The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-04-16
SPECIAL MESSAGE
OF TAFT IS HEARD
President Deals With Question
of Revising Tariff With the
Philippines.
RECOMMENDATIONS BY
SECRETARY OF WAR
Object to DO Justice to the ISL
ands While Extending Scope
of Free Trade.

WASHINGTON, April 15.-The
president today sent to congress a spe.
clal message in relation to the Philip
pine tariff. The message transmits
recommendations by the secretary of
war Tor revision Of the Philippine
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 u protective
tariff for its industries
Inc message and accompanying let
tefs, with copy of the proposed act,
were submitted 10 both houses of CON
gresS shortly after they convened.
GENERALLY speaking, thc bill submit.
ted by the president makes slight in
ylded IN the Philippine tariff. but its
trainers say It's tendency is 10 insure
as far as practical the benefit of the
IhIhpplne market for American mann
taeturers and products, The bill makes
some additions to the free list. There
VIII be an increase in international
revenue duties by which 1T is hoped to
make up tho loss which the Philippine
islands will sustain by the operations
of the free trade provisions in the pend.
ing Payne tariff bill
the Philippines are enacted by the
Philippine assembly.
Text Of the Message
The message follows:
To the senate and house Of representa-
tiYeS-I transmit herewith co,nmunlca-
ton from the secretary OF war. inclosing
one from the chief of the bureau of In
sular lrs,. in which Is transmitted
proposed tariff revision law for the Phil
ippnc islands.
This measure revises the present Philip
pine tariff. simpllIes II and malScs II con
form rs nearly as possible 10 the rcsula-
tions OF the customs laws OF the United
states. and especially with respect 10
packing and packages. The present Phil
lppine regulations have been cum ersornc
aud have been difficult for American mer-
chants and exporters 10 comply with Its
purpose is to meet the new conditions that
ing United States tarif bill which pro-
vides. with certain limitations. for FREQ
trade hetwceu the Iinitee stairs and tho
islands. |, IS drawn with n view TO pre-
serving 10 the islands as much customs
revenue as possible and to protect IN n
reasonable measure those Industries which
now exist In the islands.
Bill Drawn by Experts
The bin now transmitted has been
drawn by n board Of tariff experts. OF
which the insular collector OF customs,
Colonel George r. Cotton. was ,he presi.
dent. The board had a great many open
III AldDlld anu conferred tuily
with representatives OF all business in
terests In the Philippine Islands. II is
OF great Importance 10 the welfare of the
islands that the bin should he passed at
the same tim" 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 con-
Sress as one incidental 10 and required
by the passage of The Payne bill.
WILLIAM II. TAFT,
The White House. April II. 1909.
Secretary of War Dickinson, in for
warding the papers to the president
says:
~ have not had time to examine
the bill in detail and have not suffi
clent acquaintance with the subject 10
say whether or not it is what it should
be; but General Edwards, who is fa.
miliar with the matter. recommends it,
and ] have no doubt that with your
own familiarity with the subject you
will be able to dispose Of it,
Views of Edwards.
The letter of General Edwards. dated |
pril II and addressed to Secretary
Dickinson. after describing the measure |
md its purposes, in much the same Ian. |
yuage as the president, says:
lit Will be understood that the re.
;ult of the free admission of American
goods into the Philippine islands must
revolutionize business in the Philip. |
oiucs, and unless the adoption of thar
oolicy is accompanied by revision of
he present Philippine tariff it will
prove disastrous to some important in
lustrics in the islands, and also result
n such serious loss 10 tho customs rove
,ue as TO cmbarrass the Philippine
government.
cit has had publicity in the United
states, and it is believed that contend
ng interests have been rcconciled, and
IS far as schedules are concerned il
hould meet with no opposition. For
Instance, the schedules relating TO the
Introduction of tobacco. sumatra leaf
nd sugar are made identical with the
ending Payne bill, and therefore have
cmovcd the apprehension that these
oods can be imported into the Philip
inc islands nj less tariff rate, and
hence into the United States free. as
he growth and production Of the Phil,
ppine islands.
"'The proposed revision has the ap.
roval OF the governor general and the
overnment be represents in the Phil
,pinc islands. I