Despite studies made by the United Stated. Tariff Commission that Philippine exports were not instrumental in bringing down prices of domestically produced materials, the farm groups lobbied incessantly for reduced quotas and higher duties. A case in point was the debate on the tariff bill,specifically the duty on sugar which the farm groups wanted raised to 3 cents per pound, up from the previous 1.2 cents. The debate on the sugar bill was so heated that it almost led to vote for Philippine independence as most senators didn't want to vote on an amendment to the bill arranging for a treaty of neutrality between the Philippines and the United States but on the independence of the Philippines.