New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-15
HOENE AND SENATE.

MANY critics are inclined. no doubt, to e1aS-
gerate the differences of opinion when nave
arisen at this session of Congress between 'he
House and the Senate. The House has under
taken to pass three pieces OF legislation nav
ing the hearty Endorsement OF a RepuDhcah
President-a railroad rate bill. a statehood bill
combining Oklahoma and the Indian Territory
10 form one state and Arizona and New-MeXlco
IN form another and n bill reducing our present
oppressively high tariff rates on Philippine
products The minority party in the House pa
triotically co-Operated TO put through the rail-
road rate and Philippine tariff measures The
Statehood bill was passed against the OPPOSE
ton of the Democrats and small percentage
of "insurgent" Republicans. The Senate has
dismembered the Statehood act smothered the
Philippine Tariff act in committee and is now
experimenting with the Railroad Rate act. one
element in the body seeking to perfect, the
other to discredit and nullify, the work of the
House Until the Senate acts on the rate ques-
ton it will be impossible to weigh impartially
the records of the two branches. 1t is not time
to pass a final verdict. Yet the showing
made UP to date the Senate can hardly hope to
convince the country that its course. rather
than that of the House. reflects intelligent pub
lie sentiment
1t may be admitted that the Senate's action
on the Statehood bill can be defended on grounds
OF public policy. There is room for disagree
ment as to the eXpediency of admitting New
Mexico and Arizona into the Union the
Houses terms or on any terms. The Senate's
attitude toward rate legislatiOn-as yet unde-
velOped-nay prove to be based on reason and
therefore entitled to respect. But its action on
the Philippine Tariff bill a betrayal of duty
which cannot be palliated The Strangling of
the Payne measure in committee put the Sen
ate wholly on the defensive. 1t was short
iOlt Qd nor aTld off oh
sells thoroughly dscreditable TO a body which
should pride itself breadth Of vision and
scrupulOus guardianship of the national honor.
As we have pointed out again and again in
these columns, the Payne tariff bill cannot even
remotely lnjure the beet sugar and tobacco in
terests. which have been conjuring up bugaboos
to frighten OvercredulOus statesmen. The same
empty arguments were used to defeat the reel
prOcty treaty with Cuba that are now used to
prevent the freer entry into this country of
Philippine products. We were told that the
sugar and tobacco industries would collapse If
Cuban sugar and tobacco were admitted to our
markets at 20 per cent reduction In duty
The Cuban reciprocity treaty was finally rati-
fed. Under its operations every prophecy OF
its opponents has been fasified Yet now that
the President and the House Of Representa-
tives unite to do an act of simple duty to the
F1lipinos, the old scarecrow cry of ruin is re-
NlNtu, duu the senate Is again ca1Ol9d into
believing that in closing the door against Fill
Pine imports 1t is really protecting imperilled
home interests
Ihe Tribune has always done it's best to suS-
tain home industry and protect the American
producer against injurious foreign competition
But 1t Is thoroughly convinced that even the
free entry of Philippine sugar and tobacco
would not affect the price of sugar or tobacco
here or in any way harm the American sugar
or tobacco grower Moreover. having extended
the provisions of our cOastwise laws to Philip
pine commerce, we are bound in honor and JUS
tice to compensate the Filipinos by granting
them the status of domestic producers. The
policy urged by the President and the House
OF Representatives is one Of reason. equity and
enlightenment and in opposing it the Senate
Identifies itself with programme of wrong
headed obstruction. We cannot think that tho
upper house of Congress will let the session end
without attempting to repair this bIunder. 9th
erwlse, 1t Will be compelled to yield the Housa,s
claim TO represent more etticaciously and intel
| Hgenuy the true sentiment of the nation