The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-17
 PHILIPPINE
 TARIFF BILL Measure Passed by Big
 Vote. THE DEBATE WAS STRENUOUS But Few Changes Made in Bill of Committee. The Democratic Enort To Have Con sres Declare Itself For Future Freedom of the islands Proved UnavailinE.
THE DEBATE WAS STRENUOUS

Washington Jan.. 16-The, Philippine tariff bill was passed by the House to- day substantially as 1t came frcm the Ways and Means Committee. The vote was 25s tos71. Rice was made suo- ject to the same tariff as sugar and to- bacco-25 per cent of the Dingiey rase -and one or twp changes were "s.as as to language.
 This result was attained after de- cidedIy the most strenuous day or the present Congress. The many amend. ments which were launched and went to pieces in the storm of debate ana against the rock which the House rules constituted. left much legislative wreckage and many records only use- tul for future political purposes.
 Republican opposition to the nili m the interest of American beet and cane sugar and tobacco. tried out its strength early and gave up. This op- position refused to affiliate with Demo- cratic efforts. The strongest plea TOT "insurgent" support was made in De- half of Champ CIarks amendment to reduce the ,dIfferentiai on refined su- gar. The minority sought to duplicate the House record made on the Cuban reciprocity act, but they reckoned without their host to-day, as not Re- publican opponent to this measure stood with them to over-rule the decis- lon of the chair. The Democratic SUD stitute met with only the support or the minority and went down under vote Of 231 to 106 On. the final passage or Inc bili ,the 'insurgentsr demanded a roii-cali that their record might be pre- served.
 The, bill, admits goods. the growth or product of the Philippine Islands, in- to the United States free, Of duty ex- r cept sugar, tobacco and rice. on which a tariff of 25 per cent of the Dingley rates is levied, It provides that after April II, 1909 there shall be absolutely free trade each way between the Unit ed States and the Philippines. IL also exennpts Philippine goods coming to the United States from export tax nf those Islaifds Merch&ndise from either country Is subjected te the internal revenue tax of the country. ln which
 No independence For Islands.
 An effort sustained by the Democrats but opposed by all but three Republl- cans. was initiated by Mir. McCall, of Massachusetts. to commit the United States to the policy of granting inde- pendenee to the Philippins Islands as soon as their inhabitants can be pre- pared for self government.
 The House adjourned at 6:20 o'clock In the prayer of Chaplain Couden, opening the session of the House to- day, reference was made to the rescue by Captain Caste and his little crew of the men, women and children of the steamer Cherokee, stranded off the New Jersey coast. sse 5. r MT. Steenerson (dinn.) obtained the floor on a question of personal privi- lege He had read from a Boston pa- per an article quoting President Roose- velt as saying to MT. Steenerson on last Saturday that if he had known MT Steenerson was opposed to the Philip pine tariff and Statehood bills, he should not have appointed MT. Steener- sons man as receiver of the general land office as Crookston, Minn.
 MT. Steenerson first commented that if it were true that the President had used the language attributed to him it was a serious matter.
 But he continued. the article is false--no such language was ever used by the President tRepubiican applause). Nor was anything ever said; by him In my hearing that could be susceptible of any such meaning. still more ap- plause greeted this. statement.
 MT. Steenerson said the whole thing was not only false, but was ridiculous because he did not hold the views on the bills as stated. He concluded by stating, that his interview with the President was entirely pleasant.
 RetOrt of smith.
 Taking up the Philippine bill for amendment. MT. Payne secured the adoption of the committee amendment when MT William Alden Smith sought recognition for twenty-five minutes On Mir. Payne's objection, MT. Smith retorted:
 why, sir un my twelve years ser vice in this House have not occupied the floor as long as the gentleman held it in opening the debate on this bill"
 Mir. Smith was given twenty minutes on the statement that he did not all together hold the views of the oppo' nents of the bill.
 MT. Smith contended that the bill would not only not assist the Philip pines, but would be detrimental tC them. He explained this by saying that Hong Kong was the principal market for Philippine sugar and that by reducing the duty this market would he lost by operation of the Brussels convention excluding bounty-fed sugars from European countries or their de. tendencies. Mir. Smith offered ar amendment making the duty on sugar 60 per cent of the Dingley rate instead of 25 per cent as provided in the bill It was defeated-73- to 197.
 An amendment defining tho purpose of the United States in tho Philippines 10 be to fit the islands for self-gov' ernment and to give them independ- ehce when they have reached the prop CT state was offered by Mir. Call (Mass.l MT Payne at once raised the point oi order that the amendment was not ger mane 10 the bill.
 Shocking to this. MT. Mccall said fl was inc same proposition that prevail sd with reference to Cuba. He be. I,eved the United States had pursued the policy of drift" long enough. Il was our duty under the treaty of peace between the United States and Spain to declare our intention with reference to the Philippines. n
 Chairman Olmstead ruled the amend ment was not in order, supporting th' ruling by a long line of precedents.
 MT. Mccall appealed from the de eision of the chair. Pending vote on the appeal Mir. Underwood (Ala made a plea for the amendment.
 The decision of tho chair was sus tsined by d rising vote of l9S to t2S Mr, Mccall. Hosr and Fordney (Iich z being the only Republicans voting tc