Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-19
FOR THE PAYNE BILL
Report Authorized by Ways
and Means Committee.
THE VOTE WAS 7 TO s
ADMISSION OF PRODUCTS OF THE
PHILIPPINES.
Free Entry to Be Given Except to
Sugar and Tobacco, Which Will
Be Charged IS Per Cent.

The ways and means committee of the
House today authorized a favorable res
port on the Payne Philippine tariff bill,
upon which extensive hearings have been
held by the committee. The vote was seven
to five, Representatives Babcock of Wis
consin and william Alden Smith of Mich.
igan voting with the democrats present
against the bill. There were six absen-
tees.
The bin as adopted reduces the tariff rates
on Philippine tobacco and sugar coming
into the United States from IS to Is per
cent of the Dingley rates. and all other
good are put on the free list. Sugar ana
tobacco imported into the Philippines from
the United States are admitted free All
other articles pay the existing rate of duty,
The committee considered that 1t would
pe extremely inadvisabie to put other COM
modities besides sugar and tobacco on the
free list of entry into the islands from this
country, as it was believed that the Phil
lrpine revenues would be naticeably af-
fected The provision to this effect was
offered by Representative Hill of Con.
necticut.
The Williams Substitute.
Representative John Sharp Williams OF
Mississippi. the minority leader offered q
substitute providing that 'all goods wares,
merchandise or other articles, being the
growth or product of the Philippines or the
Island Of Guam, when shipped to any part
of Hawaii Porto Rico or any other port of
the United States, shall enter said port
free Of duty" The Williams bill also pro-
Vfdes that all goods, wares, merchandise
and other articles. being the growth or
product of Porto Rico, Hawaii or any other
appurtenance, territory or state of the
United States when shipped to any port
of the Philippines or Guam, shall enter
free of duty. The Williams substitute was
voted down.
To Meet German Conditions.
Mr.. Williams, in view of conditions IN
general and the situation as to Germany
in particular, offered bill ITO establish q
minimum tariff of the United States" Hfs
minimum is four-ffths Of the Dingley rates,
ito apply to and be levied on all articles
imported into the United States from such
countries as do now admit the products of
the United States upon an equality with
like products of such countries as may be
admitted TO their ports at the minimum
rate of duty levied by them"
The Williams substitute also applied this
minimum to imports from such countries as
hereafter establish minimum rate and
give us the benefit thereof This was also
defeated by party vote.
Goods in Bond.
One of the most important provisions of
the bill is contained In an amendment Of
fered by Representative Payne of New
York. This provides that upon all goods
affected by this act which are now in bond
for entry into the United States or the
Philippines duty shall be levied according
to the old rates and not under the new.
This amendment is particularly interesting.
in view of the fact that 10000 tons of sugar
are now being held at the port of New York
alone. 1t would have meant saving Of
100000 to the importers of this sugar IL
1t could have been entered and appraised
under the provisions of the Payne bin If it
becomes law.
Near to a Te-Up.
The Philippine tariff bill came very near
being tied up in committee. One of the
amendments to the bill was offered by
Mr.. Babcock. and provided for sugar and
tobacco duties of so per cent of the Dingley
re tes instead of 25 per cent. This amend
ment was offered In the interests of the
beet sugar and tobacco industries of this
country. 1t was defeated by vote of
eight to four, those voting for 1t being Bah
cock Needham of California, Smith Of
On the question of reporting the bill to
the House. Nsedham voted with the reduce
tionists making the vote seven to five,
whereas otherwise 1t would have been six
to Ska tie-which would have given the
bill very black eye in committee, although
it would soon have been reported out.