The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-09
PORTO RICO AND THE TARIFF.
SUPREME COURT MUST DECIDE THE
MAIN ISSUES.

of Alabama Approves Presidents
stand and Denounces the BiII-Re-
ply Made by Foraker Who Says 1t
Is Generous and Humane.
! Washington, March S.-Formal discus
sion of the Porto Rican tariff and civil
| government bill began in the Senate to-
day and continued uninterruptedly for
| four hours and half. The principal
| speakers were Mr. Foraker of Ohio, in
charge of the measure, and Mr.. Pet.us
of Alabama, but lively colloquies oceurr-
ed in which other senators were partici-
pants.
Mr.. Foraker occupied the floor during
most Of the session HIS explained the
measure in detail and gave the reasons
why the committee had determined upon
| the levying of a tariff upon Porto Riean
! products. In his opinion it was lmpossi-
BILE for direct tax to be levied upon the
people of the island to support loo al
| government, because of their present
destitute condition.
The committee, he said had conceived
the idea of placing small tariff on Porto
Rican products in order to raise a sum
sufficient with the sum otherwise raised
give the people of the island not only
good government, but also to build school
houses and to make necessary public i'm
provements. Then, too it was necessary
that the question of the extension of the
| constitution over ipsular possessions
| should be determined by the Supreme
| Court and by the very provisions of the
bln, it would be inevitable that the Su-
preme Court should pass upon the ques-
tion. Porto Rico and the Philippines, he
said, were on the same basis, so that the
courts decision would determine our right
to levy tariff on products of the East
ern archipelago.
Mr.. Mason of Illinois moved to discharge
the Committee on Foreign Relations from
further consideration of his resolution in
| troduced Dec. last, expressing sympathy
for the Beers. Under the rules, the mo-
ton went over until tomorrow.
Congratulated the President.
| Mr.. Pettus of Alabama then addressed
the Senate on the Porto Rican bill. He
congratulated the President on the posi-
ton he had taken in his last annual mes
sage favoring free trade between the Unit
| ed States and Porto Rico.
The public press Is now trying to make
us believe that the Secretary of Wtr is
| the author of the pending bill, and4 that
| the President has acceded to the ptoyis-
| ions of the measure.
For one" declared Mr.. Pettus, 'I re-
| fuse 10 believe this charge agains the
| President. Though he may desire rereIec-
| ton, he was a brave soldier, and is ar able
and generous man. For him it is not ev-
| erything in life to be reelected to the
| presidency of his party He has acted for
the common good of all the people. If he
approves your bill then may believe any
vile story against a coed man"
| Mr.. Pettus maintained that the policy
of the bill was bad aside from the ques-
| ton of law. at is Illegal" he declared.
'and is hardly decent"
Referring to the amendment proposed
| by Mr.. Davis Mr. Pettus said:
The Senate proposes to send over to
the Porto Ricans the Constitution in in
stalments-a little now and a little then"
In conclusion, Mr.. Pettus besought the
Senate not to attempt by act of Congress
to change the Constitution.
Mr. Morgan gave notice of his intention
at the proper time and without restricting
debate to move to lay the entire substitute
of the Senate Committee for the House
bill on the table.
1t Is Generous, Says Foraker
Mr.. Foraker, in charge of the pending
bill, replied to Mr.. Pettus. He was of the
opinion that a misunderstanding of the
measure prevailed both in the Senate and
in the country.
Instead of being illberal" said Mr.
Foraker, 1.-THE measure is the most liberal
and generous legislation ever proposed for
territory of the United States"
He pointed out that down to 1850 the
whole power of the government of the ter
ritories of the United States was placed
in the officials appointed by the<President,
and that, too, without any reference TO the
desire or consent of the people governed
So far as he had been nformed,n no intelli-
gent and appreciative man in Porto Rico
had dissented from the propositions of the
measure There may have been some crit
icism on the part of the Porto Ricans. but
generally ii was accepted as an excellcne
bill
LAS l said a week ago" said Mr.. Fora
ker, the mortgage indebtedness of the
island is $26000,000 The United States |
government extended the time for the |
payment of that debt for one year, and |
subsequently, extended it again for six |
months. If it had not been for the Unit /
ed States the whole Of this vast property |
would have been sold to sa tisfy creditors |
If necessary the time will be extended |
again and perhaps again until Congress |
gets done discussing constitutional ques-
tons and goes TO the relief Of a suffer- |
ing peop.e." i
In round figures, the revenues under the |
bill, which inures to the sole benefit Of |
Porto Ricans, would aggregate $1,000 OO0 |
about 81 100000 from customs and 5000 900 |
from internal revenue.
continuing, lne OnlO senator Sald that |
after all means of raising revenue had |
been considered, 1t was found necessary |
to provide at least 81, 100000 more per an |
mum. Then 1t was proposed to levy a duty |
of 25 per cent of the Dingey law on prod |
ucts of the island imported into this coun- |
try and to turn the amount so raised back |
to Porto Rico
Peculiar situation.
The situation in Porto Rico" he ex- |
planned, us anomalous. If the island is |
TO have schools good roads and public |
Improvements it must get them through |
taxation and such taxation as is proposed |
in this BILL
Mr. Foraker said that as II was gener- |
ally understood the sugar and tobacco |
trusts owned all of the sugar and tobacco |
on the island the proposed tariff would |
fall upon those well able to bear Il. In |
a colloquy with Mr.. Hoar, Mr.. Foraker
finally declared that the question in point
had passed beyond the law book stage" |