Manila, Jan. 25.
Gable despatches from San Francisco telling of the plans of a group of San Francisco business men to form a shipping pool for the Oriental carrying trade have been followed with much_ interest in Manila. Many here believe that the plan of the combine to apply the American coastwise law to the Philippines will be revived and put into operation, The coast 1 which would require all ships plying between America and the Islands to be; under American registry, is. strongly opposed by Filipinos and by foreign shipping lines. Its operation awaits a proclamation by the President, who is empowered to take such action after February this year, When the coastwise law was nessed more than 2 year ago, i no politicians seized upon it as an occasion for agitation. Mr. Quezon, in particular, led the fight against it, asserting that it amounted to taxation without representation and in general was a reactionary and "imperialistic"? measure.
the law is put into effect by proclamation this year, there is likely to be a_ loud chorus of protest from Filipinos here and from their resident commissioners in Washington.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.