Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-18
essary to the prosperity of the islands.

implements should at least be admitted
free on the theory that their use will con-
tribute more to the prosperity of the gov
eminent and the people than any duties
that can be collected on them. This was
done in the case of Porto Rico. Everything
in the way of tools, implements and ma
chinery for all industries was placed on the
free list at the beginning and continued SC
as long as there was any tar1n upon
American goods in that island.
No man can build factory, or open
new farm, or set up sawmill, or open a
mine without contributing to the general
welfare, and no arguments should be neces-
sary to convince Congress that every pos
sible encoura cement should be offered en-
terprising individuals and corporations to
undertake such investments.
Duties on Philippine Products.
Secretary Taft will recommend and urge
upon Congress that all the products of the
Philippine Islands be admitted free into the
United States except sugar and tobacco
which, he thinks, should pay not more than
Is per cent Of the duties now imposed upon
those articles when imported from foreign
countries. They now pay 20 per cent OF the
regular duty. He is likely to meet OPPOSE
ton from both the tobacco and sugar In
terests in this country, which recently MADE
such desperate resistance to the reciprocity
treaty with China, although the SITUATION
and the conditions involved are very OIL
ferent.
The amount of sugar produced in the
Philippine Islands would not last minute
In the markets of the United States, and
1t will be generations before the imports
from the islands can have any unfavorable
effect upon the sugar industry in this coun-
try. Last year only $3.324,S14 worth OF
sugar was exported, and almost all OF II
went to Japan China and other countries
in that neghborhood, which do not produce
sugar and naturally buy 1t most econom-
ically in the nearest market. The demand
for sugar in the countries named Is con-
tinually increasing, and even more rapidly
than the product of the Philippines, when
has practically stood still for several years.
We import something like $So,Voo,ooo worth
of sugar every year and We get Httie
more than l per cent of it from the Phil
tppines. We are compelled to buy 20 per
cent or more of our sugar from foreign
countries, and will continue to do SO inden-
nitely, because the increase in consumption
Is equal to and usually greater than the IN
creased output of our own factories. WEle
the beet sugar industry Is developed In
remarkable manner, it is scarcely keeping
pace with the extension of the market, ana
it must be admitted that It is better for all
concerned to buy our extra sugar In the
Philippines than from any other source.
The same is true of tobacco Last year
we imported s., 547, 1O4 worth of tobacco
from foreign countries while the entire ex-
ports from the Philippine Islands were only
1856 $50 and only $755 worth of that came
to the United States. Nearly three-fifths OF
the Philippine product goes to Spain, where
1t is very popular and the balance Is con-
sumed in Japan, China, India and other
neighboring countries. Their markets will
continue to demand a larger portion of the
Philippine product, regardless of any favor
able legislation on the part of the United
States. The cigar manufacturers In this
country import a vast quantity of tobacco
from the East Indies, upon which they pay
full duty and one would suppose that they
would favor instead of resist reduction OF
the tariff on tobacco from any source.
Mineral and Timber Claims.
The Cooper bill provides regulations for
locating mineral and timber claims, which
are very much needed in the Philippines,
because, under Spanish dominion. nothing
was done in that direction. and the ancient
laws which date back two or three CEN
turtles, are very clumsy and inappropriate
to modern methods.
Only the other day the Denver Post pub
lished an article concerning the organiza-
ton of mining company for operation in
the Philippines. The officers are II. E.
Strowbridge of Philadelphia, president;
Robert S. Oberfelder of Sidney, Ne5., vice
president: F. X. Duval of Cleveland, treas
urer, and Samuel c. Gorham of New York,
secretary. These gentlemen and their as
sociates have paid in fund of $4,000 for
exploration. expenses, and on November !
Donald R. Stewart, formerly chief engineer
of the De Beers Mining Company of Afri-
ca with two other mining engineers, left
for Manila to represent the company in
prospecting and locating claims. This is
only one of several companies that have
been waiting for the result of the election,
and from this time the steamers to Ma
Mia will be well filed with prospectors and
Would-be investors
It is not proposed to take away any of
the civil rights now enjoyed by the Fiji
pinos 1t is the intention of the President
and Secretary Taft to extend them by car
rying out the promise of an insular legis-
lative assembly and the necessary steps
will be taken early next year. Many peo-
pie consider this very great mistake
The people OF the islands are not qualified
to make their own laws, as will be demon
strated very promptly as soon as they are
intrusted with that responsibility. 1t Is
proposed, however. to provide necessary
safeguards in the way of veto power to
prevent the proposed legislative assembly