Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-07

ness community in transmitting money from
one part Of the islands to another if silver
certfhcates of denominations up to 500
pesos were issued, and the shipping inter.
ests would be greatly Obliged ii the local
governments were given authority to mod
lily and suspend the regulations concerning
customs and tonnage dues as commercial
necessities arise. There is no doubt that
Congress will be willing to adopt these sug-
gestions. The committees of both houses
who have jurisdiction over Philippine af-
fairs are In favor of giving the commission
full authority to revise the local tariffs and
correct the defects In classification, the
INEQUALITIES Of taxation, and reduce the
rates on certain articles as they consider
exped1ent and necessary for the promotion
OF commerce and trade.
Sugar and Tobacco Duties.
There Is considerable hesitation, however,
about making the reductions in the rates
on sugar and tobacco in our tariff asked
for by Secretary Taft and the President.
There is no objection to free trade between
the United States and the Philippine ISL
ands. except in those two items, but the
Beet sugar interests and the tobacco inter-
ests are very suspicious and sensitive and
the able arguments which appear in Secre-
tary Taft's report do not seem to have con-
WINGED them that they are in no danger Of
harm from Philippine competition. Judge
Taft has shown that the amount of sugar
and tobacco raised in the Philippines is very
small and that there are limitations which
VIII render extension both gradual and
SLOW. One Is the scarcity of capital, an
other Is the scarcity of labor. and third
the primitive methods of cultivation that
are used. 1t is also shown that the demand
Tor both sugar and tobacco in China, Japan
and the neighboring islands is increasing
faster than the volume of the product and,
In all probability, will continue to do so;
while the long haul and the high rates of
freight to the United States will make it
IN ch fn1,o GO
far.
The total exports of sugar from the Phil
1ppine Islands to all countries in 1904 were
valued at only secs, 5O7 and those Of to-
2e7. Secretary Taft argues that while re-
ductfon Of our tariff on Philippine sugar
and tobacco to % per cent of the rates now
imposed under the Dingley law on importa-
lions from other countries will not affect
the price of either or injure the interests of
either industry in the United States it
would stimulate the cultivation of both
commodities in the Philippines and be con-
s1dered a great concession on the part Of
the mother government to the people of
those islands.
Opposition Of Those Interested.
1t may be that Congress will consent to
the reduction Of the duty on Philippine to-
bacco and sugar from IS per cent to 25 per
cent of the Dingley rates, but 1t will not be
done with the consent of the beet sugar or
tobacco interests Of this country. They
scent competition from as far away as the
philippines and will fight this proposition
as they did the reciprocity arrangement
with Cuba.
The leaders of both houses are of one
opinion as to the pending subsidy bill, and
while the commission which has been in
vestfgating the shipping interests will I'M
oouptedly make report and recommended
ton, no action will be attempted at the
present session.