Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-02
Representative of Filipinos
Wants Tariff on Our Goods.
OTHERWISE LESS REVENUE
Estimates Falling Off First Year of
Six Million Pesos.
FEARS CONTROL BY TRUSTS
Resumption of Debate on the Payne
Bill-Southerner Rebukes South.
Louisianian Wants Cotton Duty.

The voice of the Filipino for the first
time was heard today in the legisla tive
halls of Congress. 1t was a voice raised
in protest against the system OF free
trade which the Payne bill seeks to es-
tablish with the Philippines.
Standing in his place in the House of
Representatives. Palmo Ocampo de Leon.
resident commissioner from the far-off
island possession of the United States,
criticised the proposition for free trade,
because. he said, it would cause a de-
crease in the revenues OF the islands and
act upon the trusts in such a way as to
preclude the possibility of independence.
Predicts Loss Of Revenue.
AS soon as the measure becomes
operative" he said, "it would imme
diately cause in the first year a de-
crease in the revenues of about $780,
900 pesos. from which revenues the
Philippine government obtains the
greater portion of its income for the
support of the administration. This
decrease would augment every year AS
off. owing to the advantageous DOS. :
ton which American products would
nave in the market, a position which
inevitably would annul foreign competi-
tion.'
Living under the protection of this
country" he continued. the Filipinos
would willingly grant the greatest
preference to American products were
they not convinced that such prefer
ence means ruin for their own coun-
from the Philippine markets, the I'M
porter of American products would
control the situation
The decrease of the customs rev.
enues would inevitably compel the
Philippine government to go into
bankruptcy because there are no other
sources from which to obtain revenues
and to meet its financial obligations.
Menace to Independence.
viewing the question in its political
aspect, is not there a danger that the
future independence of the Filipinos
would be hindered by the ties conse-
trade? The trusts and other corpora
tions that would establish themselves
IN the philippines encouraged by free
trade would place a formidable bar
rier against Filipino freedom
THE only reciprocity we ask Is that
our sugar and tobacco be admitted free
OF duty, and in exchange allow all agri-
cultural machinery and implements of
manufacture free admission into all parts
of the Philippines
The commissioner said he voiced the
sentiment of 100000 Fflipinos in asking
Congress to grant independence to the
inhabitants of the Philippines.
Pacifcation Of Filipinos.
At the close of Mr. Ocampo de Leon =
remarks Mr.. Goulden of New York made
the statement that at public dinner in
Washington, before he was President,
Mr.. Taft declared that when he went to
the Philippines he was credibly Informed
that If he could get the influence and
active support of MIR. Ocampo de Leon
he would have no trouble in pacifying the
Filipino people
republican side was heard to say.
They are pacitied." was Mr.. GOulden's S
response to his unknown questioner.
Pleads for Protection.
Mr.. Moore Pa) addressed the House
"as protectionist who believes in his
own land and the advancement of his
own people" He pleaded for protection
for American men and women who know
the blessings of their own environment
and seek to hold them undisturbed; "pro-
lection from the prejudice that holds en-
thrailed American genius and against
the wasteful AngIo-manac who fritters
away American substance upon foreign
fops and follies.
Mr. Young IN. W urged the placing of
hides on the free list. The duty has
been a handicap on our industry for
age of the Dingley bill the tanning busi-
ness OF this country was in a healthy con-
dition, ibut since the imposition of the
duty the independent tanners. who were
come discouraged and many of them
have simply become workmen for the
monopoly which the duty created"
He opposed the reduction of the duty
on sole and betting leather from 20 per
cent to per cent.
Southerner Rebukes South.
1T is humiliating to hear a cry coming
trp from the south for protection on some
articles because they happen to be pro-
duced In that section said Mr. Spight
tMiss) That. he said. was especially
true of sugar and hides If. he argued.
the bill would go farther and put shoes
on the free list its trainers would not be
50 glarngly inconsistent.
Mr. Spight said he did not agree with
those opposing the reduction of the duty
on lumber. and he wanted basgins and
ties put the free list
The bill, in the opinion of Mr.. Bowers
Miss, did not honestly redeem the re-
publican pledges. The promise was, he
said. that il would correct inequalities
and fairly and equitaby distribute the
burdens of taxation. but instead certain
favored interests had been cared for while
The necessaries of life had been taxed out
OF proportion.
Ransdell Wants Cotton Duty.
Mr Ransdell u.aJ pleaded for a duty
of 3l2 cents a pound on cotton importa-
tions, deprecated the free entry of Philip
pine sugar and defended the policy Of
Giffora r:nchot in regard to the conserva-
tion OF the forests.
The south" lie said, feels a deep in
terest in the tariff. 1t has not secured
financial returns from the protective fea-
lures Of the system equal to those sec
tions of the Union largely engaged in
manufacturing Nevertheless. ii has many
industries which are affected.
Being citizen OF Louisiana. which
has so many protected industries-sugar,
rice and 1umber-I cannot help leaning
somewhat to that side. and In my opinion.
the whole south Is rapidly changing Its
ideas on this subject" said Mr.. Ransdell.
Langley Remains Unconvinced.
Maintaining that he was a protectionist
even TO the point Of the standpatter, Mr..
| Langley CKy) declared that he was still
| unconvinced after hearing all the arRu-
ments, that all of the provisions OF the
4 ivS fall xayStI, q h1