The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-04-21
SENATOR STONE
ON THE TARIFF
Takes Issue With President
Taft Regarding the Phil
ippine Provisions.
ISLANDS SHOULD BE FREE
CONGRESS URGED TO FIX THE
DATE FOR INDEPENDENCE.

Q :, :, ., :, . &: 9 {, . 4. . 4. 4. 4. g q
. Washington. April 2O.-The cen 9.
s: sus bill today was sent back to G.
s" conference by the senate in order 4.
g that its amendments relating to (:
. the civil service law and requir- &:
g ing the construction of building .
@ for the census work in this city q.
Q might be further considered.
2 Senator Stone spoke at length in q.
g favor of free trade with the Phil {:
q ippine islands and for independ- .
&. ence of the islands within a fixed &.
(. time. .
. At 4:3O o'clock p. m. the senate s..
. adjourned .
o . 9, . g . . q . q: . % . o 8 8. @ g.
Washington, d. G.. April 2O.-Taking
issue sqUarely with President Taft on
the latter's Philippine policy. Senator
Stone of NJ issouri. in a carefully Pre-
pared speech delivered in the lsenatz
today on the subject of the tariff. urged
the withdrawal of the United States
from the islands within a period OF fir
teen years pending which the people
of those islands should enjoy all the
benefits of a legitimate free trade via
this country
Mr.. Stones Amendment.
In the form of an amendment. Nj
stone proposed to strike out section 3
of the Aldrich-Payne tariff bill. and to
substitute therefor a provision decIar-
ing it TO be the policy of the United
states to grant independence to the
Islands whenever they have organized
a stable government capable OF main
tanning public order. to negotiate
agreements with other powers TO In
sure the islands Independence by neu-
Trailing them: to admit free of duty
into the United States. until this policy
has been fulfilled, all articles wholly
the growth and product of the islands.
in consideration of which agricultural
implements and machinery, cotton and
cotton manufactures, books and publ
cations. and machinery for use in man.
ufactures of all kinds. wholly the
growth and product of the United
States" should be admitted free into
the islands. An important feature Of
the provision is that it would not be
come operative until it had first been
approved by the existing legislative au-
thOrity OF the Philippine government.
independence Desired.
THE one long prayer Of the Philip
pine people is Cor independence. de-
should make such a declaration as /
have indicated. it would serve as an
inspirat alton to them to strive after pro-
gress TO the utmost limit of their ca
pacity The tariff feature Of the amend
ment would be in the nature of a re-
ciprOcaI trade relation established By
a agreement" He asserted his belief that
during the proposed ifteen-year period
there would be no dangerous increase
OF Philippine importations. and that,
on the other hand. with free entry into
the Philippines of the articles named.
our exports would exceed our imports,
ali the articles being of prime necessity
to the Filipinos.
Rights of FiIipinos.
In its present form the tariff bill
admits to free trade between the islands
and the United States articles produced
in the two countries, but places certain
restrictions upon impOrtatiOnS to this
country of sugar, tobacco and cigars
Senator Stone cOntended that if the
islands are TO be treated as American
territory. and that if it IS our policy
to hold them permanently under our
absolute sovereignty, then, as he con-
strues the constitution, the products o.
the islands have a right to enter al
American ports and into al American
markets on terms of equality with The
products Of any state.
Referring to the proposal to subject
10 the ordinary duty on like articles
from other foreign countries importa-
tiOns OF the restricted articles in excess
of the amount prescribed. Mr.. Stone
said that If the islands are American
territory. then congress, in my opinion
is without constitutional authority TO
discriminate against their products by
levying tariffs upon them.
But Mr.. Stone argued. ne did not
believe the Philippines were territory
of the United States and for congress
TO so will to hold them forever would
be an act of bad faith.
Unrestricted free trade with the
islands was not approved by Mr. Stone
under existing conditions. He voiced
the fear that to so encourage American
Continued on Pace 2.