Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-19
Representative Payne Explains the
Provisions of the Bill.
PREDICTS PROSPERITY WILL FOLLOW
Why Our Products Could Not Be
Admitted Free Of Duty.
QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT


chairman of the ways and means commit
tee, and republican floor leader, opened the
debate on the Porto Rican tariff bill in the
House of Representatives this afternoon
He said in part:
IAN incident to the late war with Spain
was the invasion of Porto Rico. From the
moment that the American army set its
foot on Porto Rican soil the people seemed
to receive them with demonstrations of Joy,
and the flag of the United States was re-
ceived with delight Whatever differences
there may have been as to the policy of
annexing the Philippine Islands, 1 know of
no opposition anywhere to the annexation
of this gem of the Antilles.
This bill by its terms relates only to the
Island of Porto Rico. 1t cannot be taken
as a precedent of any legislative action in
reference to the Philippine Islands, when
the present instruction shall have been
overcome, except in so far as we assert in
1t our view of our power under the Ameri-
can Constitution.
First Duty Toward Porto Rico.
CAN agree that the first and most i'm
portant duty we owe to the people of Porto
Rico is to open up markets for them. In no
other way can we allay the feeling of dis
content likely to arise among people who
have realized so little in the change from
Spanish oppression of 400 years to the
prosperity and liberty which follows the
American flag.
'''The original bill introduced on the 10th
day of January last provided that the GUS
toms laws of the United States and the
internal revenue laws be extended to Porto
Rico. The idea was to give the producer
of sugar the free entrance of this staple
into the United States, saving a duty of
over $50 ton. Under that bill the duty
saved upon tobacco would be 30 cents per
pound for the main portion of the crop and
FIJI 10
After consultation with General Davis,
the present military governor, who has
made a careful study of the conditions in
Porto Rico, it was found that this action
would not produce sufficient revenue to
meet he expenses of the government. He
estimated that not more than 81, 0G0, 900
could be collected from both customs du-
ties and internal revenue tax. This sum
would not pay the bare expenses of the
government, without appropriating a dollar
for the public schools or roads. The subSti-
tute was then brought forward, which i'm
poses n duty equal to own tariff upon
all articles imported from abroad, other
than those of the United States, into Porto
Rico, and duty equal to % per centum of
the rates of our own tariff laws on all
articles imported into Porto Rico from the
United States or from Porto Rico into the
United States.
The Estimated Revenue.
The best estimates that can be obtained
show that this will produce revenue of
10000 from customs duties, which
added to the internal revenues of the is
land will produce $2,3O0,OOO, a sum sufn-
Client to pay all the expenses of the gov
ernment, including the postal service and
also $325,OOO for the public schools. The
total estimates of General Davis for the
expenditures is $1,95O,GOO. The original bill,
therefore, it would seem means a bankrupt
treasury the substitute a surplus of $780,
600, which will meet some of the pressing
needs for the establishment of common
schools. The remission of 10 per centum
of the duties on sugar and tobacco, which
now paid. means an annual increase
of income to these people of so.300.o00 This
means the lifting of a mortgage from many
a small plantation, better wages for the
laborers, moIe money in circulation, and
greater general prosperity. 1t means hope
instead of despair. 1t means encourage
ment to the other agriculturists who will
be stimulated by the prosperity of their
neighbors to restore their own broken for
tunes.
THAT the income under this bill will
increase from year to year there can be
no doubt; that it will restore prosperity
and give new life and enterprise to the
people Is equally true. This will open up
new channels for direct taxation without
proving a burden to the people, and the
time will not be far distant when public
improvements all over the island will be
complete and school house established in
every community beneath the folds of the
American flag.
No American Interest Injured.
Nor will this bill injure any interest in
the United States. With sugar at % per
cent Of the present duties, the beet sugar
industry will still grow and prosper; 10000
tons year ago, and 10000 tons this year,
it is destined in the near future to supply
the place of all we import. AS I had occa-
sion to say in closing the debate on the
conference report on the Dingley bill, with
a beet sugar factory in every congression-
al district it will solve the question of the
sugar trust.
Nor does the American tobacco grower
fear the importation of this 1000, 900 pounds
OF tobacco. 1t will furnish q new market
for the wrapper which he produces, and
will bring him gain instead of loss. We
believe that the best interests of the peo-
pie of Porto Rico and the best interests
of the people of the United States are
both subserved in this bill.
The Constitutional Question.
But our constitutional power Is ques
toned. l do not propose to go into dis
cussion Of the dictum of the Supreme Court
or any decision bearing ON this question.
1 find no case where the question was di-
rectly involved or which is decisive.
1T is now universally conceded that we
have the power to acquire territory by
conquest or by treaty. 1 find no limit in
the Constitution to this power.
IN respect to Porto Rico we are not
hampered by treaty stipulations or by act
Of Congress. There has been no law ex-
tending the Constitution over the island.
In this it differs from the status of every
formerly acquired territory. We have abb
solute power. This was claimed in the de-
bate on the Louisiana case, and this con-
tention prevailed. This principle was af-
firmed by Webster, Story and Benton and
long line OF statesmen and jurists.
But now the opposition say this is i'm
perialism. You are but re-echoing the cry
of the opposition of hundred years ago
Still the majority moved on, and the Amer
lean people approved their course. The ter
ritory of Louisiana in the splenary powers
given to the President survived and flour
ished until 1912, when part Of it was or
ganized into the territory Of Missouri, with
legislature at that late day composed Of
legislative council appointed by the
President and an assembly elected by the
people. Here again we had Imperialism, but
the fathers wisely waited until this people
were fit for self-governmentbe before they ex-
tended the limitations and the privileges
of the Constitution to them. TIE same Is
true of the territory of Florida q q
only year and a halk ago Congress.
by two-thirds vote in the House and a
two-thirds vote In the Senate, annexed Ha-
wall by an act modelled after the Florida
and Louisiana acts. The debate was strong
cy,d f,1r hrtf q