The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-15
Transmits Communications
From Dickinson and
General Edwards.
SUBMITS DRAFTS
OF PROPOSED BILL
Executive Again Shows His Great
Interest in Little Brown
Men.

President Taft has once more evinced
his deep interest Ia the Philippines. He
sent to Congress today a message In
which he urged that tariff bill for the
islands be passed at the same time as
the measure now pending. He trans
mitted drafts Of the proposed measure
and declared 1t was of great importance
for the welfare of the Philippines that
1t be enacted into law.
The message was read in the Senats
and was given close attention. Like
the preceding message which he sent.
II had the merit Of brevity, a fact duly
appreciated at the Capitol
The bill was introduced IN the
House at once by Chairman Payne, OF
the House Ways and Means Commit
tee, which viii meet soon to consider
the measure.
Important Bearing.
While the message sent today is pri-
Snarily for a revision of the tariff for
the Philippines, it has an important
bearing on the question OF the tariff
between this country and the islands.
It presupposes that the Payne bill pro-
visions for free trade between the
United States and the islands will rre-
vail, and 1t indicates that Mr.. Taft ex-
poets to do his utmost to have those
provisions prevail. 1t is well known
that powerful interests in Congress are
trying to baIk this legislation.
In a letter from Secretary of War
Dickinson. which is incIosed with the
message, Mr. Dickinson admits his own
unfamlliarity with the sub ject, but
transmits the recommendation from
General Edwards, chief of the Bureau
OF Insular Affairs
Edwards Recommendation.
General Edwards says:
''It WI be understood that the result
Of the free admission OF American goods
into the PhiliI pine Islands must revo-
lutionize business in the Philippines, and
unless the adoption of that policy is ac-
Companied by a revision of the present
Philippine tariff IL will be disastrous to
some important indL stries there, and
also result IN such a serious loss to the
customs revenue as to embarrass the
Philippine government"
He adds that contending interests
have been recOnciled as far as posi- bic,
and believes tfat the proposed measure
should meet with 10 opposition. The
schedules relating to tobacco and sugar
are made identical with those In the
Payne bill, thus removing the 2ppre-
hensiOn that these products might be
imported into the Philippines at a less
], tariff rate and thence into the United
states free as the growth and product
OF the Philippines.
II transmit herewith a communica-
tion from the Secretary Of War, inclos-
ing one from the Chief OF the Bureau
OF Insular Affairs, in which is transmit
ted proposed tariff revision law for
the Philippine Islands.
This measure revises the present
Philippine tariff, slmplifies Il. and makes
u conform as nearly as possible TO the
regulations OF the customs laws Of the
United states, especially with respect
10 packing and packages The present
Philippine regulations have been cum
bersome and difficult for American mer-
chants and exporters to comply with.
Its purpose IS to meet the new con-
diuons that viii arise under the section
OF the pending United States tariff bill
which provides. with certain limitations,
for free trade between the United States
ana the Islands. II is drawn with a
view 10 preserving to the islands as
much customs revenue as possible. and
10 protest in a reasOna bic measure those
industries whichno " exist in the is
lands.
'The bill now transmitted has been
drawn by a board Of tariff experts, OF
Col George r Cotton. was the presi-
dent The board held a great many
open meetings in Manila. and conferred
fully with representatives Of all busi-
ness interests In the Philippine Islands.
1T IS Of great Importance TO the well
fare OF the islands thRt the bill should
be passed at the same time with the
pending Payne bill, with special refer
ence 70 the provisions OF which Il was
prepared
II respectfully recommend that this
bill be enacted at the present session of
Congress as one Incidental 20 and re-
quired by the passage OF the Payne bill.
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