island in
spasm of poverty would ask admission
to the United States. II we grant such
CONCESSIONS that the Industries Of the ISL
and can live the new government there
will have a chance for itself.
Representative Payne, chairman Of the
ways and means committee, now feels
that 1T would be entirely feasible to grant
the relief that the Cubans ask for, it
1t is found desirable. He believes that
bill can be framed in advance of the es-
Establishment by the Cubans Of an indie
reductions of duty in sugar and tobacco,
to take effect whenever Cuba makes recip-
rocal concessions Of certain prescribed
percentages to us. the power to proclaim
the new rates of duty on imports to this
country to repose in the president
<;;&Gs@ Philippine Tariff.
: The plan Of the senate committee on the
Philippines. seems to be to modify the
bill which has already passed the house
to the extent of lowering the Dingley
rates on imports from the Philippines by
the amount of the export duty imposed in
the archipelago upon the various articles.
This concession is less important than it
seems. The export duties are very small
ana cut little figure in influencing trade.
Thats on tobacco is understood to be less
than~a cent pound where our duty is
th1rty-hve cents It is said that the total
amount of revenue which has been re-
celved from export duties since our occu-
patton of the Philippines is only $780,
O0O, and. this includes exports to all coun-
tries or which our own part is relatively
small 1t is not to be expected that the
proposed senate concession will greatly
stimulate Philippine Industries or turn the
current of traffic in this direction. It will
perhaps be welcomed among literally
minded people here, and by the Philip
mos, as an evidence of our obligation
to promote their industries through ia
vorable tariff arrangements wherever pos
sible, even If the present concession be
very modest one.
These export taxes belong to the Span
ish system of raising revenue; they were
retained by the Taft commission in lieu
OF internal taxation to which the people
were unaccustomed. It was not feasible
to tax land because Of the questions Of
ownership and titles which seemed con-
fused. ''~.,t'5"
1t is understood that the WAYS and
means committee Of the house did not pro-
vide for this export tax concession because
Of its relative i4signifcence, and because
OF the. arguments presented by the sec
Rotary of war in favor of bill substan-
tally along the lines Of that adopted. It
Is not believed that there will be serious
opposition in the house to the proposed
senate changes. ~. ~ Is
Won't Resign Under Fire. = ss
It Is announced on what is undoubtedly
reliable authority that Secretary Long
E4does not propose to resign the navy port
folio under fire.. It was his original in
tention, it is said, to resign on the first
Of the year, but since the friends of Ad-
m1ral Schley have become SO active he is
said to have taken the position that he
must see the fight out. His friends say
that 1t is his intention to leave the cab
met as soon as the Schley case shall have
been definitely settled. r
$l@'~ w. W. Jermane.
TWIN CITY Postal receipts at Mime
7 sapolis in December have
- POST. jumped S0.5 per cent over
= i Sc FL: : the corresponding month
81 OFFICE. 1900. " They were $50, 631
and for December, 1900,
as66,361; increase. $2o,27O. The receipts
at st. Paul for the two months, respec-
lively, were s54,420 and $47,394, an in