The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-05
IT'S UP TO LONG.
Question of Reduction of Philip
pine Tariff.
FaYOrs Scaling Down Duty on
Sugar, Tobacco and Rice.
BILL MAY NOT PASS.
American Protective Tariff
League Opposes 1t.
Kansas Congressman Stand by
Senator Long in Contest.

Washington. Feb. 5.-Now that the
Philippine tariff bill is in the senate
committee on the Philippines, where
daily hearings are being had the ques-
tion of reducing the rate Of duty on
sugar. tobacco and rice from the Philip
pine Islands into the United States to
Is per cent of duties imposed by the
Dingiey law, is square up to Senator
Long, and he is taking a leading part
in the hearings and the discussions Of
the committee. "A careful perusal OF
the hearings. which have been most in
teresting, will show that he has indeed
taken the most active part. in the way
OF ascertaining information from wit
nesses, ana closely questioning them, Of
any member of the committee.
Senator Long favOrs the reduction of
duty on these three articles from the
Philippine Islands. He does not believe
that it means injury to any American
industry. He bears in mind the con-
eest from years ago over reciprocity
with Cuba, when it was proposed to
make a 40 per cent reduction, and a 20
per cent reduction was finally made, in
which contest, originating in the com
3nittee on ways and means of the house
of representatives Of which he was a
member, he was a leader for the reduc-
ton 1T is remembered that the same
cry of injury to American products was
made then, and yet there came about
the reduction, and no injury to Ameri-
can Industries followed in its wake.
Tt IS possible that the Philippine tariff
bill may not be passed by the senate.
It Is possible that the senate committee
on the Philippines may not make a
favorable report upon il But those
who stand for the proposed legislation,
which is urged by the administration,
can see no likelihood Of distress to to-
bacco or sugar industries in the United
States.
The American Protective Tariff
league, which is an Institution main
tanned in New York city, has prepared
5 form letter to send out in oppOsi-
zion to the measure where the broad
statement is made that the bill il
passed, will cause great injury and
perhaps ruin to the American grow
ers and producers of sugar. tobacco
rice and other products" The bill is
also referred to as "a breach in the
wall OF protection and the thanks OF
the organization are rendered to those
who voted against the measure in the
house of representatives..
The question which arises in the
mind Of the man VINO has studied this
measure, and who favors it. is how the
bill, il it becomes a law, can injure
any American industry when it does
not lower the price of the commodity
affected to the consumer The United
States consumed in 1905 2,632,21(
tons cf sugar. United States proper
produced in 1905, calendar year, 576,-
124 tons of sugar Hawaiian islands
and Porto Rico, possessions of the
United States, supplied sol, AIS ton,
more. This made total Of sugar
produced IN the United States and it.
possessions from which suger is OBJ.
famed free of duty. a little less thar
one million tons, as against a tota
consumption of more than two and
one-half times that amount Wheri
ct so per cent Of Dingiey rates, con
tributes q trile over a million tons
There IS still nearly q half million ton
60 be secured elsewhere. 1t CONES
from Java and Europe. So the gen
Ara1 proposition is that until thi
United States and its possessions cal
produce suf1cient sugar to supply thi
entire country, the sugar industry vii
Be ruined or injured by letting in at