The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-05-28
PHILIPPINES ARE
HELD LIABILITY;
FREEDOM SURE
Stampede for Liberation OF
Islands Now Appears
Only Danger.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
scripns- Howard Foreign Editor

A
the practical II not altogether beau
tiful reason that the Philippines
have become an economic liability
instead Of an asset. congress is ex-
pected to vote their independence
before adjournment.
Time, however. may prevent. The
budget and other emergency legis-
lation may delay matters, but in
any event this year almost certainly
viii see the future status Of the
islands fixed.
Sugar. copra. vegetable oils ana
other products are held 70 compete
with those Of the United State.
and many belonging to that gros
OF politicians here which, for a third
Of a century, bl0c1ed freedom Tor
the Filipinos. now are ardently TO-
10. once the Philippines are free
her products can be barred from
this country by prohibitiye tariffs
without hurting the conscience OF
congress
stampede Is Feared
Thus. with independence virtually
certain, the only danger now Is a
possible stampede. That is TO say
congress may be in such hurry TO
get out Of the islands that they may
cause economic ruin.
hn FHGaH
FIX the Islands status. one OF them
is the Hare bill The other Is the
Cutting bill The Hare BILL
calling for independence at the end
of several steps tOtaling nine years,
already has passed the house by APP
proximately $50 votes out OF ABS
and after only forty minutes debate.
Speaking Of the Hawes-Cutting
bill-intrOduced by Senators Have;
Dem, Mo- and Cutting rep, n
MJ-Democratic Leader Robinson
said.
There practically is no opposition
to that bill in the senate. Were a
vote taken, the bill, with such mod
ihCation as the senate might see fit
10 impose, would be enacted by an
overwhelming majority"
Freedom After Nineteen Years
The senate bill provides for COM
plete independence at the end Of
nineteen years. Whereas the Hare
bill calls for unconditional inde-
pendence at the end of nine years
the other specifies that tn Filipino;
thmselves shall, by plebiscite, de-
termine their own fat.
Both measures-and this 10 i'm
portant-provide for the limitation
OF imports into this country from
the Philippines, and for tariffs, In
order gradually to accustom the IS
lands to the new status and give
time to find other markets.
Free trade-save for certain slight
restrictions on tobacco-have beer
the rule between the islands and
the states from the start. The
Philippines today. therefore, are alb
solutely dependent upon this country
for a market. Any sudden change
would doom the economic life Of the
archipelago.
1t is this which the friends OF
the Philippines now fear. In SC
great a hurry are some of the mem
bers Of congress to bar Philippine
products that there is a possibility
OF cutting them free and leaving
them to shift for themselves, come
what may.
Repudiated as Unworthy
Some even go so far as to de-
mand a prohibitive tariff against
products of the islands at once.
But. DC it said for the senate, the
proposition is pretty generally re-
pudiated as unworthy OF American
ideals.
The Philippines" said Senator
Norris. ARE under our control and
under our hag-not because they
asked to come under it. but be-
cause we took them under 1t by
force. For us to levy a tariff on
their products coming into the
United States and not allow them
to levy a tariff on anything going
from the United States to the
islands is absolutely indefensible.
The Philippine mission here,
headed by Sergio Osmena, acting
president Of the senate. and Manuel
Roxas. speaker Of the house, are
confident vote on independence
will not be long delayed. They
favor compromise between the
senate and house bills.