Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-12-12


elect Taft and the members of the
% Ways and Means Committee of the
House of Representatives for free
trade with the Philippines is impor-
tant but not alarming.
This is not the first time that the
President and the Ways and Means
Committee have been agreed on this
subject.
: A bill carrying provisions based on
similar understanding was at one
time passed in the House Of Repre-.
sentatives, by good-sized majority.
1t did not pass the Senate.
There is long road to be travelled
before the legislative body of The
United States binds itself to a policy
that, while benelitting one section Of
the country may work an injury 20
others.
The conclusions reached by the in
) coming Chief Executive and tariff ex-
perts establishes basis to start from,
but many others have yet to be heard,
gnd there is no doubt they will be.
FRS, are the beet.sugar grow.
ers of the mainland, who will
be harder hit by sugar-tarif meddling
than any other interest of Amer.
lea. Cooperating with them will be
the cane-sugar planters Of Louisiana.
Hawaii cannot fail to be an inter-
ested spectator.
There are many things to be con-
sidered before absolute free trade is
to be granted the Philippines-ques-
lions of fair play and common justice
In the development of industry.
Are the Philippines to be given free
T, entry for their products in the mar
} kets of the mainland, while enjoying
free ships for transportation and an
! Independent tariff schedule on i'm
ports from foreign countries, tariff
schedule that gives the foreign manu-
facturers an advantage over Ameri-
cans?
These are matters that must be
thoroughly canvassed before the final
vote is taken. The Philippines have
& been pressing their cause in the name
of Justice. The country will depart
radically from its established princi-
pies II a law is passed granting this
new possession all the advantages OF
commercial union with our country
but bearing none of the responsible
; ties. ..r..
= -. 1t must not be forgotten that the
Philippines Is one of the smallest
purchasers in the mainland markets.
Possessing many times greater area
and manifold opportunities for devcl-
=, opment, the PHILIPPINES during tho
nine months ending with September
1908 purchased merchandise in the
\ United States valued at $7,437, DOG
> In the same period the purchases OF
= HAWAII in the same markets totaled
j $10,934.564.
II does not seem reasonable thai
I the Philippines will he allowed free
D entry of a competitive product, anC
at the same time continue to receive
J the additional favor of free ships ant
low tariff on its own imports.
Contrary to the prevailing opin
: ion, Hawaii has no axe to grim
. against the Philippines.
This Territory might well objec
5, and our people do object to the isl
ands of the Orient gaining all tn
4 emoluments and assuming an infini
u tesimal share of the burdens-whil
\. trying to put some of our industrie
n out of business.
" The Blu letin believes that
reduction of fifty per cent, in tn
4 tariff on all Philippine sugar woul
be more equitable in every respeC
y than legislation placing limit o
Z the number of tons that may entt
the market each year free of all dut!
" Also there should be an equal II
( crease in the Philippine tariff o
manufactures used in the develol
ment of the sugar industry and &c
which the Philippine planter or con
mission house must send to the main
land or Europe.
The American principle, as tn
: BuIleti n understands 1t, is stead
development without doing an injury
injury. -. ~ a - - ~ - -,
~ Congress has upheld this in tn