The Washington herald., 1909-06-15
DENY FREE TRADE
TO THE PHILIPPINES
Senators Discuss Relation of
Tariff to Islands.
TO ABANDON NIGHT SESSIONS
Mr.. Stone wOuld Give the FiIipinOs
independence In Fifteen Years
Speech OF NewIands scores AIdrich-
Payne Bill and Reviews History
of POssessions-Defeat Amendments.

The relation Of the tarifr bin 10 the
Philippine Islands furnished the topic for
an all-day discussion IN the Senate yes
terday AS the elimination of the day
and night sessions, in which little prog
ress was made. the solons decided TO
abandon night sessions and 10 lengthen
the day meetings.
When adjournment was taken yesterday
afternoon. following a six hours debate.
two amendments providing free trade
with the PHILIPPINES. excepting a limited
amount OF sugar and tobacco, had been
rejected. These items provided material
for spirited speeches by Senators BristoW.
La Toilette. Bulkeley. Newlands. and
Stone.
Mr.. Bristow claimed that the provis-
ion offered by the Finance Committee
was TO the advantage OF the American
Sugar Refining Company or sugar trust.
HIS first amendment. designed 10 pre-
vent the imposition Of the Dingley rates
on refined or unrefned sugar imported
into the Philippine Islands. was rejected
by vote Of 40 10 II.
Provided Preferential Treatment.
The second amendment provided that
preferential treatment should be given TO
the producers Of less than !, 600 gross tons
annually. instead of 500. as given in the
committee amendment It was defeated
by a viva voce vote
Evidently inspired by the stirring
speech OF Senator Newlands. In which
the Aldrich-Payne bill relating to the
Philippine Islands was attacked. Senator
Stone offered an amendment to grant in
dependence 10 the Filipinos in fifteen
years. The measure was rejected. Is 70
a. No Republican voted for il, and one
Democrat, Senator Chamberlain. voted
against IT,
An amendment proposed by Mr.. La
Toilette to reduce the number OF cigars
which may be admitted annually from
the Philippines from 100000 to 1000 goo
will be considered by the Finance Com
mittee this morning
The only amendment adopted by the
Senate during the day was one offered
by Senator Bulkley TO protect the manu-
facturers OF wrapper tobacco in Con-
necticut in the Philippine market against
importation Of cigar wrapper material
from other countries.
Basing his speech on the ground that
the protected subsidy to Philippine
products viii bind those islands TO Us
indissolubly and forever" Senator New
lands opposed Mr. Aldrich's amendment
Since Deweys victory in Manila Har-
bor." continued the Senator. "the United
States and the Philippines have been
under the tyranny OF an accident Each
country desires to be free from the other
The FilipinOs. from the highest to the
-. 81
from the most intelligent TO the most
ignorant, desire independence. and aspire
TO complete national life. The people
OF the United States desire to be freed
from the burden, the perpleXity, the
responsibility, and the danger which per-
manent occupation OF the Philippines in
vites.
No Glory I'm Conquest.
We realize there has been 10 glory
in their conquest nor profit in their oc-
cupation: that the islands are almost
worthless agriculturaIly and CONNER
cially; that they are out Of the line Of
travel and commerce. and constitute no
link in our trade with China and Japan:
that, unlike Hawaii, they constitute no
part Of our defensive line. and on the
contrary. their occupation obtrudes Us
into al the problems, JeaIousies, conten-
tions. and possible wars OF Asiatie peo-
PIES and will some time involve US in an
Oriental war 1000 miles from our base.
more costly than the billlon-dolIar Boer
war was 10 England"
Arguing for REIMBURSEMENT OF the United
States authority OF the islands, Mr.. New
lands said. IF we grant the enormous
subsidies on sugar and tobacco secured
by this amendment, the two countries
viii be so bound together by the sub
sidiZed interests that it will be difficult
70 separate them. II American interests
take control Of this subsidized produc-
ticn they win strongly exercise their
influence against legislation tending TO
their separation, and il the Filipinos be-
come the benehciaries of these subsi-
dies they viii find that when the separa-
tion comes. the drop from the subsidized
prices in America 10 the lower level of
the worlds prices viii produce an in
stant collapse OF all their industries"
Mr.. Newlands insisted that the sugar
trust would ultimately monopolIze sugar
production in the Philippines. as It IS now
doing in Cuba, IL the subsidy was
granted
Defended by Lodge.
Mr. Lodge. the chairman OF the Philip
pines Committee. defended the amend
ment. which he sad would build up the
sugar and tobacco industries In the ISL
ands. Senator Burkett said the beet sugar
interests had no objection to the admis-
sion OF 100000 gross tons of sugar from
the Philippines annually.
Mr.. Clay declared that IL this amount or
sugar is admitted free Of duty there will
be an annual reduction OF about $4,000, 600
in the revenues Of the government. Mr..
Lodge said that the paragraph would not
confer special advantages upon the sugar
trust.
IN reply TO a question by Senator Ray
ner. Mr. Aldrich said the admission of
10000 gross tons OF sugar every year
free Of duty would not reduce the price OF
refined sugar to the consumer. The only
benehciaries. he added, would be the
Philippine producers, who would adopt
modern methods of manufacture and re-
fine practically all the sugar they raised.
Mr.. Clapp declared the result OF the
amendment would be practically the
same as the effect Of the Cuban reciproc-
ity legislation. which, he declared. did
not aid the Cuban cane growers. and
which at the same time cost the Aneri-
can people about 100000 a year.
Senator Stone, who concluded the de-
bate said the amendment was ''bunco'
game.