Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-15
TARIFF QUESTIONS SEEN BEHIND
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE PLEA
Economic Factors Involved
Are Discussed in House
Debate.
Effect of Islands on Ameri-
can Products Is
Brought Up.

The reason behind the recent con-
stantly recurring pleas in the House for
independence of the Philippine Islands
came to the surface yesterday when a
spirited debate on a subject Ringing on
the tariff cropped out during discussion
of the Agriculture Department appro-
priations bill.
Within the past two weeks. including
! yesterday, three times the members OF
! the House have applauded vigorously
addresses delivered by the Filipino COM
missioner, Camilla OsiaS, resulting re-
marks by American members holding
almost unanimously to the patriotic
| flavor of the commissioners words.
| Yesterday, however, the debate,
started this time by Representative
Knutson. Republican. of Minnesota, was
| tinged thoroughly with the economic
side of the question. Prefacing his re-
marks with the statement that since
the islands are capable of governing
| themselves I'VE ought to redeem Amer
cas- pledge to them by giving them COM
plete independence"
Cites Effect on U. S. Farmer.
Knutson soon shifted his point to the
effect on farmers of the United States
of the free entry of Filipino products,
particularly vegetable oils and sugar.
He said that at the present time, as
result of the island competition, there
we're 540,000000 pounds of American
dairy products In storage with no mar
ket for it.
Representative Selvig, also from Min
nesota, and Republican, pointed out
that it had cost the American farmers
$3.50 200, 900 in profits to build up the
present economical structure of the
Philippines.
An opponent of independence at this
point asked if withdrawal of such sup"
port at this time would not Immediately
deal the islands such blow as to make
it almost impossible for them to recover.
Turning to Osias, Knutson asked:
Would it be possible for you to retain
your present economic status with
American tariff duties against you?'
Could Levy Own Duty.
THE gentleman forgets." Osias said,
that independence would give us an
opportunity to levy duties of our own. ="
KnutSon Is the author of one OF sew
eral bills now pending in committee
granting immediate independence to the
islands The products of his State are
in direct competition with Filipino
products. He pleaded yesterday. as did
Representative Dyer OF Missouri, for a
| chance to see the House vote on his bill.
II cannot understand" KnutSon said,
L"why some consider the islanders in
capable of taking care of themselves.
Why, you never hear any one even inti-
mating that the United States is in
capable of Self-government and look at
Chicago. Every time they have an cleo
ton there the papers are full of slug
ging matches and gang murders, but no
one has the temerity to suggest we can't
govern ourselves"
ronraeeytatjve LIoo,,er RenuhIican of
Michigan, member of the group which
nelieyes the islands not yet ready for
independence, group which at present
seems to be in the majority, argued yes
terday that sudden cutting of the
strings between the islands and the
United States would be harmful not
only to the islands but to the United
States.
Hooper Asks More Time.
Fifty years" Mr.. Hooper said, "is
but drop Of time in the history of
country. Let us not cast off these peo-
pie until we have done our duty with
them. Let us wait a few more years,
and in that time make preparations for
their future security"
Representative Mas, Republican, of
Minnesota, represents another school
of thought on the subject in that he
favors an ultimate establishment of the
dominion status in the islands He be-
lieves the islanders should be at some
future date given the opportunity to
govern themselves but that they should
be Americans, too He compared the
status he would like to see exist be-
tween the islands and the United
States with that which now exists be-
tween Canada and Great Britain.
The whole question of the independ-