Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-16
ACTION ON PHILIPPINE T0BAC-
CO TARIFF DENOUNCED
ALDRIcH SAID HE WOULD ALTER
SCHEDULE WHEN NECESSARY
Claim Is Made That Trainers of Sem
ate Bill Are Playing Game of
Petty Politics in Cigar
Matter
1Rx Associated Press.l

w ously denouncing the committee
on finance because of its change
of front over night on the subject of
tobacco impoftations from the Philip
pines. Senator Burkett of Nebraska to-
day declared that it's action looked to
him like a game of petty politics"
He characterized this action as IAN
effort to hang the senator from Wis
consin up in the air." and finally de-
clared that this event "afforded sem
ators a good opportunity to vote a
lack of confidence in the committee"
This followed Mr.. Aldrich's state
ment that the committee would ac-
cept the amendment proposed by Sem
ator Bulkley to reduce the number of
cigars to be admitted free of duty from
the Philippines from 15O,00o,OoO to TO-
900, 900, and the quantity of filler to-
bacco from 100000 to 100000 pounds,
together with provision that the
wrapper and filler tobacco should be
unstemmed when receiving this con-
cession.
Mr.. Aldrich, replying, calmly de-
clared that there were men whose de-
nunciations were the highest COM
mendations and said the committees
action involved no mystery or petty
politics, but that it proposed in the
future to change a schedule when con-
vinced a mistake had been made. He
expressed the opinion that the actual
importations from the Philippines
would not equal the amount named in
the amendment the committee had ac-
cepted, and said what the committee
had done was to encourage a people
who had been brought under the
American flag.
Another Amendment Defeated
Encouraged by the committees ac-
tion Senator LaFollette proposed an
other amendment to reduce the free
importation of cigars to 6O.00O,0O0 an
nuaIly. but this was defeated, 3S to II.
An interesting feature was declara-
ton by Senator Borah that he proposed
to vote for loosening the bond which
tied the Philippines to the Unlted
States He declared himself in favor
of giving the Philippines an indepen-
dent government and said his convlc-
tion would force him to differ with ms
party and perhaps from the president.
The Philippine amendment to the
tariff bill was technically Under dis
cussion until o'clock, when IT. was
temporarily laid. aside and Mr.. Aldrich
presented the finance committees
amendment to the silk schedule. Mr..
Aldrich also submitted amendments TO
the window glass schedule reducing tne
rates even below those provided In the
house bill, and eliciting long protest
from Senator Scott, who expressed the
opinion that the change would be rum
Gus to the glass producing industry.
Mr. Aldrich presented amendments
reducing the rate on osier and WILLOW
for basket making, changing the rates
upon electrodes, etc. and restoring Tile
house rates on barytes
Action on Window Glass Postponed
In response to the request of Senator
Scott action on the window glass
schedule was postponed until tomorrow,
but the other recommendations were
adopted without division.
All 7 o'clock the senate adjourned un-
til 10 a. M tomorrow.
That the senate committee on finance
has been engaged in playing "a game
of petty politics. was today dennlteiy
charged in the senate by Senator Bur
kett Of Nebraska. The assertion was
made in connection with report OF the
committee reducing from 15O, ,000,00O TO
10000. 900 the number of cigars which
may be imported free of duty annually
from the Philippines.
This change had been decided on by
the committee at a meeting held early
today, and was the result of the repre-
sentations of Senator Bulkely or Con-
neeticut, with an important product of
whose state the Philippine tobacco i'm
portation would conflict.
Senator LaFollette had previously.
presented an amendment reducing the
number to 75,000,000, and the Nebraska
senator found in the action of the com
mittee a discrimination for Bulkely
against LaFollette.
Scores Finance Committee
Mr. Burkett declared the action of
the finance committee in making
changes in the Philippine amendment
was sufficient to cause senators to lose
confidence in it. The original amend
ment, he said, had been brought into
the senate as approved by the president,
but in face of that fact the committee
had brought in it's recommendation for
a reduction of 5000, 900 below that called
for by the LaFollette amendment, and
in this circumstance found cause for
complaint Senators Dick. Gallinger
and Depew defended the committee.
Estimating the loss of revenue that
would result from the free entry of
cigars from the Philippines to the
United States at $3,500,000 annually and
FANfSNNBNSSp
Senator Newlands declared that 1t
would be better to make a direct ap
preparation for the benefit of the Fill
pinos.
He declared the tariff concessions
would benefit the great Philippine to-
bacco trust chiefly.
Mr.. Root appealed for the passage
of the amendment as first proposed by
the committee as mere act of justice.
Replying to a question of Mr.. New
lands the New York senator said he
believed the Philippine people eventu-
ally would be able to assume indepen-
dence in their government such as now
exists in Cuba.
A vote was then taken on the La
Toilette amendment reducing the num-
ber of free Philippine cigars from TO-.
COO 600 to 60,000,0OO and it was rejected,
38 to 27.
Mr. Fosters announcement that he
intended to present an amendment to
the committees Philippine section pre-
sContinued on Rage Two)