New-York tribune., 1909-06-17
PHILIPPINE FREE TRADE
SENATE TAKES OFF DUTY.
Smoot Amendment for admitting g
Tobacco and Sugar Adopted.
from Tbs Tribune Buresu.I I

IFrocn This Trfbuns Buresu-1
Washington June 1s.-Almost the entire session
Of the Senate to-day devoted to debate on the
substitute for the zinc paragraph. Preceding dis
cussion of the zinc duties the Senate adopted, by
Of ~ to Is, the Snnoot amendment FOR the
annual free admission from the Philippines Of TO-
noo 900 cigars 100 600 pounds Of nller tobacco 10000
pounds of wrapper and filler tobacco, when mixed
with more than 10 per cent of wrapper tobacco and
10000 tons OF sugar. Six Republicans Senators
Borah, Bristow Clapp Crawford, La Toilette and
Root, voted against this amendment. All OF these
except Mr. Root wanted either the Dingley rates
or smaller Limitation free importation from
the islands. The New York Senator opposed the
amendment for the reason that It aid not go far
enough in Its liberality toward the Filipnos.
BY vote of 26 10 IS the Senate rejected amend
ment by Mr. Fletcher providing that imports from
the Philippines into the United States shall pay
the same duties as imports from other countries.
except A provided by law
Offering amendment limiting the operation Of
the proposed law for the free admission Of sugar
from the Philippine Islands 10 two years, Senator
Gore declared that the Sugar Trust would be the
beneficiary Of free sugar He said his amendment
would permit practical test and would demon
strate how the plan would operate His amend
rnent rejected. . to a.
The debate the zinc schedule developed a new
alignment both the Republican and Democratic
sides. The House bill provided a fat rate OF one
cent pound the zinc contents OF ore. The
Finance Committee recommended sliding scale.
with containing less than 10 per cent os zinc
free and cent q pound containing more
than % per cent Of zinc. Senators Kean and Bur
ton spoke in favor OF free zinc Sir. Stone, speak
ing for the mining interests Of the Joplin district
Of Missouri. opposed tie reduction in the Senate
bill Mr.. Warner. OF Missouri. although dissstis-
fed with the lower rate. willing 20 accept II
as a compromise and this was the attitude OF Mr..
Guggenheirn. Mr.. La Toilette maintained that the
high rate of the House bill was reasonable. al
though zinc the free list MI hey
hu-r made n long speech for the House duty. ana
,Sla|r rba -T1tff 8
The sliding scale finally adopted without
rollcau. a sharp colloquy took place between MT.
Keau and Mr. Hughes, OF Colorado VINO hu-
mated that the New Jersey Senator was free
trade Republican while he was tarih-for-revenue
Der,ocrat Mr. Kean replied that he didn't know
that Mr. Hughes tarifi-for-revenue Demo
crat but he did know that Mr. Hughes always
voted for the highest duties on the products Of
Colorado.
The substitute for the silk schedule adopted
Mr. Aldrich explained that in the reclassihcaton or
this schedule the general effect was TO leave the
rates practically the same as existing law Mr..
Gore offered an amendment to treble the duties
silk containing more than Do per cent Of other
material. and provide excise tax on domestic
silk Of the same grade. This was rejected without
a rollcaH.
Mr. Aldrch submitted substitutes for Paragraphs
407 and 40s in the paper schedule. He explained
that their purpose TO provide more accurate
classification and to impose duties on articles un-
known when the Dingey law was enacted Al the
request Of several Senators these amendments went
over until tomorrow.
Mr Root spoke briefly in favor Of modification
Of the paper schedule in the matter of cigar labels
flaps and bands He said the changes advocated
by the cigarnakers were of vastly more interest
to the Cigar industry than the free admission OF
cigars from the Philippines.
At the suggestion of Mr.. Aldrich reduction OF
half a pound was made In writing letter.
note and other paper covered in Paragraph 4o9
The Senate agreed 10 motion by Mr.. Lodge 10
add TO the rosaries which not com
posed wholly or in part of gold or precious stones.