Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1903-03-06
PHILIPPINE TARIFF.
President Pleads for Immediate Ac-
tion by Senate.
Sends Special Message Urging Re-
duction of Duties on Goods from
the Islands - why Relief
Is Needed.

Washington, Feb. 2S.-PresidenS
Roosevelt sent to the senate LIS
Thursday afternoon n special mes
sage urging in the very strongest
terms the passage by that body of
the Philippine tariff bill, which has
been passed by the house and now
languishes in the senate. The presi-
dent took this action after full dis
cussion of the subject at meeting
of the cabinet.
The Philippine tariff bill provides
for reduction of the American tariff
on all products coming from the
Philippines amounting to rs per cent.
The message is as follows:
81 have just received cable from
Gov. Taft, which runs as follows: Ne
cessity for passage house tariff most
urgent. The conditions of productive
industry and business considerably
worse than in November, the date of
last report, and growing worse each
| month. Some revival in sugar, tobac-
co prices, due to expectation of tariff
law. The interests of Filipinos in
! sugar and tobacco extensive, and fail
ure of bill will be blow in the face OF
those interests. Number of tobacco
| factories will have to close and many
sugar haciendas will be put up for sale
at n sacrifice if the bill will not pass.
| Customs receipts have fallen off this
month one-third, showing decrease of
purchasing power of the islands. Cen
| eral business stagnant. All political
parties, including labor unions most
! strenuous in petition for tariff bill. Eff
feet of it's failure very discouraging.
"Vice Gov. Luke Wright endorses in
the strongest manner all that Gov.
| Taft has said, and states that he has
the gravest apprehension as to the
damage that may come to the islands
if there is not substantial reduction
in the tariff levied against philippine
goods coming into the United States.
Urges Congress to Act.
"I very earnestly ask that this mat
ter receive the immediate attention OF
congress, and that the relief prayed for
be granted. AS congress knows, a
series of calamities have befallen the
Philippine people. Just as they were
emerging from nearly six years OF
devastating warfare, with the accom-
panying destruction of property and
the breaking up of the bonds of social
order and the habits of peaceful indus
try. there occurred an epidemic OF
rinderpest which destroyed 90 per cent
of the carabous, the Philippine cattle
leaving the people without draft
animals to till the lands or to aid il
the ordinary work of farm and village
life, the extent of the disaster can be
seen from the fact that the surviving
caribous have incre ased over ten-folt
in value. At the same time peculiar
oriental horse disease became epidem
ic. further crippling transportation
The rice crop, already reduced by va
rious causes to but fourth of its ordi
nary size, has been damaged by locusts
so that the price of rice has nearl,
doubled.
Urgent Needs in the Islands.
"Under these circumstances ther,
is imminent danger of famine in th
islands. Congress is in course of gen
erously appropriating $3,OO0,0O0 t.
meet the immediate needs, but indis
pensible and preeminentneed is the res
direction of productive industry from
the prostration into which it has beel
thrown by the causes above enumer
ated. ask action in the tariff matter
not merely from the standpoint of wis
governmental policy but as measur
of humanity in response to an appea
to which this great people should no
close its ears. We have assumed re
sponsibilities toward the Philippin
islands which we are in honor boun
to fulfill. We have the specific duty o
taking every measure in our power t
. see to their prosperity. The first an
most important step in this directio
has been accomplished by the join
action of the military and civil author
ties in securing peace and civil govern
ment. The wisdom of congress at tn
present session has provided for theI
| a stable currency, and its spirit of HI
name liberality and justice towar
/ them will be shown in the appropri;
tion now substantially agreed upon {
: $3,O00,O0O, to meet the pressing imm'
diate necessities, but there remains
{ vital need that one thing further sha
be done. The calamities which hay
a befallen them as above enumerate
, could have been averted by no huma
, wisdom. They cannot be completed
, repaired, but the suffering can
: greatly alleviated and n permanently bt
r sis of future prosperity assured if ii
: economic relations of the islands wit
: the United States are put upon sati
, factory basis.
- "THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
"White House, Feb. 27, 1903"
8 Breaks Bowling Record.
/ IL L. al