Evening star., 1932-12-18
BILL FOR PHILIPPINE
FREEDOM IN 1914
PASSED BY SENATE
Measure Is Approved Despite
Warning by Hoover That
Veto Is Waiting.
LEGISLATION WILL GO
TO JOINT CONFERENCE
Upper Chamber Lengthened Tran.
sition Period Before independence
and Lowers Export Quotas.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
Freedom by 1914 for the Philippine
Islands was voted yesterday by the
Senate In the face of warnings that
President Hoover would veto the legis-
lation.
The measure, sponsored by Senators
Cutting Republican, of New MeMco),
and Hawes Democrat, Of Missouri),
| was approved without the formality of
| a roll call.
It now goes to conference with the
House, which last session overwhelm-
! ingly approved a bill by Representative
! Hare democrat, of South Carolina),
granting independence in eight years.
The vote. coming after 10 days of de-
bate, made it the first time any kind Of
! independence legislation has received
the Endorsement of both branches of
| Congress in the years of agitation Of
the question.
Differs From House Bill
The bill differs radically from that
| passed by the House.
The latter approved a measure to
| withdraw American sovereignty eight
years after final enactment and mean
while duty-free imports into the United
States Of sugar, coconut Oil and hemp
products, chief exports Of the FiIpinos,
| would be restricted.
The Senate bill not only lengthens
the transition period in which the
islanders may become accustomed to
quasi-self government, but lowers the
quotas on sugar and coconut oil and
provides that when the Islands by vote
approve a constitution this shall be
deemed an expression by them for ire
vocable freedom.
1t was the substitution of the latter
provision for the original Hawes-
Cutting clause calling for withdrawal
of American sovereignty only after the
FiGpinoS had voted for independence
at the end of the l2-year period that
led some Senators to predict presi-
dental veto.
The question Of adopting q consti-
tuition would arise, under the bill passed
today. as soon as the Philippine Legis-
| lature could arrange for it, and op-
ponents OF the amendment to make the
vote on this tantamount to a declara-
tion for freedom contended this was
| "indefensible
Amendment by Byrnes.
This amendment was offered by
Senator Byrnes. Democrat, of South
Carolina, and was approved A to 90.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican, OF
Michigan, made a bitter attack on this
provision. saying it left no way for
the Filipinos to express themselves, if
| they find fault with their economic
disadvantages, except through revo-
luton which would precipltate inter-
venton"
Republican leaders predicted Presi-
dent Hoover would veto the bill espe-
cially If the plebiscite provision is
! excluded.
Senator Halves made dramatic last
! minute appeal for independence, but,
like other supporters of the measure as
it came from the committee, opposed
the Byrnes amendment.
Senator Cutting was not present
when the bill passed, as he was con-
fined to his hoe with cold.
Senator Robinson Of Arkansas. the
Democratic leader, and Senator Borah,
Republican, of Idaho, approved of the
ByrneS amendment, saying it provided
no better test for the islanders to de-
termine whether they wanted freedom.
The Senate bill would make the i'm
port quotas effective for seven years.
For the next five years preceding lnde-
pendence the islands would be author
lied to collect export taxes and use the
money to help pay off their bonded in
debtedness The House bill makes no
provision for such taxes.
Taxes Would Increase.
| The taxes would be 5 per cent OF the
normal American tariff the first year
and would increase S per cent each
year through the five-year period.
The import quotas. which their spon-
i sors said would maintain the status
\ quot of free trade would be as follows:
Sugar, 585, 900 tons OF raw and 30,0O0
tons of refined.
! Coconut oil, 100000 long TONS.
Hemp products, 100000 pounds. :.
! Just before final passage a series OF
amendments were rejected. one,
complete substitute by Senator King,
Democrat. of Utah. would have freed
! the islands in from three to five years.
Another. by Senator Dickinson. Repuo,
lican. of Iowa, would have put pearl
buttons on a quota basis to protect the
button industry at Muscatine, Iowa.
! Pending consummatlon OF lnoepenu-
| ence. the United States would be repre-
sented in the islands by high commls-
sioner. A..
The United States also reserves the
right to retain its present n1ntaIy.
| naval and other reservations IN tne
islands, and that after independence
is complete, the United States may
obtain, by lease or purchase. any adol-
tional territory in the islands 1t may
deem necessary.
4; The Philippine legislative mission
which since last January has been
| fighting for independence here, was
elated at the Senate vote today, put
dissatisfied with provisions Of the bhl
excluding Filipino immigration and the
low total for duty-free sugar impor-
tations.
! Speaker Manuel Roxas Of the hsular
house, as joint chairman OF the mis-
sion, said last night he and proponents
of the islanders cause in the Senate
would fight 'to the last ditch" to have
the immigration and sugar considers.
ton changed when the bill is altered
In conference with House leaders.
It was learned last night that Q
tentative agreement has been made be-
tween Senate and House friends OF IN
dependence to work in conference for
final approval of the bill containing
the immigration limit Of 100 annually.
and S5O, 900 long tons of duty-free sugar
imports as contained in the bill passed
by the House last session.