Evening star., 1937-11-14
By JAMES G. WINGO.

"HE second anniversary tomor-
row of the Philippine Com
monwealth will find the islands
L once more engaged in an issue
over early independence.
President Manuel Quezon revived
what had been considered a settled
question when he proposed to Presi-
dent Roosevelt to ask Congress to
grant Philippine independence on De-
cember 80 (Filipino Martyr Jose
Rizal day), 1888, or July 4, 1899. Re-
Gently Quezon announced that he
would not seek to amend the Philip
pine constitution to allow him to run
for a second six-year term. This leads
observers to believe that the long time
Filipino leader is ambitious to be-
come the first president Of the Phil
ippine Republic.
Under the Philippine independence
act, as written, the islands will be set
fully free on July 4, 1916. Unless in
dependence falls before November Is,
l94l, Quezon's successor will become
the new republics first president
QueZon gave reasons not so per-
sonal as this, however. He recently
told his National Assembly that if
there were objections to independence
now, they will still exist in 1916.
New Deal Another Reason.
Another reason he gave for wanting
early independence is the New Deal.
1T will be to our best interests to Sc
cure independence during and under
the administration of President Roose-
velt," he explained. II have no doubt
that under his leadership we will re-
ceive from the Government of the
United States the fairest treatment
that we may ever expect to receive
under the leadership of his sue
eeSsors"
Opposition to early independence,
however, has grown tremendously in
the past two years. Sugar and Coco
nut planters and others whose busi-
nesses depend upon United States
Philippine reciprocal free trade have
succeeded in creating a public opinion
favorable to continuation of the
Commonwealth. A nationwide poll
recently conducted by the American
edited Philippines Free Press indicated
that 55.46 per cent of the people are
against Quezon's early independence
proposal.
A joint preparatory committee on
Philippine affairs, composed of
American and Filipino experts ap-
pointed by President Roosevelt and
President Quezon, last week ended a
three-month study of economic con-
ditions in the Philippines. The Amer
lean experts are now on their way
back to Washington, but the Filipino
members chose to remain in Manila
because of reported disagreement.
1t had been previously reported that
President Quezon once threatened to
withdraw the Filipino group. AM
bassador John Van A. MacMurray,
chairman of the committee, denied
that split existed but admitted that
members were not in agreement in all
things.
Main problems given consideration
by the committee were the character
Of the trade preferences which should
exist for specified limited period be-
tween the United States and the
Philippines; the precise arrangements
for governing the trade relations be-
tween the two countries after term
ination of preferential trade rela-
tions; economic adjustments that
could be undertaken in the Philippines
and methods of executing and financ-
ing them; the need or appropriateness
OF changes in the Philippine currency
and banking system, and in the pro-
visions for servicing Philippine bonded
indebtedness, that may be required to
implement the plan for economic ad-
justment recommended by the joint
committee; adequate protection of the
rights and interests of the United
States and its citizens in the Philip
pines and of the Philippines and its
citizens in the United States after the
attainment of independence, and the
bearing which the possible negotiation
OF the naturalization agreement pro-
vided for in the Philippine independ-
ence act would have on the problems
studied by the committee.
The committee gave no consider
alton to the political relations be-
tween the two countries but took
cognizance of the bearing which the
advancing of the date of Philippine
independence would have on the
chances of the Philippine economic
structure to survive. The commit
tees report will be presented to Presi-
dent Roosevelt in December or early
IN January. High Commissioner Nc
Mutt will fly to Washington to discuss
the report with the President before
he makes recommendation to Con-
gress.
Despite the uncertainty created by
the revival Of the independent issue,
general prosperity exists in the Philip
pines. Although government ex-
penditures have grown considerably,
no new taxes have been imposed. On
tho other hand, one of the main
sources Of government revenue, the
poll tax, was abolished recently.
Tax Refunds Important.
This prosperity has been brought
about by increased values of exports
to the United States, increased Ship
ments Of gold bullion to this country.
the value Of which now averages more
than 100000 month, and the tre-
nendous contributions made by the
United States Treasury to the Philip
pine government in the form of re-
funds of Philippine coconut oil tax
and Philippine sugar processing tax.
These windfalls amount to more than
$30,000.000 annually. Last summer
accumulated collections of coconut oil
excise tax totaling approximately $780,
100000 were paid to the Philippine
government.
After spending eight months abroad
President Quezon returned to Manila
last August and called the National
Assembly, q unicameral body which