The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1909-04-21

Washington, Apr. 16.-The president
yesterday sent to congress spe-
cial message in relation to the Phil
ippine tariff. The message transmits
recommendations by the secretary of
war for a revision of the Philippine
tariff so as to permit as much Gus
toms revenue as possible for the is
lands and at the same time to extend
to the islands the principle of a pro-
tective tariff for it's industries. Under
the conditions which will arise from
the enactment of the tariff bill pend
ing in congress, which provides under
certain conditions for free trade be-
tween the Philippines and the United
States, the revenues of the island will
be considerably affected, and numer-
GUS protests have been received here
on this account.
Referred te Isles Committee.
The presidents message, upon be-
ing read in the senate, was referred
to the committee on the Philippines.
When the house met the message
was Immediately read and then re-
ferred to the committee on ways and
means. There was more delay in the
presentation of the message in the
senate and it was not read for some
time after it's receipt owing to the
Intervention of other business.
The message and accompanying let
tiers of recommendation from Secre.
tary Dickinson and Gen. Clarence r.
Edwards, chief of the insular bureau
of the war department, with copy
of the proposed act, were submitted
to both houses of congress shortly
after they convened.
Slight Increase in Duties.
Generally speaking, the bill submit
ted by the president makes slight
increase in the rates of duty now pro.
vided in the Philippine tariff but it's
trainers say it's tendency is to insure,
as far as practicable, the benefit of
the Philippine market for American
manufactures and products. The bill
makes some additions to the free list.
revenue duties, by which it is hoped
to make up the loss which the Philip.
pine islands will sustain by the oper-
atoms of the free-trade provisions in
the pending Payne tariff bill. The
internal revenue laws for the Philip
pines are enacted by the Philippine
assembly.
President Taft's Message.
The message follows:
ITO the Senate and House of Rep.
resentatives:
II transmit herewith a communica-
ton from the secretary of war in.
closing one from the chief of the bu-
reau of insular affairs, in which is
transmitted a proposed tariff-revision
law for the Philippine islands.
This measure revises the present
Philippine tariff, simplifies it and
makes it conform as nearly as posi-.
BILE to the regulations of the customs
laws of the United States, especially
with respect to packing and pack.
ages. The present Philippine regula.
tons have been cumbersome and diff
f1cult for American merchants and ex-
porters to comply with. It's purpose
is to meet the new conditions that
will arise under the section of the
pending United States tariff bill,
which provides, with certain limita.
tions for free trade between the
United States and the islands.
Bill Is Drawn by Experts.
1T is drawn with view to pre-
serving to the islands as much GUS
toms revenue as possible and to pro-
tect in a reasonable measure those
Industries which now exist in the
islands.
"The bill now transmitted has been
drawn by board of tariff experts, of
which the insular collector of Gus.
toms, Col George R. Cotton, was the
president. The board held great
many open meetings in Manila and
conferred fully with representatives
of all business interests in the Philip.
pine islands. 1t is of great impor-
lance to the welfare of the islands
that the bill should be passed at the
same time with the pending Payne
bill, with special reference to the pro.
visions of which it was prepared.
II respectfully recommend that this
bill be enacted at the present session
of congress as one incidental to and
required by the passage of the Payne
bill. WILLIAM H. TAFT"
At meeting of the committee on
finance yesterday 1t was agreed that
the opening of the discussion on tho
tariff bill should 60 over until Mon
day.