Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1906-01-12
BURGESS IS OPPOSED.
Texan and Minority Leader Have
Lively COllOquy On
PHILIPPINE TARIFF
Leue Star Congressman Says That
the Democrats, to BE Consist
ent, should Favor Only
Free Trade.

Washington, Jan. 10.--The philippine
tariff measure was the topic Of discuss
ion In the house Tuesday. The speeches
were uniformly against the measure and
were allowed to go in general without
answer DEPRESSION in the form OF a
tariff revision discussion was made in
brief speech by Mr.. Gillett of Massa-
chusetts, who favored Canadian recip-
rocity. Mr.. Boynage OF Colorado dis
cussed the bill from the standpoint OF
the beet sugar industry.
Mr.. Burgess Of Texas opposed Il on
constitutional grounds and had a lively
eoloQuy with the minority leader. Mr..
williams, on this point. He charged
that Democrats to be consistent should
oppose anything but free trade with the
Philippines on the ground that II was
an American possession Mr.. williams
aefended the minority position by stat
ing that he was supporting the bill be-
cause II was as near free trade as it was
possible to obtain from the majority.
The isSGe was drawn sharply between
the two members OF the minority and
furnished the interesting situation of
the day.
Il want to see the Philippines treated
as foreign territory" Mr. Burgess de-
clared. 81 want to see the time an
proach rapidly when we can cut loose
from that pestiferous gang over there. 4"
Mr.. Williams. the minority leader, in
terjected, II take 1t the gentleman will
agree with me that whatever the Phil
ippines ought to be- they are at tho
present time colonies OF the United
States?'
Il did not Great existing conditions.
and I'll not recognize them" replied Mr..
Burgess
A colloquy ensued between the minor
/ tty leader and Mr.. Burgess In which
Mr.. Williams was put on the defense
of his position on the bill. Mr.. Burgess
wanted to know IL Mr.. williams be-
heved the constitution extended to the
Philippines.
MIR. Williams retorted that the SUI
preme court had extended It there.
Then how could Mr.. williams favor
this bill which levied duties against a
part of the United States?" inquired
Mr.. Burgess.
Mr.. williams explained that the
minority substitute TOR the bill provided
for free trade. Knowing that 1t was inn
possible to get that he should vote fol-
the Republican reduction.
Mr.. Burgess regarded any tariff be-
tween the United States and the Phil
ippines as unconstitutional and said he
should vote against the bill. He sug-
gested that II the Democrats would join
forces with the Republican opponents
on the bill II would be defeated.
This was preferrlng grand larency
10 petit larency. according to Mr. Will
liams because to defeat the bill would
be to leave the present higher sched-
ules in force.
Mr.. Burgess retorted that the whole
was mess OF pottage give US a
square deal" he demanded. "Quit cut
ting down the schedules on agricultural
products and turn your attention tc
iron and steel"
At this point Mr.. Clark OF Missouri
appealed to the Republican recalcit-
rants to join the Democrats and pass 9
measure TO turn these islands loose
cut loose forever from them"
Mr.. Burgess had read a resolution fol-
the establishment of free government
In the Philippines. which he advocated
Turning his attention to the "expen-
sion of tho office of the executive" Mr.
Burgess said the constitution made nc
mention OF cabinet officers; they were
mere clerks to the president, hence an
administration" measure or policy
ought to have no weight with the
American people For this reason he
gave no weight to the administration
policy in the Philippines. He spoke al
length in support OF his proposition
for Independence of the Philippines.