Evening star., 1934-03-25
ROOSEVELT SIGNS
PHILIPPINES BILL
Islands to Accept Measure
on Anniversary of DeWey's
Victory.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt yesterday wrote
upon the statute books plan for the
complete freedom of the Philippine
Islands In 1945 or soon thereafter.
To the click of cameras and in the
presence of authors of the measure
and members of the Philippine In
dependence Mission here, the Pres
ident shortly after noon signed the
McDuff1e Tydings independence law
passed last week, and Philippine
leaders announced Immediately 1t
would be accepted on May l by
their Legislature. Blowing of whistles
and ringing of bells greeted news Of
the action in Manila.
This is great day for you and
for me-" the President told President
Manuel L. QueZon Of the Philippine
Senate, adding that If invited he
would attend the inaugural ceremo-
nies of the new republic 10 or IL
years hence.
Will Honor Dewey.
Senator Tydings, Democrat, OF
Maryland, cosponsor Of the measure,
said May l had been designated as
acceptance date for the bill to honor
the memory of Admiral Dewey who
steamed in. destroyed the Spanish
fleet and took Manila Bay on that
date in 1898.
Enactment of the measure came
almost exactly 33 years after Amer
lean troops captured Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo to end the Filipino insur-
rection on March 90. 1901. Gen
Aguinaldo now lives in comparative
pensioned retirement. but still is an
important figure in island politics.
Signing of the bill. which is a re-
enactment with a few notifications
of the Halves Cutting law which
passed Congress IA months ago. was
accompanied by warning from Sec
retary of War Dern against taxation
Of Philippine imports prior to inde-
pendence.
Obligations Cited.
I'VE still have obligations to these
people. and trade restrictions such as
proposed now in a bill before Congress
would violate the spirit of this act"
said the Secretary after he witnessed
signing Of the law
He referred to the proposed appli-
cation Of a 3-cent-a- pound excise tax
on Philippine coconut oil, contained
in the general revenue bill now before
the Senate.
Recalling he already had voiced
presidential objections to this taxa
ton. the Secretary said:
We ought not to spoil our fine rec
ord in the Philippines through an
unjust taxation act at the last min
ute. An excise tax is equivalent to a
tariff and we have no right to apply
the tariff to these islands until they
become free.
Economic provisions contained In
this law are obviously compact with
the Philippine people. which We can
not violate Any such taxation would
be a violation Of the spirit Of the
law"
Troops Will Leave.
The law provides for United States
withdrawal of all military bases in
JIe lSldnOS alUeT lnoepeTlOence. DeTn
said this would mean native soldiers
Of the Philippine Scouts, now used as
the islands constabulary, would be
mustered out Of American service at
that time. The approximately 5000
white troops stationed there would be
transferred elsewhere.
The War Department already is
studying problems entailed in the
military withdrawal. even though it
does not become effective for more
than 10 years.
Dern said he hoped to visit the
islands in September or October.
Senator Tydings, chairman of the
Senate Territories Committee, Is plan
ming trip to Manila in May or June
at the head Of joint congressional
commission to study Philippine OBJ
jections to economic provisions OF the
new law
Members of the Philippine Inde-
pendence Mission expect to sail for
nome April Z