The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-28
CONGRESS URGED TO
PASS PHILIPPINE
TARIFF BILL
President Roosevelt Sends in
a Message Declaring This
Is Necessary to Save the
1 %$s<
Islands From Calamity
Every Reason Why This
Should Be Done.

:, WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. a.
The president this afternoon sent the
following message. to the senate:
II have just received cable from
Gov.1Taft which runs as follows:
The necessity for the passage of
the house tariff bill is most urgent. The
conditions of productive industry and
business are considerably worse than
in November, the date of the last re-
port, and are growing worse each
month. There is some revival in SUI
gar and tobOccO prices, due to eXpecta-
ton of a tariff law. The interests OF
the Filipinos in sugar and tobacco is
extensive and the failure of the bill
will be blow in the face of those in
tereSts. A number of tobacco factor
les will have to close and many sugar
plantations will be put up for sale at a
sacrifice if the bill does not pass. The
customs receipts have fallen off this
month one-third, showing a decrease
of the purchasing power Of the islands
General business is Stagnant. All po-
litical parties, including labor unions
are most strenuous in petition for the
tariff bill The effect of it's failure
will be very discouraging.'
Relief Should Be Granted.
"Vice Gov. Luke E. Wright indorses
IN the strongest manner all that Gov
Taft has said, and states that he has
the greatest apprehension as to the
damage that may come to the islands
II there is not a substantial reduction
IN the tariff levied against the Philip
pine goods coming into the United
States. [ very earnestly ask that this
matter receive the immediate attention
Of congress and that the relief prayed
for be granted.
"As congress knows, series of ca
: &c l1.lVy bafn 1In A.
people. (The president refers to rim
derpest, locusts, etc.) Under these
circumstances there is imminent dam
ger Of famine in the islands Con-
gress is in course of generously appro-
pr1ating 100000 to meet the immed-
late needs; but an indispensable and
pre- eminent need is the resurrection of
productive industry from the prostra-
ton into which it has been thrown Nv
the causes above enumerated. 1 ask
action in the tariff matter, not merely
from the standpoint of wise govern
mental policy, but as a measure of hui
mainly in response to an appeal to
Which this great people should not
close It's ears.
Must Fulfill Responsibilities.
I'VE have assumed responsibilities
toward the Philippine islands which we
are in honor bound to fulfill. We have
the specific duty of taking every meas
ure IN our power to see to their pros
per1ty. The first and most important
step In this direction has been accom-
pllshed by the joint action of the mill
tary and civil authorities in securing
peace and civil government. The wis
dom of congress at the present session
has provided for them a stable cur
rency and its spirit of humane liberal
lty ana justice toward them will be
shown in the appropriation now sub
stantially agreed upon of $4,000, 900 to
meet the pressing immediate necessi-
ties; but there remains a vital need
that one thing further shall be done.
The calamities which have befalIen
them, as above enumerated, could have
peen averted by no human wisdom.
Ihey cannot be completely repaired:
but the suffering can be greatly allie
Waited and permanent basis of future
prosperity assured If the economic re-
lations of the islands with the United
States are put upon a satisfactory ba-
sis"