Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-03
SOCIAL CLUB P[ANNED|uM|TED FREE TRADE
Scheme Popular With Many Fiipnos Opposed to the Payne
Business Men. Tariff Bill.
QUARTERS IN HOTEL mr.. LEGAROAS ARGUMENT
Officers Are Chosen at Preliminary His People Ungau
Meeting of for American Aid
NO EXPENSE TO BE SPARED BUT OPPOSES RECIPROCITY
HiehCas Kitchen rs 70 Re Main Resumption
tained-r..,r.. discussed chedul and Rates in
bv + T. Weaver House Morning.
Mr.. LEGAROA'S ARGUMENT
Says His People Are Not Ungrateful
for American Aid.
BUT OPPOSES RECIPROCITY
Resumption Of Discussion Upon
Schedules and Rates in the
House This Morning.

My firm conviction has always been.
and remains to this day mistaken. that
a prosperous and happy future smiled
on the Philippine Islands from the mo-
ment that the Americans planted there
the flag which represents liberty. progress
and civilization declared Mr. Bonita
Legarda. resident commissioner from
the Philippines. in addressing the House
of Representatives today in opposition
to reciprocal free trade proposed in the
Payne tariff bill. Mr.. Legarda's views
were practically along the lines of those
expressed yesterday by his colleague.
MIR. Pablo Ocampo de Leon. He said, In
part:
IF. instead OF the free admission. with
out limitation as to quantity, of Amer
lean products into the Philippine Islands.
this bill provided only the free entry
there OF agricultural machinery and other
commodities Of prime necessity-such as
cotton cloth-and which are needed for
the agricultural and industrial develop
ment of those islands. or IL this bill pro-
vided only for such reciprocal exchange
OF commodities custom duty free as
would balance the limited quantity Of
sugar and tobacco sent from there with
an equally limited quantity of American
products to be sent from here. If such
were the provisions of this bill 1t would
of the Philippine people TO make manifest
to this House their gratitude. and
through this House to the American
people. who in the final analysis are
the ones who decide what is to be the
future OF the Philippine Islands.
Filipinos Not Ungrateful.
THE Filipino people are not ungrateful
for what the American government has
accomplished and is accomplishing for
4 hov, tn tel In
the laws which govern the Filipino peo-
pie are superior even to the laws in some
of the most advanced states of this
Union.
THE Congress of the United States has
always been inspired In its acts by prin-
| ciples of justice and wise equity. Espe-
cially has it demonstrated its generosity
! and liberality when the interests of the
poor and the weak were at stake. The
Filipino people believe that coming be-
fore this Congress with just cause 1t
will receive the same measure of equity
! as that which the American people.
through their representatives In this Con-
gress, have always in the past conceded
| under similar circumstances.
| Eleven members were in their seats
| when the House met to further consider
| the tariff bill. 1t was the smallest at
| tendance of the special session and DEM
| onstrated the fact that interest in the de-
bate had practically disappeared.
Wants Present Rate on Lumber.
Mr.. Sparkman (F'la-) opened the d's-
cussion by making an earnest plea for
Z restoration OF the Dingley rate on lum-
ber and the imposition Of duty Of )
cents a pound on all cotton imported into
| the United States.
| While declaring that he would vote, for
| the bill, Mr. kinkaid- tNeb.9 entered
strenuous objection to the taxing of those
necessarfes OF life which are not produ &c
| in this country. The proposed tax on tea
| and the countervailinS duty on coffee. he
said, were especially obnoxious 10 him.
and he urged their removal. Mr.. kinka!d
also proposed the placing of hides on the
free list.
Predicts Failure as to Revenue.
Divesting himself. he said. of all
political feeling. Mr. Cox IndD opposed
the bill advancing the argument that
| instead Of being a revenue producer il
| would prove to be a revenue consumer.
| He was especially antagonistic to the
drawback feature of the measure.
The placing of wood pulp on the free
| list and the reduction of the duty on
printing paper were opposed by MIR. NAL
| by IN. ".
| Maintaining that the bill was discrm-
| inatory. Mr.. SABBATH QllD attacked the
| proposed increases on the neceSsaries of
| life and on wearing apparel especially
gloves.