Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-15

vision of the tariff bill regulating the
admission of Philippine articles INTO
the United States, and received prac-
ticaIy the undivided attention OF the
senate throughout the day
During the first hour there was some
discussion of the effect of the pro-
vision on the tobacco interests of Con-
nectucut, but the amendment looking
to the introduction of Connecticut to-
bacco into the Philippines for wrap
pers had the effect of relieving the
situation in that quarter.
Attention was then directed to the
clauses providing duty on sugar ad-
mitted into the Philippines equal TO
that on sugar brought into the United
States and exempting 5000 tons OF
Philippine sugar from duty when
brought into the United States.
Senator Bristow criticised both
provisions and his criticisms opened
the way for a general debate between
Bristow and Clapp on one side and
Aldrich and Lodge on the other.
Object of Provisions
It was commended on the one hand
that the two provisions combined were
intended to promote the interests of
the sugar trust and not to benefit the
Philippine producers.
1T was ny lil6 SuppOl VI
the provision that the sugar producers
of the Philippines would be benefited
by the free admission of their sugar
into the United States.
The only vote taken during the day
was on the amendment by Mr.. Bristow
admitting sugar into the Philippines
free of duty. 1t was lost, II to 40.
Senator Stone of Missouri gave notice
that he would soon offer an amendment
i k1a1
Philippine islands within sixteen years,
an agreement having been meanwhile
arrived at with the world powers for
the maintenance of the independence of
the islands.
1t was freely stated around the SEN
ate chamber that the Philippine para
graph of the tariff bill had the indorse-
ment of President Taft in his own
handwriting, and later Senator Aldrich
stated that 1t had been Endorsed by the
president.
Senator Clapp expressed incredulity
on that point.
Discussion Animated
The finance committees provision
regulating the payment of duties on
commodities coming into the United
States from the islands was taken up
after the senate had held an executive
session, and became the subject of ami
mated discussion.
The provision permitted the free I'M
portation of Philippine goods with re-
strictions and exceptions, and on mo-
ton of Senator Lodge it was MADE ap-
plicable to Guam and Tutuilla on the
same terms.
The language of the paragraph relat-
ing to the free admission of products
from the Philippines was changed to
make 1t clear that all manufactured ar
ticles imported into the United States
from the Philippines should be com
posed partly or wholly of products OF
the islands or of the United States.
The change was made on suggestion
of Senators Buckley and Btandege and
was intended to permit Connecticut cl-
gar wrappers to be taken to the Islands
and to be imported into the United
states as a part of cigar free or duty
The provision requiring raw or re-
fined sugar to pay the same duty
when imported into the Philippines as
when imported into the United States
aroused Senator Bristow, who thought
he saw in it an advantage to the
American Sugar Refining company.
Sugar Poor, He Says
Declaring that the Philippine sugar
was SO poor in quality that there was
no market for it in the United States,
Senator Buckley said the legislation
allowing 100000 tons annually to come
into the United States was hum
bug"
The sugar industry in the Philip
pines he said, had gone down until
now only 165, 900 tons were raised annu-
ally. The cause of this condition, ne
said. was the '1aziness and stupidity
of the people"
A proviso offered by Mr.. Lodge Civ
ing to the Philippine commission pow
err to pay out the internal revenue
which is provided for in the tarlH Dill
was adopted.
Mr.. Bristow offered an amendment
to the Philippine free trade provision
which will permit the importation of
raw and refined sugar into the Phil
ippines at rates that may be lower
than the sugar duties Of the United
States.
He also proposed an amendment
eliminating the provision of the bill
which gave the preference for the SO0,-
900 ton free sugar provision to pro-
ducers of less than 500 tons of sugar.
Mr.. Foster declared that the finance
committees amendment did not pro-
pose to exclude from the free trade
provision the sugar produced by large
factories in the Philippines, but that
it merely gave the preference to the
production of the small farmer.
Calls 1t Concession
MIR. IOuSe SAID llle proposition u
admit sugar and tobacco into the
United States free of duty was con-
cession to those who had contended
for absolute free trade between the
islands and the United States.
Interrupting Mr.. Lodge, Senator
Buckley said no compromise had been
made on this provision with the tobac-
co growers of Connecticut.
"We have reached no compromise
with the senator from Connecticut"
retorted Mr.. Lodge.
"You will have to-" responded the
Connecticut senator
1--WE will see about that when the
vote is taken" said Mr., Lodge.
Mr. Aldrich insisted that the Philip
pine amendment provided practically
for bounty to the sugar raiser of the
Philippines.
81 venture the prediction" he said.
"that the processes of refining sugar
in the Philippine islands will be
changed and that this sugar will come
to the United States in a refined con-
dition."
Night Session
At the night session discussion of the
Philippine free trade section was re-
sumed by Mr.. Stone of Missouri, who