The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-22
WILL RETURN FLAGS
STANDARDS BACK TO THEIR NA-
 TIVE HEATHS.
House Also Passed Philippine Tariff Bill Practically as It Came
 from Committee on Ways and Means.

Washington, Feb. 21.--The House to- day passed the Philippine tariff bill practically as 1t came from committee and with but little discussion.
 There was no especial opposition to 1t, although amendments coming from the Democratic side designed to put certain products on the free list met with defeat. An effort to prohibit the | importation of opium into the islands except for medicinal purposes also | failed, although MT. Payne (N Y) ex- plained that the Philippine Commission | was dealing with the subject in It's own way.
 Immediately after the Philippine tar- if bill was disposed of. the House took up the river and harbor appropriation bill. but 1t was soon laid aside and sew eral measures were passed, the most important of which was the authorize | tion given the Secretary of War to re- turn to the several States the Union and Confederate flags.
 Soon after convening today, the House in committee of the whole be- gan consideration of the bill to revisa | and amend the rarin laws of the Phil- | ippine islands. MT. Payne (N. Y.), chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, explained that the bill did not affect the question of goods import cd into the United States from the Phil ippines. but it did affect goods exported from this country to those islands. The bill, he said, was for revenue purpose es and originated with the Philippine Commission.
 Several Southern members directed inquiries to Mir. Payne regarding the resolution for the reduction of duty on manufactured tobacco. which elicited the reply that it was thought the prod uct would yield a little revenue, and at the same time not interfere with the industry in the islands. The tobacco business in the Philippines, he ex- plained, was not in so bad a way as the sugar business.
 Responding to a question by Mir. Rob- inson Und.). Mir. Payne said that the bill did not contemplate nor had any suggestion been made concerning any appropriation looking to the admissio 1 of Chinese labor into the islands.
 Concerning the cotton schedule Mir, |, Payne. answering a query by Mir. Bart lett (Ga.) furnished the Information that the language of the former mes- sage had been changed in such a man. ner to give the United States mills A better chance In the foreign markets than foreign mills through the classi- | hS1NAOn OA tb0 BDOuS
 The traffic in opium in the Philippines formed the subject of discussion through an amendment by Mir. Hitch cock (Neb) to prohibit the importation of the product except for medicinal purposes. He was particularly insist ent that on account of It's evil effects. It's use should be restricted
 Mir. Payne asserted that the use of opium in the Philippines has greatly diminished and he believed in acced- ing to the suggestion of the Philip pine Commission that the question be left with them to deal with. The amendment was defeated. An amend ment was agreed to providing that un- der the authority granted the Philip pine commission to enact Legislation regarding opium they shall not estab- lish a license system with view to deriving a revenue from the trafic; also that no license fees or taxes ex- cept duties on import shall in any event be higher than deemed neces- sary to cover the expenses of admin istration of any such legislation. An unsuccessful attempt was made by Messrs. Cooper (TexO, and Webb | (N. O to place in the free list raw cotton and cotton waste imported into the Philippines from the United States
 
 cluded so as not to violate the terms of the treaty of Paris regarding dis crimInation.
 Cotton Amendment Defeated.
 Mir Webb supplemented his amend mont by declaring it to be not right for the House to coop up and confine the American cotton grower to only a flow markets. The amendment, he said. was about the only crumb that could be thrown to the Southern cot ton growers.
 In offering an amendment to remove the tax on yarns Mir. Webb caiied attention to the promise of the Pres ident made yesterday to Southern mill owners to assist them in their efforts to increase the market for American cotton abroad and said that an oppor- tunity was presented by the bill to do so. Mir. Payne maintained that if adopted. the amendment would make the bill one-sided. other products not being accorded the same privilege. The amendment was defeated 9S to ss9.
 Unavalling efforts subsequently, were made to place agricultural implements and agricultural products, locomo- tiyes, etc. on the free list and a sim liar fate was accorded q proposition of MT Cooper (Tex.) to tax diamonds in the rough
 Mir. Cooper (rex.) moved to recon- init the bill with instructions to place cotton and cotton manufaoturea iron.