The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-15
Senator BristoW Hits Hard Blow
 At Philippine Clause
SUGAR TRUST CONDEMNED
Bristow Declares That Provision of Tariff Bill on Philippine Sugar Will Benefit None But
 the Sugar Trust.

Washington, June 14.-Sugar was the day. It was brought to the front in connection with the consideration of the finance committees sub stitution for the House provision of the tariff bill regulating the admission of Philippine articles into the United States and 1t continued to receive practically the un- divided attention of the Senate throughout the day. During the first hour that the amendment was before the Senate there was some discussion of the effect of the provision upon the tobacco interests of Connecticut, but an amendment looking to the introduce tion of Connecticut tobacco Into the Philippines for wrappers had the effect Of relieving the situation in that quar- ter. Immediate attention was then directed to the clauses providing a duty on sugar brought into the United States and exempting 900,0O0 tons of Philippine sugar from duty when
 
 Senator Bristow then criticised both provisions, and his criticisms opened the way for a general debate which was participated in on the one side by Messrs. Bristow and Clapp and on the other by Senators Aldrich and Lodge. It was contended on the one hand that the two provisions combined were in tended to promote the interests of the American Sugar trust and not to benefit the Philippine producers, while it was argued by the supporters of the pro visions that to admit sugar Into the island free of duty would be to open the way for It's free admission into this country. It was also argued that the sugar producers of the Philippines would be directly benefited by the ad- mission of their sugar into the United States without requiring payment of a duty on it.
 Brlstow Amendment Lost.
 The only vote taken during the day session was on an amendment by MT. Brlstow admitting sugar into the Phil ippines free of duty. It was lost, II to 49
 Senator Stone of Missouri gave notice that he would soon offer an amendment declaring for the independence of the Philippines within Is years, an agree ment being meanwhile arrived at wi,ll the world powers for the maintenance of the independence of the islands.
 It was freely stated around the Sen ate chamber that the Philippine para graph had tine indorsement of Presi- dent Taft in his own handwriting, and late in the day Senator Aldrich stated that it had been indorsed by the Presi- dent.
 Senator Clapp expressed incredulity on that statement
 Taking no final action on the Philip pine free trade section submitted by the finance committee as a substitute for the House provision. the Senate to- night listened to arguments pro and con on the various Philippine ques- tions. The finance committed will 1e- port further upon the free trade sec tion tomorrow, after which a vote will be taken.
 Claim of Bristow.
 The provision requiring raw or refined sugar to pay the same duty when i'm ported into the Philippines as when lm- ported into the United States aroused Senator Bristow, who thought he saw in 1t an advantage to the American Su- gar Refining company.
 Senator Aldrieh said he had not heard such an objection before and added that unless some such regulation was made sugar might be shipped into these isl ands and then come into the United States free of duty.
 Declaring that the Philippine sugar was so poor in quality that there was nu market for 1t in the United States. Sen ator Bulkeley said the legislation allow ing 300,0 GOO tons annually 10 come into the United States was a numbug
 The sugar industry in the Philippines, he said, had gone down until now only 165,000 tons are raised annually.
 'The cause of this condition. he said. lis the laziness and stupidity of the people,.
 Resuming his remarks senator Bristow said
 When you enact this law admitting; 300oO0 tons of Philippine sugar into this country free of duty you do not benefit a single American except he be inter ested in the American Sugar Refining company. Primarily, the sole purpose of this bill is to benefit the Philippines isI- ands and the Filipinos. Every year they import from Germany and China several million pounds of sugar and aow the in- corporation of this provision for q duty on sugar imported Into the Philippines will force the people of those islands to purchase their refined sugar from the American sugar Rennlng company. m return for that they can sell ther raw sugar to the sugar trust free of duty. I ask senators whether this Is in fact leg islaton in the interest of the people of the Philippine islands.
 Reply to Comment.
 In reply to comment on his amend ment MT. Bristow said the provision of the committee favoring the output of producers of less than 500,0Oo tons of sugar would prevent the refining of sugar by the centrifugal process, so that the raw sugar would of necessity he mar keted in the United States and De pur- chased by the American Sugar Refining company. thus preventing the refining of the Philippine product In the islands. Hence, he concluded, that what appeared to be a favor to the Philippine producer did not exist in fact
 This is simply another instance of the bunko game that Is being played upon the Philinpine people in the course of