The Hare–Hawes–Cutting Act passed to authors Congress Butler B. Hare, Senator Harry B. Hawes, and Senator Bronson M. Cutting. (ch. 11, , enacted January 17, 1933) The Hare–Hawes–Cutting Act was the first US law passed setting a process and a date for the Philippines to gain independence from the United States. It was the result of the OsRox Mission led by Sergio Osmeña and Manuel Roxas. The law promised Philippine independence after 10 years but reserved several military and naval bases for the United States, as well as imposed tariffs and quotas on Philippine imports.
History
In November 1931, Senate President Manuel L. Quezon made a report to the Philippine Legislature. The report included Quezon's three proposals to Washington regarding Philippine Independence: Firstly, he proposed absolute and complete independence of the Philippines from the United States.
Alternatively, he proposed the establishment of an autonomous government for ten years with safeguards to U.S. sovereign rights in the country. Finally, in the event the U.S. Congress disliked either of those options. Quezon proposed that Filipinos would accept any laws granting complete independence, even with the most "burdensome conditions". Unfortunately for Quezon, all of these proposals were rejected by the administration of U.S. President Herbert Hoover.
By 1932, two main groups supported a law outlining the specifics of Philippine independence: Great Depression-era American farmers competing against tariff-free Filipino sugar and coconut oil; and Filipinos seeking Philippine independence. The Hare–Hawes–Cutting Act was authored by South Carolina Representative Butler Hare, Missouri Senator Harry Bartow Hawes and New Mexico Senator Bronson M. Cutting. until he was dispatched to the United States in late 1932. Quezon announced that he would join the mission to the U.S. and left for Washington in early 1933. According to Jose Clarin, who provided the statistics, there were 7 pro-senators who supported the act, 17 anti-senators, 24 pro-representatives, and 58 anti-representatives. As reported by the U.S. Senate Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs (1929–1946), the bill contained these significant provisions:
See also
- Political history of the Philippines
- History of the Philippines
- Philippine Organic Act (1902)
- Jones Law (Philippines) or the Philippines Autonomy Act (1916)