Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-04-23
TAFT IN TARIFF Plea
President, in Message, Asks Con>l
gress to Revise Philippine
Revenue System.
PAYNE BILL FORCES CHANGE
Recommendations of Secretary Dick
inson and Gen. Edwards Are
Transmitted with Act.

The President sent to Congress Il
special message in relation to tho
Philippine tariff. The message trans
mits recommendations by the Secre-
tary Of War for a revision Of the Phil
fppine 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 pro-
tective tariff for it's industries.
Under the conditions which will
arise from the enactment Of the tariff
bill pending in Congress, which pro-
vides under certain conditions for free
trade between the Philippines and the
United States, the of til ISL
and will be considerably affected, and
numerous protests have been received
here Oh 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.
The message and accompanying letters
Of recommendation from Secretary
Dickinson and General Clarence r. Ed
wards, chief of the insular bureau Of
the War Department, with 4 copy Of
the proposed act, were submitted to
both houses Of Congress shortly after
they convened.
General speaking, the bill submitted
by the President makes a slight in
crease in the rates of duty now pro-
vided in the Philippine tariff, but its
trainers say it's tendency is to insure,
as far as practicable, the benefi. of the
Philippines market for American man
nfactnres and products. The bill
makes some additions to the free list.
There will be an increase in Internal
evenue duties, by which it is hoped
to make up the loss which the Philip
pine Islands will sustain by the opera
tons Of the free-trade provisions in
the pending Payne traiff bill. The in
ternal-revenue laws for the Philippines
are enacted by the Philippine assem-
bly,.
President Taft's Message.
ITO the Senate and House of Reprs-
Sentatiyes: | transmit herewith a com-
munication from the Secretary Of War
inclosing one from the chief of the bu-
reau of insular affairs, in which is trans
mitted a proposed tariff-revision law for
the Philippine Islands.
This measure revises the present Phil
ippine tariff, simplifes it and makes il
conform as nearly as possible to the regu-
lations of the customs laws of the Uni
ted States, especially with respect to
packing and packages. The present Phil
ippinc regulations have been cumber-
some and difficult for American merchants
and exporters to comply with. Its pur-
pose is to meet the new conditions that
will arise under the section Of the pend
ing United States tariff bill, which bro
vides, with certain limitations, for free
trade between the United States and the
islands. 1t is drawn with q view to pre-
serving to the stands as much customs
revenue as possible and to protect in .
reasonable measure those industries which
now exist in the islands.
1.-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. 1t 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 it was prepared.
II respectfully recommend that this
bill be enacted at the present session Of
Congress as one incidental to and re-
CURED by the passage of the Payne bill.
WILLIAM II. TAFT"