Arizona republican., 1909-06-15
FREE TRADE PROVISION
A Question Raised Whether It Is Meant to Favor Islands orSugaror Tobacco Trusts. The Endorsement of Presi- dent Taft.

Washington, June 14.-Sugar was stirring subject before the sen ate today. It was brought to the front in connection with the consid- ! eration of the finance committees substitute for the house provision of the tariff bill regulating the adnis- sion of Philippine articles into. the United States, and received practical ly the undivided attention of the senate throughout the day.
 During the first hour there was some discussion of the effect of the provision on the tobacco interests of Connecticut, but the amendment look ing to the introduction of Connecticut tobacco into the Philippines for wrappers had the effect of relieving the situation in that quarter.
 Attention was then directed to the clauses providing a duty on sugar ad- mitted into the Philippines equal to that on sugar brought into the United States and exempting 300,000 tons of Philippine sugar from duty when brought into the United States.
 Senator Bristow criticised both pro- visions and his criticisms opened the way for a general debate between Messrs. Bristow and Clapp on one side and Messrs Aldrich and Lodge on the other. It was contended on the one hand that the two pro- visions combined were intended to promote the interests of the sugar trust and not to benefit the Philip pine producers. It was argued by the supporters of the provision that I,n 1f he pines would be benefited by the free admission of their sugar into the United States. The only vote taken during the day was on an amend ment by Mir. Bristow admitting sugar into the Philippines free of duty. It was lost by II to 49.
 MT. Stone of Missouri, gave notice that he would soon offer an amend ment declaring for the independence of the Philippine islands within six teen years, an agreement having been meanwhile arrived at with the world powers for the maintenance of the independence of the islands.
 It was freely stated around the senate chamber, that the Philippine paragraph of the tariff bill had the indorsement of President Taft in his own handwriting, and later MT. Ald rich stated that it had been en- dOrsed by the president. MT. Clapp expressed incredulity on that point
 At the night session the discussion of the Philippine free trade section was resumed by MT. Stone of Missouri, who spoke on his amendment giving the FIiipinOs their freedom after fif- teen years.
 Asserting there was no glory in their conquest and that there is no profit in holding them, MT. Newlands declar- ed in favor of the promise of independ- ence to the Philippines at a definite time. He asserted that the holding of the islands would eventually involve the country in an international conflict, if not an insurrection, that would prove as costly as the Boer war was to Great Britain.
 MT. Stones amendment was lost, A to IS. MT. Chamberlain voting with the republicans. A motion by MT Bulke- lev to refer the finance committees Philippine resolution to the Philip pines committee was also defeated, 40 to 21.
 MT. Aldrich asked that the order governing the sessions of the senate be changed so that the senate should meet at 10 o'clock in the morning and sit continuously until D. m. There being no objection the order was made and night sessions are therefore to be discontinued.