Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-30

machinery that crushes Il and converts the
Juice into sugar 10 not to BE- oonadsred
Tho cougts overfuled Collector Shustef On
Der INDUSTRY is concerned by deciding that
an Ar h not q machine. and that ConSrees
Intended savmills to b admitted at the
low duty originally nxed. but the tobacco
hemp, sugar, rice. copra and other Indus
tries have not taken the case to court. ana
still suffer under the theory that knives ana
machetes used to cut cane sugar. tobacco
and cocoanuts have lost their identity ana
have become machines" and that raw
cocoanuts. Hike sugar cane. and green To-
bacco leaves. are manufactured articles.
Mr.. Strong, whom have already quoted.
says: 1.-The reasons why the tariff on GER
tain agricultural products of the Philip
pines entering the United States should Do
greatly reduced have been urged at such
length and with such weight OF argument
that nothing remains to be said. Congress
has all the facts before it, and it remains
to be seen whether the powerful aggrega-
tons Of capital controlling the tobacco. su-
gar and other competing United states
ence to continue the present duties. which
practically prohibit the importation OF the
Philippine products.
A Neglect Explained.
The supreme Importance Of lower du-
ties on our exports has doubtless been the
cause Of neglect in urging changes OF the
duties on certain importations into the
Philippines. Until recently no voice has
been raised against the tariff upon I'M
portations, the local press has been silent
and duties unknown in any country In
the civilized and even the semi-civilized
world have been paid without public pro-
test
Tariffs exist for a twofold purpose
first, for the raising of the necessary
revenue required by the government, and
second for the protection Of home indus
ri IDOL yprv 20 nj Or
ind ustries exist in the Philippines. the
latter cause does not obtain, and the
most difficult factor in the problem as
known in the United States is eliminated.
considering then the question of reve-
nue., 1t Is granted that no form Of taxa
ton Is so easily and cheerfully borne as
reasonable duties placed upon the COM
mOdittes of common use. Market prices
who in the end pays the duty. gives no
thought to the small added increment he
Is unconsciously paying his government
with which to provide him with the bless
community. Such is the ideal tariff for
revenue. When. however, suoh duties be-
come SO onerous as to cripple established
enterprises and prevent the formation Of
new ones the very object which gave
them birth is thwarted.
1T Will be granted by all that manu-
featuring industries are needed in the
Philippines Raw materials Of the high
CO. q duc dDOunu WIN rev exceptions
either hand labor or the crude machines
or centuries ago prepare such articles as
are not imported. Money flows in a steady
stream abroad for the purchase of the
commonest commodities that could easily
be made here. 1t would seem to be with
IN the wisdom of the most dense mind
that the importation Of machinery should
be encouraged. unless some satisfactory
reason could be given why these islands
should indefinitely remain as Magellan
found them"