The San Francisco call., 1907-01-03
STRONG PLEA FOR
PHILIPPINES
Commission Recommends
Reduction in Tariff and
Repeal of Refund Law
LAND ACT

WASHINGTON, Jan. "A plea for
a reduction of 75 per cent in the tariff
on Philippine sugar and tobacco; a
denunciation of the refund law, which
has taken over s1,O0o,000 from the
hemp producers of the islands for the
enrichment of American cordage man
ufacturers, and a radical amendment
Of the public land laws are the strik-
ing features of the report OF the Phil
ippines Commission, issued by the Sec
ed paragraph of the report is that de-
voted to the refund law. The COM
mission says:
The commission renews its recon-
mendation for a repeal of the act
providing for the refund of duties paid
on articles exported from the islands
TO the United States and consumed
therein. The people feel that they are
being exploited for the benefit of GER
tain interests IN the United States.
Since the passage of the act, on March
8, 1902, down to June 80. 1905, there
has been taken from the comparative
poverty Of the insular treasury, to be
delivered directly into the hands of
the manufacturers OF cordage and
other users of Philippine hemp in the
United States for their enrichment
s1,471, ,2os.47. AS the cordage interests
are prosperous and the Philippine ISL
ands are struggling, it is stated that
legislation which takes money directly
from the one and passes IL over TO the
other is not founded on sound prin-
ciples of political economy or of SIM
pie. justice TO the Fflipinos."
PRINCIPAL RAY OF HOPE
Touching the tariff, the commission
says that the principal ray OF hope
that came to the people OF the Philip
ines in the midst Of their losses
from rinderpest, locusts, droughts and
low prices for their products was that
they might be furnished relief from
the excessive duties now imposed on
imports Of sugar and tobacco into the
United States. and that the most Bit
ter disappointment was felt over the
failure of Congress to give that relief
at the last session. In addition to rec
ommending that the tariff be reduced
to IS per cent OF the present rates the
attention OF Congress is called to
those laws which the commission say
have conferred great benefits and ad-
vantages on American ship owners,
manufacturers OF cotton goods, etc,
over foreigners, enabling them to con-
troll the prices of transportation and
monopolize the trade, while the Ameri-
can markets, which the Filipinos are
asked to consider as their own, remain
closed to them through the failure OF
Congress to reduce the tariff.
Under the present laws not more
than forty acres of land from the pub
lie domain may be sold to an indi-
association or corporation. The COM
mission recommends that corporations
or associations be permitted to acquire
tracts up to $4,000 acres. The theory
is that by the occupation and working
of these lands by Americans the ma
tives will not only be given employ
ment but will be taught the use Of
modern agricultural machinery. 1t
advances the claim that, however ben
ihcent the purpose of the present lin
itation, 1t has resulted in preventing
the development OF the agricultural in.
dustry on large scale.
SAVINGS BANKS LAUDED
The postal savings bank provided by
the commission is lauded as one Of
the great agencies depended upon to
teach the islanders thrift, wipe out
gambling and ultimately result In
making the Filipino a home buyer and
home-builder.
According to the report, peace is
general. With the trial and execution
OF outlaw leaders and the surrender of
the followers a general feeling Of Sc
curity prevails, and even Aguinaldo has
leased large tract of land in one of
the formerly disturbed districts.
The December elections of 1905 were
not, according to the commission, un-
qualifedly successful. The islanders
adopted all the bribery, fraud and in
timidation methods of the most ap-
proved American organization, and a
considerable number of the elections
were annulled.
Arrangements have been made for
the construction of 700 miles of rail-
way, and the commission strongly rec
ommends the islands as a suitable place
for the profitable investment of Amer
lean capital and American energy.