The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-10
OPPOSED BY Mr.. LINDSAY
He Speaks in the Senate on the
Pending Porto Rican ILL.
A Declaration in Favor of Absolute
Export Tax n CONFIRMATION of the
Constitution -UnwaTrnutcd Nisnp-
piicntion of Its Principles.

Mr.. Lindsay yesterday addressed the
Senate in opposition to the Porto Rican
bill, in which he maintained that the ISL
and should enjoy free trade with the
United States. He began with discussion
of the question OF an export duty. and ar
Kued that the provision of the bill which
leyies duty on articles shipped from the
United States is, in substance, an export
tax. and is therefore III contrayention of
the Constitution.
The passage Of the House bill TO tax
imports and exports between the United
States and Porto Rico" he said, has pro-
yozed general condemnation by the peo-
pie OF the United States. They almost
universally demand that trade between the
United States and the Island OF Porto Rico
shall be unrestricted by any custom du-
ties whatever. and that We shall redeem
the good faith and the implied pledges OF
this country TO the people of that island.
The amendment reported by the Sen
ate Committee on the Pacific Islands and
Porto Rico as a substitute for the House
bill contains all the objectionable features
of that bill and makes provision for con-
dition of affairs in Porto Rico absolutely
inconsistent with the supposed powers of
this Government TO interpose tariff taxa
ton on the trade between the Island of
Porto Rico and the continental States and
Territories of the United States"
The Meaning of "Citizen."
Mr.. Lindsay then called attention to the
fact that the Senate bill declares that all
Porto Ricans who were Spanish subjects
shall be deemed citizens of the United
States, and opposed the contention OF Mr..
Foraker that the word citizen" as used
in the Treaty of Paris, means merely that
the person so designated owes allegiance to
the Government
Il do not claim" Mr. Lindsay con-
tinued. that We are under legal or
constitutional obligations to make citi-
zens of the people of Porto Rico. In fact
/ do not believe that We are. But as we
have discretionary power in the premises,
! approve Of so much of the substitute for
the House bill as provides that the Porto
Ricans shall be deemed and held TO be
citizens of the United States, and / oppose
the taxing features of the bill and the
substitute whether the Porto Ricans be
made citizens or not. II we intend to treat
them as the inhabitants of a dependency.
and to tax and govern them as such, in
sist that we cannot consistently declare
by Congressional enactment that they are
TO be deemed and held TO be citizens of the
United States.
Il am not afraid to be just to and liberal
and generous with the people of this Amer
lean island on the ground that We may es
tablish a precedent that can be used
against us when We come 10 determine the
civil rights and the political status of the
Filipinos. We need not make citizens OF
the Porto Ricans unless we deem il expe-
dent. but making them citizens will place
us under no obligations. constitutional or
otherwise. TO follow that course when We
come to iegislate concerning the Tagals,
Malays. etc, who inhabit the islands OF
the Philippine archipelago.
Moreover, the Philippines. while law
fully subject TO our sovereign jurisdiction,
are not integral parts of the United States.
and their inhabitants are not entitled to
claim that they can be governed only IN
der and in exact accordance with the Con-
stitution OF the United States.
The Relief BIZ.
1.-THE action of the House OF Represen-
tatives in response to the message Of the
President, recommending that the 81 ,095,
455.SS collected in the way of duties on
imports from Porto Rico since October IS,
1898, be set apart 10 pay the expenses of
the government of Porto Rico. which will
doubtless be followed by the Senate,
leaves no excuse for the tariff taxation
pTOpOStu Dt lUls DILL anu lHe country Will
not accept as sufficient the explanation
that these odious tariff provisions have no
greater or more commendable purpose
than that of making a case for the SUI
preme Court in order that in advance of
legislation in respect to the Philippines
We may have the authority OF Congress
defined by that high tribunal and may
legislate in accordance with what that
court may conclude TO be our legislative
power under the Constitution.
THE President touched the popular
heart and comman led popular approval
when he said to Coz gress and to the coun-
try that our plain duty is TO abolish all
customs and tariffs between the United
States and Porto Rico, and give her prod
uets free access TO our country, and 1t
Will be grave mistake, as well as an act
of fragrant injustice, for Congress to de-
cline TO respond 10 that recommendation
for the mere purpose of making case for
the Supreme Court Of the United States,
the decision of which cannot help but may
embarrass US in carrying out the only