New-York tribune., 1905-01-29
PLEADS FOR PHILIPPINES.
EECRETARY TAFT HEARD.
Fouors Ultimate Self-GoOerTament
and Present Tariff Reduction.


washington. Jan. 2s-Secretary Taft made
an argument to-day before the House Commit
tee on Ways and Means In favor Of the Curtis
bin reducing the duty on sugar and tobacco
from the Philippines He contended that as the
Philippines belong TO the United States thereby
imposing a sacred trust on this government It
s. the duty OF this country 20 establish and
maintain the best possible conditions there.
Certainly" he said. "the present status OF
ths islands far as our relations to them are
concerned Will remain the same throughout the
present generation. and probably longer" With
this IN view. he maintained II would be as just
20 establish a tariff between the States OF Ohio
and Pennsylvania 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 measure which was erni-
nently unfair 10 the islands. you have de-
clared that In 1905 American bottoms shall
carry everything that is shipped between the
United States and the Philippines both ways.
In it possible that the House Of Representatives
or the Senate can force upon these people
domestic policy with reference to the carrying
of goods and yet withhold the opportunity of
markets for those goods3 No. SIR. I am not
willing 10 admit that I do not think Congress
VIII be so unjust, and these people here repre-
Henting special interests may as well put their
houses In order The American people are not
going 20 allow interference with the policy that
q going 70 DO this country honor"
This policy. Secretary Taft said. was settled
nt the last election The Democratic members
OF the committee might not agree with him on
this point
kr. Williams the minority House leader. asked
shs Secretary II it was not the Republican pol
icy TO give the islands ultimate independence.
Mr. Taft affirmed this. saying that such would
be the case when the people OF the islands were
capable OF self-government
-self-government as the American understands
e. or as the Filipino understands it9" asked
ar. williams.
Il doubt 81 they ever reach the self-governing
capacity Of Americans" the Secretary replied.
"wem." asserted Mr.. Williams. there is not
80 horribly much difference between you and
the Democrats. You believe In granting self
government when the people are ready, and we
believe IN fixing date for their independence"
'Yes. that is practically IT," replied Mr.. Taft
S~Whenever they reach the condition where they
have reasonable public opinion which may be
relied upon to restrain radicalisn: when inter
ISLAND communication has been established, and
when conditions generally have become settled
then II they desire independence. give II TO
them II they dont-if thev desire BOND which
might become sweet by coming inside our tarin
Even then you would make them SELL
governing colonyT" asked Mir. Williams
Yes sir" replied Afr Taft
Mr.. Williams remarked that the Republican
position at first was that We were to keep the
islands forever
LOOKS TO EVENTUAL FIRED TRADE.
Secretary Taft discussed the islands indus
tries, and said there was no danger whatever
that either sugar or tobacco from the Philip
pines would swamp or even figure in the mar
kets Of this country. He referred to reports
that he was willing 10 compromise on q 20 per
cent reduction. I willing he added, Ito
compromise on anything in the way OF a re
duction, if I can't get all This on the theory
that We are coming ultimately to free trade with
the archipelago, and every step In that olrecuon
IS going TO teach these umorous sugar and to-
bacco gentlemen that they are not gong 10 De
injured by that fact"
Taking Up the labor question. he said the
whole policy OF the administration was against
the introduction Of Chinese labor into those ISL
ands. He doubted If there were more than TO-
600 Cinnamon in the islands. and none Of these
The Secretary, speaking Of Filipino labor. said
he thought Il 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 CHI
nese used opium and were unsatisfactory.
street railway company, he said. was able 10
build its road and lay rails IN Manila at about
SO per cent less than il would cost in the United
States. The Filipino labpTer was given 10
amusement, having from sixty TO one hundred
feast days year.
Taking up the subject Of tobacco, he said
that produced for expectation grown prtn-
cipaily IN Cagayan and Isabella provinces.
About 70 per cent OF the tobacco lands were
owned and cultivated by natives. II had beef
necessary he said, 10 remove presidentes who
endea vored to force the small farmers 10 sell
70 them that they might make profit on the
OUTPUT within their jurisdiction. He regarded
she fear of the cigarnakers Of this country that
the free entry of Philippine tobacco TO the
United States would be Injurious to them TO be
untounded and thought they would proht py
lynportation Of raw material from the Philip
pines Few cigars were made in the islands, as
compared 20 the great number made in this
country he said adding that the demand for
home consumption enormous II being esu-
mated that six-sevenths Of the Christian Fill
pinos smoke tobacco.
The Secretary said that no Philippine cigars
are now being imported by the United states.
A DeterTnan, OF Manila presented memorial
on behalf of the Philippine tobacco growers and
manufacturers. making an appeal for the Tree
entry Of Philippine tobacco.
wallace P Willets, Of NeH-York, called atten-
Zion 20 the appeal for relief made by the COM
mission IN its report IN 1903. and said that by
the general increase IN the price Of sugar twice
the relief then asked for had been received. He
predicted that rehneries would be esta blished IN
Ffhe Philippines and their products brought TO
the United States by way Of San Francisco.
I Representative Brooks. OF Colorado, protested
AGAINST the bill IN behalf Of the beet sugar In
tsrests OF MS State. The committee granted
permission for the fling Of briefs up TO Wednes-
day next The hearings are practically closed.
INAUGURAL ANTHEM BY PROF. PARKER.