The Washington weekly post., 1900-04-03

The vote upon the Porto Rican tariff
and civil government bill will be taken
in the Senate at o'clock to-day. A
unanimous agreement to this effect was
reached in the Senate Wednesday.
Senator Davis, in his speech Wednesday
gave notice that his convictions in favor
Of free trade were unalterable. His re-
marks were uttered in a dignifed and
earnest manner.
senator Davis Speech.
Senator Davis began his speech with
the statement that he would submit his
views with all temperatures of express
sion and feeling, and that he regarded the
question as non partisan one. lie then
continued:
1t cannot be denied that from the time
this bill was reported there began a ris-
ing tide of public opinion and dissent
from the very principle upon which ii is
based. That dissent began with surprise;
II progressed to remOnstranCe, and from
there il went to Indignation. II was not
the protest Of the members of any party;
the dissent was not cast at all upon party
lines; il came from every walk of life
and il was communicated through every
avenue of thought. 1t is based upon this
principle, that as 10 Porto Rico there
should be an unrestrained freedom of
commercial intercourse because of the
peculiar circumstances which have taken
place in regard TO that island"
Senator Davis then insisted that his
amendment providing for an internal reve-
nue. tax offered q solution Of the prob
lem which had veXed the Senate and the
COuntry-a solution that was cOnStitu-
tional and effective. why insist" he
asked. upon a tariff by a bill which, by
its very terms, is so temporary and ephem-
tral In its nature as to expire in less than
two years from date 'hv insist upon
the perpetrdtiOn OF = E2c2SuT- - this
character, which is agitating pubic opin-
ion and has divided public sentiment,
when it would be fer better TO let all
things alone and allow existing cOndi-
uOnS to go ong'
Porto Rico Deserves Fair Treatment.
After reverting again to the storm OF
protest which has arisen against the
House BILL Senator Davis quoted the
statements of the Porto Rican delegation
10 show that the internal revenue tax
would be acceptable. He then cOntrasted
the utmost disappToval of this measure
by very large majority of the exponents
OF public sentiment" with the accept
ance OF the internal revenue tax on the
part of the Porto R!cans. He hen de-
scrihed the men ct in which Porto Rico
came INTO the United S.ljes. IS follows:
Po-so g.. d, cane s., ;h,- roan'rv 7uIer peo.lt4g
circumstances It cost The Unitea -.ges three Aiii
ions Of dollars 10 disam the iEsurEent army in
Cuba and cd aUv weir guns. J, dit not cost US a
DOLLAR TO disarm any army in Porto h.-O. for there
vas none Or the natives. nor we're called upon
10 pay dollar for any army whatever. The people
of that island welcomed the American army and
from the moment OF the landing o. that army. CON-
menciEg with Gen. Miles proclamation. down
through all the Official declarations upon the sub
| ject they have been promised the rights and i'm
munties Of American citizens, and our plain duty
has been declared 10 be to give them free CONNER
cal Intercourse with the United States with 10 law
/ Of customs duties intervening
I The bill which passed the Senate a few days ago
In respect 20 the government o. Hawaii imposed no
tariff duties between that island which We erecte.
/ iato @ government and The United States. L. too
IS mi-tropic4l island II has the same range OF
agricultural productions Porto Rico. II there IS
any reason whatever to impose a tariff upon the
products OF Porto Rico there Vas the same reason
FOR imposing taTin upon the products OF Hawaii
Wherein lies the diGerences Wherein or pricfnple-
/ both of them being outlying possessions Of the
United States, cali them what YOU Wills the sit
uation as TO Porto Rico different from that o.,
Hawaii
The Treaties with West Indies.
( Senator Davis displayed 10 the Senate
copies OF the six treaties with Great Brit
ain, granting free importation 10 Jamaica
Barbados, Trinidad, and other West India
/ islands. He called attention 10 the fact
/ that article after article IN schedule after
/ schedule was put upon The free list. so
! that the English subjects OF Jamaica
/ barbados and other islands "can import
/ into the United States the very articles
I upon which the United States proposes to
/ levy its duty in the interchange OF cnm-
mcrce between this country and Porto
/ Rico"
The treaty has not been ratified" said
/ Senator Gallinger
My friend. the Senator from New
I Hampshire remarks that The treaty has
not been ratified" replied MI Davis i
I Ola not say u had been, but | am inclined
/ 10 ask II II is proposed 10 reject this treaty
/ In order 20 inaict the imposition OF this
I tax upon Porto RiCOT' Then Mr. Davis
asked whether u was fair negotiation and
enlightened St4teSmauship 10 put many
articles OF produce Of British West Indies
colonies upon The free list when the course
/ Of conduct IN regard TO Porto Rico is di-
TeCtly the contrary
Mr.. Davis said that there had been all
sorts OF arguments used in b-half OF the
/ taFtn, First, - Was charity but that had
| been removed by the passage OF m. erTer.
geEcy relief appropriation bin. Then r.
was the fear Of the Fllpinos In the fuiura
As 10 this, he would say that suffcient