The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-04
Mr.. TAFT TO CHAIRMAN PAYNE.
Tho war sccrctary's ROlsons for Favor
tnr the Curl Philippine Dill.

WAgHtNorov, Feb Under date OF Jan.
/ g. Secretary Taft submitted TO Mr.. Payne
! chairman Of the Ways and Means committee
nm extensive summary OF "the rec sons why
/ In tho Judgment OF this Department the olli
introduced by Mr.. Curtis, II. X. lT'5', should
pass Tho communication Is too long ior
| presentatlon hero In full. Its main argu-
nent IA Identical with that which has already
appeared In THE Sun. and the statistics
quoted corroborate the figures already gwen
The following extracts from the letter sum-
GENTLY indicate its tone:
Whatever ultimately viii be done with the
| Philippine Islands. they are necessarily loI
the next generation to be part OF the uhlleu
States, and tho people OF the United states
are trustees in holding the Philippine lslandS
for the benefit OF the people OF those Islands
and are under a sacred obi 20 tredt
the people Of the islands as their wards. Win
this relation between the United States ana
the lslands there 10 no more reason lot d
tariff against tho introduction OF the prou-
ucts OF the islands into the United states
than there Ia for a tariG on tho products OF
Alaska. or the Hawaiian Islands. or forto
Rico, or indeed OF New Mexico and Arizona.
The Congress OF the United States has
enacted u law by which after TIE lst Of July.
1909. all merchandise from the Phlhpplpe
Islands carried 10 the United States dlrecty
or indirectly must come In American bot
toms Unless Congress by its law shall mlhte
! the markets In the United states pecgiggaIy
profitable and shall take down all tarlt ODD
struction 10 the passage OF merchandise IRON
the Philippines to the United States. thus
law is most unjust law II cannot p ne as
stunned that Congress- In treating tho Philip
pine Islands for purposes OF the patronage OF
American ships as part 81 tne tnI'ed 49,
OF the Philippine Islands, wiz now deny ,the
corresponding and necessary bcneht OF Tree
Tie House once passed bill reducing
the tariff on sugar and TOBACCO OF the Phillp-
pine, to rs per cent, The blll passed wlthout
great opposition. There was no particular
opposition because n consu tation over the
statistics showed that there noel not be any
II was only after the opposition. which we
have nov seen has been nursed by paid
profess onal agents. In circulated un-
founded statements among the trade. thal
many persons not familiar with the facts
we're misled TO enter protest: The minute
hat these statements are carefully examined
the portentous prophecies OF enormous
stimulated production OF sugar and tobacco
In the Philippine Islands and nm obstruction
Of the tobacco and sugar interests In the
United States are seen 20 be only the product
OF umorous ina g.nations and TO rest on.uo
credible evidence Whatever. VIM
respect to these claims IL is nrst TO be observed
that no one not even an editor OF the tobacco
and sugar journals land ] cannot state the
matter any more emphatcallyl claims .n1t
the. present production OF the Philippine Isl
ands either In sugar or ia tobacco or cigars
would have any Improbable eject II admitted
into this market Ut the prices RI which they
would be admitted under the new blu
The proposition OF the opp onents OF the
bill IL that II this cost OF laying down sugar
in New York was BIS cent?. or about 10 per
cent. less than at present, which would be the
eject OF the present hill. the Importation from
the Philippines. which Ia now nothing. would
duction OF the islands. which Is now less than
100000 tons, would increase 70 AZ least 800,
600 tons. or ,7ol per cent. This is absurd
on the face OF IT,
The opponents OF the bill say that there
are hity millions OF acres IN the Philippines
available for sugar planting that will at once
b. turned INTO sugar land. with modern ma
chnery. and that IL will produce five tons
an acre This IL 'moonshine'."
The truth Is that hemp, copra and even
rice are much more profitable crops and IN
volve very much less outlay than sugar. even
with the proposed Improvement under ne
present bill. Hemp forms 65 per cent. Of the
exports o. the islands and copra NEXT. IL Is
the height OF absurdty TO suppose that even
would mean more than a merely gradual
growth IN sugar land and sugar production
n the Philippines.
There is very little hope OF treat eIpan.
sion by Increase OF price because OF lack Of
lnbor The prophecy that coolie labor VIII
be introduced from China is wholly unfounded.
The policy OF exclusion Of the Chinese from
the Philippines Is the policy OF the United
States Government, OF the Philippine Gov
eminent and. most important of all. OF the
Philippine people
VIII not be led TO hesit tie 10 vote RI Rht on this
BIZ and on the showing made here bec1use
OF a fear or belief that II may not pass the
House or the Senate for shnrtness OF time.
| plead for Justice for the Philippines before
this the Lending committee OF the House OF
Rcpresentuti ve-. and ask decision on the
merits Of this bill without ri tn the fmt ure
late Of thus particular bin, because your Just
judgment VIII be Of the greatest weight in
every one of the future discussions Of the
issues cd 70 which ] propose. ns long
~ through Official channels may properly
do 50. to invite tho continued attention Of
Congress.