Evening star., 1941-11-23
By James G. Wingo.

projects The House Committee on
Insular Affairs limited the Quezon-in-
spired bill by stipulatlng that only a
certain portion of the sugar excise tax
money be used, and that amended bill
is now pending in the House.
Shipping Shortage Threatens Industries.
Another evidence that the economic
program of the Philippine Independence
Act has been set back by conditions
brought about by World War II is the
bill introduced in Congress 10 suspend
for one year the export taxes and quotas
imposed by the Independence Act upon
Philippine products entering the United
States. In advocating this bill, Philip
pine Resident Commissioner Joaquin NJ.
Elzalde has told Congress that aid
must be given his country because Of
the disruption of trans-Paciic shipping
and the extension of the Export Con-
troll Act to the Philippines. The ship
ping shortage threatens to ruin Philip
pine industries sustained by the Amer
lean market but not classified as stra-
tegic, like sugar and coConut and eX
port control has virtually closed jap
anese and other Axis markets, only
profitable outlets for Philippine products
besides the United States.
During the Commonwealths sixth
year President Quezon who was re-
elected overwhelmingly on November g..
referred to independence only once.
When he accepted his party's nomina-
tion, he said that independence was no
longer in the hands of one man or one
country but in the laps of the gods,
pointing to the uncertainty of the inter-
national situation On the other hand,
he made several Nationwide addresses
proclaiming the Filipino peoples loyalty
to the United States and their eager
ness to stand by America in whatever
step she takes during the world crisis.
Meantime Quezon has endeavored to
build closer relations with the United
States not only in matters of national
defense but in economic and political
matters. Quezon's most effective aid in
his program of cooperation with the
United States has been the dapper, "A
y
| appointed as his governments repre-
sentative in Washington, Joaquin Eli
| zalde.
In recent months the Philippine resi-
| dent commissioners Office has grown
| and expanded into a virtual clearing
house for Philippine relations
| The Commonwealth government recent
| lyspurchased a 30-room house on Mas
| sachusetts avenue to serve as Offices
| for Elizalde's staff. In recognition OF
| Elizalde's efforts toward improvement
of American-Philippine relations, Quezon
made him last September a member
of his cabinet without portfolio) and
also of his council of state.
| Sees Possible Need Of Changes
Elizalde's attitude toward fndepend-
ence is a key to his Presidents current
view. AS resident commissioner. Eli
zalde has always maintained that it /,
not his business to reopen the indie
| pendenoe question. He thinks that il
is waste of effort to bring the question
up at this time. However, he believe,
that higher considerations, absent dur.
ing the passage of the independence
Act. can reopen the question and thai
If the United States decides to keep tn,
Philippines because of the exigencies o.
national defense, it can do so and vii
do so. Thus the best way, in his opin'
ion, is to plan things ahead as much a!
possible in accordance with the pro-
gram set by Congress, asking for modi
fcation here and there only as necessit,
arises without touching the Fundamental
purpose Of the Independence Act.
This passive attitude toward inde'
pendenY among Philippine leaders