Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-04-27
TAFT IN TARIFF PLEA
President, in Message, Asks Con-
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
special message in relation to the
Philippine tariff The message trans
mits recommendations by the Secre-
tary of War for a revision of the Phil
ippine 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 pro-
tective tariff for its industries.
Under the conditions which win
arise from the enactment of the tariff
bin pending in Congress, which pro-
vides under certain conditions for free
trade between the Philippines and the
United States, the revenues of tn ISL
and will be considerably affected, and
numerous protests have been received
here on 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.
of Recommendation from Secretary
Dickinson and General Clarence r. Ed
wards, chief Of the insular bureau Of
the War Department, with a 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 slight in
crease in the rates of duty now pro-
vided in the Philippine tariff, but its
trainers say its tendency is to insure,
as flr as practicable, the benefit of the
Philippines market for American man
ufactures and projects. The bill
makes some additions TO the free list.
revenue duties. by which it is hoped
to make up the loss which the Philip
pine Islands will sustain by the opera
tions 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 Repre-
sentatives / 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
mltted proposed tariff-reyision law for
the Philippine Islands.
This measure reyises the present Phil
ippine tariff, simplifies it and makes it
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
ippine regulations have been cumber-
some and difficult for American merchants
a2d exporters to comply with. Its pur-
pose is to meet the new conditions that
VIII arise under the section of the pend
ing United States tariff bill, which pro-
vides, with certain limitations, for free
trade between the United States and the
islands. 1t is drawn with a view to pre-
serving to the islands as much customs
revenue as possible and to protect in a
reasonable measAe those industries Which
now exist in the islands.
1.-THE bill now transmitted has been
drawn by board of tariff experts, of
which the insular collector of customs.
Col. George R. Cotton, was the president.
The board held 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.
Il respectfully recommend that this
bill be enacted at the present session of
Congress as one incidental to and re-
quired by the passage of the Payne bill.
WILLIAM II. TAFT"