The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-29
FREE TRADE WILL
CONE, TAFT ADMITS
Secretary Voices Administra-
tion Desires Concerning
the Philippines

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. Is
! Secretary Taft made an argument to-
| day before the house committee on
| ways and means in favor Of the Curtis
| bill, reducing the duty on sugar and
] tobacco from the Philippines. He con-
/ tended that as the Philippines belong
to the United States, thereby imposing
sacred trust on this government, it
| is our duty to establish and maintain
the best possible conditions there.
Mr.. Williams (Miss.), the minority
floor leader, asked the-secretary if it
was not the Republican policy to give
the islands ultimate independence.
The secretary affirmed this, stating
that such would be the case when the
| people of the islands were capable Of
self government.
"Self- government, as the American
understands it, or as the Filipino un-
derstands itP" asked Mr.. Williams
II doubt if they ever reach the self
governing capacity of the Americans
the secretary replied.
We'll, asserted Mr.. Williams, there
is not so horrible much difference be-
tween you and the Democrats. You
believe in granting elf-government
when the people are ready, and we be-
pendence."
Secretary Taft-Yes, that is prac-
t1cally 1T. Whenever they reach the
condition where they have reasona-
BILE public opinion which may be re-
lied upon to restrain radicalism; when
interisland communication has been
established, and when conditions gen
orally have become settled-then if
they desire independence, give it to
| them. If they dont-if they wish
bond which might become sweet by
coming inside our. tariff wall-that
might be considered.
SeIf-Governins Colony
Mr.. Williams = Even then YOU
would make them self-governing
| colony?
Secretary Taft-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Williams remarked that the
Republican position at first was that
| We We're to keep the islands forever
| Certainly" he said, "the present
status of the islands, so far as our re-
lations to them are concerned, will
remain the same throughout the pres
ent generation and probably longer"
With this in view, he maintained. it
would be as just to establish a tariff
between the states of Ohio and Penn
sylvanla as between the United States
and the Philippines Ultimate free
trade would have to come in the end
| between the islands and the United
| States.
Secretary Taft asserted warmly that
| congress had already enacted a meas
ure which was eminently unfair to the
Islands. You have declared that in
1905 American bottoms shall carry
everything that is shipped between the
United States and the Philippines both
ways Is 1t possible that the house of
/ representatives or the senate can i'm
| pose on these people a domestic policy
with reference to the carrying of goods
| and yet withhold the opportunity of
markets for these goods? No. sir, am
not willing to admit that I do not
think congress will be so unjust, and
, these people here representing special
interests may as well put their houses
IN order. The American people are not
] going to allow interference with the
] pollcy that is going to do this country
honor
This policy. Secretary Taft said. was
settled at the last election The Demo-
era cra,lc members Of the committee might
not agree with him on this point
Secretary Taft discussed the island
industries and said there was no dam
| ger whatever that either sugar or to-
bacco from the Philippines will
swamp or even figure in the markets
| of this country. He referred to reports
that he was willing to compromise on
/ 25 per cent reduction
/ 1 am willing" he added, ito COM
promise on anything in the way of a
/ reduction If | can't get all this, on the
theory that we are coming ultimately
| to free trade with the archipelago and
every step in that direction is going to
| teach these timorOuS sugar and to-
bacco gentlemen that they are not GO
ing to be injured by that fact
He said the whole policy of the ad-
| m1n1Strat1on was against the introduc-
ton of Chinese labor in those islands.
He doubted if there were more than
$4,000 Cinnamon in the islands, and
] none OF these are agricultural laborerS.
The secretary. speaking of Filipino
labor, said he thought it would steadily
improve and that a Filipino under an
American foreman would have a
| chance.
Speaking of road construction where
Chinese were employed, he said the
Chinese used opium and were unsatis-
| factory. A street railway company was
able to build its roads and lay rails in
Manila at about 33 per cent less than
| 1t would cost in the United States.
The Filipino iaborer was given to
amusement, having from 60 to 100
fiesta days year.
He said that tobacco produced for
expectation was grown principally in
Cagaya and Isabella provinces. About
| rs per cent of the tobacco lands were
owned and cultivated by natives. It
had been necessary to remove presi-
dentes who endeavored to force small
| farmers to sell to them, that they
1 might make profit on the output
within their jurisdiction. The secre-
| tary regarded the fear Of the cigar
| makers of this country that the free
entry of Philippine tobacco in the
United States would be injurious to
them to be unfounded and thought
they would profit by Importation Of
! raw material from the Philippines. But
! few cigars were made in the islands as
compared to the great number in this
| country, he said, adding that the de-
mand for home consumption was enor-
nous, 1t being estimated that six-sev-
enths of the Christian F'ilipinos smoke
tobacco.
Die in Storm
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, jan 28.--
William Wise, aged twenty-five years,
an engineer on the Pennsylvania rail-
road, is dead from exposure during
the storm last Wednesday night. Ed