The Washington herald., 1909-05-14

Representative Payne, chairman Of the
Ways and Means Committee. presented
yesterday in the House a favorable re-
port on the Philippine tariff bill and con
sideration Of the measure was begun.
An agreement was reached TO confne
debate 10 the pending bnI. 10 save time
and to prevent oratorical displays. Mr..
Payne made a short speech in defense
Of the measure. The bill follows the
draft Of a measure prepared by Col.
George r Cotton. insular collector OF
customs in The Philippines. assisted by
John s. HOrd, collector Of internal reve-
nue.. after hearings during the last six
months before a board CT tariff experts
al Manila, and was reviewed BY the
Bureau Of Insular Affairs
This enactment becomes necessary"
the report says. because Of section 5
OF the House tariff bill. which Is now
pending in the Senate This section pro-
vides for free trade between the United
states and the Philippines in all articles
except rice, and in a limited quantity Of
sugar tobacco. and cigars. coming into
the United States. The most important
reason for the legislation grows out OF
the fact that the nsUIar government
under the last named act viii Re deprived
Of about S1.0o0.0o0 in revenue because Of
the free trade relations We tsblish be
tween the United States and the Pail
ippines under this section.
Fixes Export Duties.
"one feature Of the present tariff law Of
the Philippine Islands" the report con-
tinues. is the imposition Of export duties /
on abaca. or Manila hemp, copra, TO-
baeeo. sugar. and shells These export /
duties are re-enacted IN this bill Under
the present law they produced a revenue
Of SI45-SSS for the year 1908 or course.
an export duty is foreign 10 the policy Of I
our government and prohibited by our
Constitution. But IL has always been a
feature OF the revenue laws IN the Philip /
pine Islands. and was under the Spanish
occupation Il is well justified in the
present bin because Of these conditions
IN the islands Sefe-al years ago a tax
upon land was iml .-ei by the insular
government. When the time drew near
for its enforcement. il appeared that TO
real estate produced sufficient revenue TO
bear the burden Of such a tax except
that which was used for the production
Of hemp. sugar. tobacco. and cOpra
''On the other real estate. and especially
upon the small holdings OF individuals.
such a tax, If enforced. would result IN
the sale Of the land and IN widespread
distress throughout the Islands. For this
pended the operations OF this land tax
ever since il was enacted. and no COL
Iecticns have been made under II. The
most that can be said against this small
tax is that II is tax upon land and
this is possibly true in the last analysis. I
although q part, or perhaps all, is paid
by the consumer Of the products raised. I
Il is s tax upon the products OF the SOL. 4
the UsUfruct OF the land, and therefore [
upon the land itself No claim IS made
but that the holders Of the land used in
the production Of crops above mentioned |
are well able 10 pay the small export
tax II It comes out Of the price of their
products Hence IL is TO burden upon
the he iers Of these lands. but such as
they ought 10 bear.
Philippine Policy Attacked
The committee recommended that the
bill be amended so as 10 impose The
Internal revenue taxes OF the Philippine
Islands upon all imports from countries (
other than the United States. in addition
to the usual import duties, and also con
ferring original jurisdiction IN cases sris- /
ing IN the Philippines upon the insuIar
courts and appellate jurisdiction upon the /
Supreme Court Of the Philippines.
During Chairman Payne's explanation
Of the measure. Mr.. Robinson. Of Arkan-
sas. interrupted TO inquire when, in the /
judgment OF the chairman OF the commit /
tee. the FiIipinos would be ready for I
government Mr.. Payne said he could (
make no prediction There are. Mr. I
Payne added. some communities in this
country wheie the inhabitants are not 4
capable Of governing themselves. and il I
would be a difficult question 10 predict i
when disagreement can be granted to 4
the Philippines
GIr. Robinson started Of il 2 denuncia-
ton Of the Philippine policy Of the gov
ernment. and Mr. Payne made a spirited 4
reply
4 did not want the Spanish war did /
all I could TO stem the sentiment in favor 4
of war. 1t was the members on the other 4
side Of this chamber. aided by q few
misguided Republicans who forced the 4
war. If the war sentiment had been con-
troIIed the Cuban people would have been
freed without the loss Of blood or without
the great cost.
Mr. Pavne referred to the experience Of
Cuba. which was granted independence,
b1,t becares so involved in civil difficulties
that an Intervention by the United States
was necessary
u do not want that 10 happen in the
Philippines" Mr. Payne added i do
not want 10 grant them self-government
toe soon. for then they viii begin TO cut
each others throats. and We viii have to
intervene. Just as We did in Cuba
Capable of SeIf-government.
Mr.. Robinson replied that the Filipinos
are now ready for self-government, and
deried the charge made by Mr.. Payne
that there is in this country sny com
u,uraty which is Incapable Of self-govern-
nent. In reply to q question by Mr..
PAYNE. Mr.. Robinson said he believed
that the negroes in the South are capable
OF seif-government.
But they are not capable Of governing
other. people, Representative James in
terjected.
And they are not capable Of govern
ing the world. and I an not IN favor OF 1
allowing them TO do IL" Mr.. Robinson 4
concluded.
Representative Francis Burton Har-
rison, Of New York, one Of the Demo 4
cratic members Of the Ways and Means /
Committee, arraigned the Philippines /
policy Of the United States. The pending I
BILL he said. was not prepared by the I
WAYS and Means Committee. but by I
osE~fatS ~ -