Evening star., 1909-04-15
TO OFFSET PAYNE BILL
President Urges Revision OF
Philippine Tariff.
TO MEET INSULAR NEEDS
Free Trade With America Expected
to Lessen Revenue.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Proposed Act Transmitted Which Is
Regarded as Of Great Impor-
tance to the Islands.

A special message by the President in
relation to the Philippine tariff was sent
to Congress today. This message trans
mits recommendations by the Secretary
Of War for g. revision Of the Philippine
tariff SO as to permit as much customs
revenue as possible for the islands and
at the same time to extend to the islands
the principle Of a protective tariff for their
industries. A copy of a proposed act was
also transmitted. Under the conditions
which will arise from the enactment of
the tarin bill pending in Congress. which
provides under certain conditions for free
trade between the Philippines and the
United States, the revenues Of the islands
will be considerably affected. and numer-
Gus protests have been received here on
this account. The proposed amendments
to the bill are to interfere as little as
possible with these free trade conditions
and at the same time permit collection Of
ample revenue.
Generally speaking. the bill submitted
by the President makes a slight increase
in the rates of duty now provided in the
Philippine tariff, but its trainers say its
tendency Is to insure as far as practica-
BILE the benefit OF the Philippine market
for American manufactures and prod
ucts. The bill makes some additions to
the free list. There will be an increase in
hoped to make up the loss which the Phil
ippine Islands will sustain by the opera
tions of the free trade provisions in the
pending Payne tariff bill.
The internal revenue laws for the Phil
ippines are enacted by the Philippine as
sembly.
The Message.
The message Of the President follows:
ITO. the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives:
II transmit herewith a communication
from the Secretary Of War, inclosing one
froD the chief of the bureau of insular
affairs in which Is transmitted q pro-
posed tariff revision law for the Philip
pine Islands.
This measure revises the present Phil
ippine tariff. stmplifies II and makes 1t
conform as nearly as possible to the reg
ulations OF the customs laws of the
United states. especially with respect to
packing and packages. The present Phil
ippine regulations have been cumbersome
and difficult for American merchants and
exporters to comply with. Its purpose
Is to meet the new conditions that will
arise under the section Of the pending
with certain limitations, for free trade
between the United States and the is
lands. 1t Is drawn with a view to pre-
serving to the islands as much customs
revenue as possible. and to protect in q
reasonable measure those industries
which now exist In the islands.
THE bill now transmitted has been
drawn by a board OF tariff experts. of
which the insular collector Of customs.
Col. George r. Cotton, was the president.
The board held a great many open meet
ings in Manila. and conferred fully with
representatives of all business interests
in the Philippine islands. It is Of great
Importance 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 provisions Of
which 1t was prepared.
II respectfully recommend that this bill
gress as one incidental to and required by.
the passage Of the Payne bill.
(Signed) WILLIAM H. TAFT.
The White House. April IA. 1909"
Papers Accompanying Message.
Secretary Of War Dickinson. in forward
ing the papers to the President. says:
Il have not had time to examine the
bill In detail, and have not sufficient ac-
quaintance with the subject to say wheth-
er or not it Is what 1t should be. but Gen.
Edwards. who Is familiar with the matter,
recommends it, and 1 have no doubt that
with your own familiarity with the SUBJ
ject. you will be able to dispose of it."
The letter of Gen. Edwards, dated April
I. and addressed to Secretary Dickinson,
after describing the measures and its
purposes in much the same language as
the Presidents, says:
"It will be understood that the result of
the free admission Of American goods into
the Philippine Islands must reyoIutionfze
business in the Philippines, and unless the
adoption of that policy is accompanied
by a revision OF the present Philippine
tariff. 1t will be disastrous to some i'm
portant industries in the islands, and also
revenue as to embarrass the Philippine
government.
1T has had publicity in the United
States. and 1t Is believed that contending
interests have been reconciled. and as far
as schedules are concerned 1t should meet
with no opposition. For instance, the
schedules relating to the introduction of
tobacco, Sumatra leaf and sugar are made
identical with the pending Payne bill,
and therefore have removed the appre-
hension that these goods can be imported
into the Philippine Islands at less tariff
rate, and thence into the United States
free. as the growth and product Of the
Philippine Islands.
The proposed revision has the ap-
proval Of the governor general and gov
ernment he represents in the Philippine
Islands
1T is therefore respectfully suggested
that this bill be presented as soon as
practicable. and the importance of its
passage at this session of Congress. for
the reasons stated, be impressed upon
that body"
Message Read in Both Houses.
Immediately after the House met today
the Presidents message was read and re-
ferred to the committee on ways and
means. The House adjourned at 1910
o'clock until Monday. There was more
delay in the presentation of the message
in the Senate, and it was not read for
some time after its receipt. owing to the
intervention of other business. The mes
sage. upon being read. was referred to
the committee on the Philinninas