The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1909-04-24
PRESIDENT TAET'S SPECIAL
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
Deals With Question OF Revising Tar
IN With Philippines and Contains
Recommendation Of the
Secretary OF War.

Wash.ngton.-The president on
Thursday sent to congress a special
message in relation to the Philippine
tariff. The message transmits recon-
mendations by the secretary OF war
for a revision of the PHILIPPINES tariff
so as to permit as much customs rev.
enue as possible for the Islands, and
at the same time to extend to the
islands the principle of a protective
tariff for It's industries.
The message and accompanying let
tiers. with a copy of the proposed act.
were submitted to both houses OF
congress shortly after they convened.
Generally speaking, the bill SUBJ
mitted by the president makes a
slight increase in the rates OF duty
now provided I'm the Philippine tariff
bill, but its trainers say It's tendency
is to insure as far as practicable the
benefit Of the Philippine market for
American manufacturers and pro-
ducts. The bill makes some additions
to the free list. wt
The message follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives-I transmit herewith a
communication from the secretary OF
war, inclosing one from the chief OF
the bureau of insular affairs, In which
is transmitted proposed tariff revis-
ion law for the Philippine islands.
This measure revises the present
Philippine tariff, simplifies It ald
makes It conform as nearly as pos
sible to the regulations of the GUS
toms laws of the United States, and
especially with respect to packing and
packages. The present Philippine
regulations have been cumbersome
and have been difficult for American
merchants and exporters to comply
with. It's purpose is to meet the new
conditions that will arise under the
section OF the pending United States
tariff bill, which provides, with GER
tain limitations, for free trade be-
tween the United States and tho
islands. II is drawn with a view to
Ireserving to the islands as much GUS
toms revenue as possible and to pro-
tect In reasonable measure those in
dnstries which now exist in the
islands
The bill now transmitted has been
drawn by the board of tariff experts,
of which the insular collector OF Gus
toms, Colonel George r. Cotton, was
the president. The board had great
many omen meetings in Manila and
conferred fully with representatives
OF all business interests In the Phil.
ippine islands II is OF great import.
ance 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 pro
visions OF which 1t was prepared
| respectfully recommend that this
bill be enacted at the present session
OF congress as one incidental TO and
required by the passage Of the Payne
bill.
WILLIAM II. TAFT
The White House, April IA, 1902
Secretary of War Dickinson, In for
warding the papers to the president,
says:
II have not had time to examine
the bill in detail, and have not suf-
ficient acquaintance with the subject
to say whether or not Il is what It
should be; but General Edwards. who
Is familiar with the matter, recon-
mends II, and I have no doubt that
with your own familiarity with the
subject you will be able to dispose
of It,"
The letter of General Edwards.
dated April IL, and addressed to Sec
rotary Dickinson, after describing the
measure and its purposes, in much
the same language as the president,
says:
ut will be understood that the re-
suit OF the free admission of Ameri-
can goods into the Philippine islands
must revolutionize business In the
Philippines, and unless the adoption
OF that policy Is accompanied by a re-
vision OF the present Philippine tariff
II VIII prove disastrous to some i'm
portant Industries in the islands, and
also result In such serious loss to the
customs revenue as to embarrass the
Philippine government.
1T has had publicity in the United
States, and II Is believed that con-
tending interests have been recon-
ciled. and as far as schedules are con-
cerned 1t should meet with no oppo-
sition. For instance, the schedules
relating TO the introduction OF to-
bacco, Sumatra leaf and sugar are
made identical with the pending
Payne bill, and therefore have re-
moved the apprehension that these
goods can be imported into the Phil.
'ppine Islands at less tariff rate, and
thence into the United States free. as
the growth and production OF the Phil.
ippine islands.
The proposed revision has the an
prevail OF the encouragement and
the government he represents In the
Philippine islands"
CnIiIpahia