Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-07
HOUSE ON SUGAR TARIFF
Mr.. Hill Talk, for Three Hours Explaining
Condition in Philippines
MoNDtLL LEADS FIGHT ON THE BILL
Wyoming Member says Passage Of
Measure VIII sound Death
kneII of beet sugar
Industry.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Sin a session OF
i've hours today the house placed on
record a speech in favor of the Philippine
tariff bill, one against IL, and a twenty
minute talk for tariff revision according
to the republican demand Of MAssachu-
sets. Mr.. Hill of Connecticut occupied
three hours and was listened to with the
greatest interest in detailing the knowl-
edge he gained from two visits to the
Philippines, the last one as a member Of
the party Of Secretary Taft last summer.
He paid particular attention to the tobacco
feature Of the measure and explained away
much OF the Misrepresentation as to the
enormous products that might be expected
from the islands. Their territory, he said,
was small and their fertile lands still fur
Their limited.
Mr.. Mondell OF Wyoming. who has led
the fight against the bill In the interest
Of the beet sugar Industry OF this eoun-
try, spoke vigorously against the measure
and against the policy of helping the
Filipino people by granting them open
markets in the United States. He said
the passage OF this bill would be the
death kneli Of the beet sugar industry in
the United States.
The abolition of the tariff on hides was
pleaded for by Mr.. Lawrence OF Massachu-
oN'e's WIN presented the position taken
by the republicans Of that state
Information regarding immigration from
Austria-Hungary contained in reports by
Marcus Braun was asked for from the sec
rotary Of commerce and labor by the house
on converting today.
speech by Mr.. Hill.
An illustrated speech on the tobacco
feature Of the Philippine tariff bill was be-
gun by Mr.. Hill Comm
map showing the quality of the land
OF the Philippines was brought into the
houses and Mr. Hill also had several sam
pies of the tobacco raised there. The coun-
try he said. followed in a remarkable de-
gree the physical features OF Japan. where
the tillable area was only something more
than II per cent. The census reports give
ga per cent of the total area as the agri-
| cultural land OF the Philippines, he said
! In describing the population he said that
slavery existed among the Moros 1t was
mild form Of slavery, but slavery never
/ theless. There we're, he said. no Filipino
people. There are eighty-seven tribes,
speaking over fifty languages: there is no
means of communication, no roads. About
! IA per cent can read; per cent read Span
ish. Under these circumstances, Mr.. Hill
said, a high order of intelligence could
not be expected.
| Tobacco Industry Small.
Substantially all OF the export tobacco
! of the islands comes he said from a single
| valley in the island OF Luzon The valley
| Is two miles wide and about nifty miles
! long No human being can comprehend, he
said, the primitive methods which prevail
In the making of all crops of the islands.
unless through personal observation. 1t
was the widest imagination to suppose
that at any time would Philippine industry
ever be disastrous TO American industries
Mr.. Hill reviewed al length the tobacco
| industry in the Philippines. explaining the
primitive methods of tobacco culture with
the limited manufacture of smoking and
chewing tobacco and cigars. He said single
factories in the United States make more
than the entire output of manufactured
tobacco in the Philippines. Mr.. Hill said a
careful study of the tobacco production in
/ the Philippines and export trade had per-
suaded him that the United States has
nothing to fear from competition with
! Philippine tobacco, because of it's impos-
| sible extensive tobacco culture.
Speaking Of the argument that the cheap
| labor of the orient would be brought in
! direct competition with American tobacco
| workers by reduction OF the duty on
/ Philippine tobacco, Mr. Hill called atten-
| ton to the fact that American exclusion
| laws keeps Chinese out of the islands and
contract labor cannot be employed lie
said practically all the cigar and cigarette
makers are Filipinos. few Chinese being
now employed. As all work Of this sort
is piecework. he said, a mans earnings in
crease as his ability increases
Mr. Hill said the manufacture of a first
class handmade cigar is almost as expen-
sVe as in the United States
Mr. Hill summarized the purely COM
mercial effects OF the proposed reduction in
tariff saying the stimulus TO industry in
, the islands will result in the preservation
| OF Philippine interests, which must sink
into ruin IL relief is not afforded. He said
the greatest benefit, however. will be the
increased alternative markets in the United
I States and the islands for high grade prod
ucts at good prices,
In conclusion, Mr.. Hill said Philippine
interests are essentially domestic interests
and expressed confidence in the favorable
action of congress on the proposed bill.
Reply by Mr.. MondeII.
Mr. Mondell CWyoD was the next speaker.
He said he approached the discussion with
the full realization of the obligations OF
| this government to the Fflipnos and with
! realization that charity should begin at
home. Beet sugar production in the United
States he said was child Of republican
legislation, which was protected until the
United States decided TO do something for
! Cuba"
Mr.. Mondell admitted he voted for the
hCuban measure, but said he had never
derived any comfort from the results of
his vote. lie declared there was an under
standing then that there was to be no fur
Their reduction in sugar tariffs.
The proposed concession would make
spoiled child of the Filipino by building
up great haciendas and not benefiting the
masses.
We are giving the Philippines every ad-
I vantage in our market, advantages that no
other country ever enjoyed" said Mr.. Mon
dell and in return We paying tribute
to the Moro in internal revenue tax on
goods imported TO the United States"