Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-01-19
TARIFF TO BE AN ISSUE.

In spite OF anything thus far done
by the republican leaders in congress,
with the aid of President Roosevelt,
to prevent a discussion OF the tariff
question, it appear inevitable that the
issue will be raised in a short time,
and it is expected by wise politicians
that tariff reform will be the paramount
issue in the next campaign. Under
the guise Of the Philippine tariff bill,
the whole tariff question has been agi-
tated for the last few days in the house
despite the efforts Of Speaker Cannon
to stife it. The PHILIPPINE tariff bill
which provides for free trade with the
PHILIPPINE Islands in all articles except
tobacco and sugar, raised in the
islands, on which a duty of 25 per
cent is retained, or in other words the
duty is to be cut to Is per cent by
this bill. This bill is causing more
trouble than all other legislation before
congress, and in fact is the first ques-
ton on which the republicans have
split since the Cuban reciprocity ques-
ton was an issue. Heretofore the
members Of the house from the north
west have been considered staunch
supporte. Of every policy OF the ad-
ministration, but the proposed reduc-
ton on sugar has caused those beet
sugar" representatives to rebel and
they are now prepared to join hands
with anybody and fight to the last
ditch the bill, which they believe will
destroy the sugar industry of the north
west The instruction, as it is called,
has reached enormous proportions. as
about IS republicans have expressed a
determination to vote their sentiments
on this question despite the wishes of
the administration. For nearly a week
the question Of reducing the tariff on
sugar and tobacco from the PHILIPPINES
has been one of consuming interest.
Congressman French has taken stand
against the reduction Of the duty on
sugar and has given the following
reasons: Its passage in my iudg-
ment would not aid the PHILIPPINE, nor
would it aid the American consumer.
as is manifest from our experience
with similar legislation touching Cuba.
On the other hand its passage would
put club into the hands of the great
sugar and tobacco barons that would
enable them either to dictate terms to.
or to put out Of existence the indepen-
dent producer within our own country.
and the one to whom eventually we
must look for lower prices to the con-
sumner. Within the state which I have
the honor to represent, approximately
five millions of dollars have been ex-
pended within the last few years. in
erecting factories and developing the
beet sugar industry. A market has
been made for the product of thou
sands OF acres of land, and a new vo-
cation given TO our peolpe. I do not
believe in a policy which will dis
mantle our industry, retard our devel-
opment, and for this loss give no COM
mensurate benefit to the American
consumer first Of all, OF to the Filipino
looking to US for aid. But that is not
all. The sugar industry cannot be
built up in the Philippine islands by
Philippine labor. We would need to
import cooGe labor from the east
That is admitted by Governor Wright
and has not been denied. I am
strongly opposed to the general admis-
sion OF Chinese and coole labor, and
especially when success to them is
purchased at a sacrifice to our own in
dustrY."