Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-16
Intention is to Favor Manufactures
from United States.
ADDITIONS TO THE FREE LIST
Present Regulations Difficult for
Exporters to Comply With.
DRAWN BY BOARD OF EXPERTS
Letter of Explanation from Secretary
Dickinson and General Edwards
Accompany the Mes
saRe,

WASHINGTON, April lb-The president
today sent to congress a special message
in relation to the Philippine tariff. The
message transmits recomn. .endations by the
secretary OF war for a revision of the
Philippine tariff so to permit much
customs revenue as possible for the islands
and at the same time to extend to the
islai DIS the principle of a protective tariff
for its Industries.
The message and accompanying letters,
with copy of the proposed act. were sub
mitted to both houses of congress shortly
after they convened.
Generally speaking, the bill submitted
by the president makes a slight increase
In the rates of duty now provided in the
Philippine tariff. but it's trainers say it's
tendency is TO insure far as practicable
the benefit of the Philippine market for
American manufacturers and products. The
measure makes some additions TO the free
list. There Will be increase In internal
revenue duties by which It is hoped to
make up the loss which the Philippine
islands will sustain by the operations of
the free trade provisions in the pending
Payne tariff bill
The internal revenue laws for the Philip
pines are enacted by the Philippine as
sembly
Text of the Message.
ITO the senate and house of representa-
tives: l transmit herewith a communica-
ton from the secretary of war, inclosing
one from the chief of the bureau of in
sular affairs. In which is transmitted
proposed tariff revision law for the Phil
ippine islands.
This measure revises the present Philip
pine tariff, simpiifies It and makes 1t con-
form as nearly as possible to the regula-
tons Of the customs laws of the United
States, especially with respect to packing
and packages. The present Philippine regu-
lations have been cumbersome and diff |
cult for American merchants and exporters
to comply with, Its purpose Is to meet |
the new conditions that will arise under |
the section or the pending United States |
tariff bill, which provides. with certain |
limitations, for free trade between the |
United States and the islands. 1t is drawn |
with a view to preserving to the islands |
as much customs revenue as possible and |
to protect In reasonable measure those
industries which now exist in the Islands.
Tine bill now transmitted has been drawn
by board of tariff experts, OF which the
insular collector of customs Colonel George
had great many open meetings 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 pend
Ing Payne bill, with special reference TO
the provisions of which It was prepared.
Il respectfully recommend that this bill
be ena tied. at the present session of con-
gress as one incidental TO and required BY
the passage of the Payne bill
WILLIAM Fl. TAFT.
The White House, April H. 1909"
Necessity for Change.
Secretary of War Dickinson. in forward
Ing the papers to the president, says:
II have not had time to examine the bill
In detail and have not sufficient acqualnt-
ance with the subject to say whether or
not 1t. is what IT should be- but General
Edwards. who is familiar with the matter
It and have no doubt that
with your own familiarity with the sub
ject, you will be able TO dispose of it."
The letter OF General Edwards. dated
April II and addressed TO Secretary Dickin-
son. after describing the measure and its
purpose in much the same language as the
president, says:
1t VIII be understood that the result of
The free admission of American goods into
lhe Philippine islands must revolutionize
business in the Philippines. and unless
lhe adoption Of that policy is accompanied
by revision Of the present Philippine
lariff 1t will be disastrous to some i'm
portant industries in the islands and also
result In such serious loss TO the customs
(Continued ON secoD5 po..1 -