The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-03
TALKED OF PUERTO RICO.
STAID SENATOR'S FURNISH ENTER
TAINMENT FOR AN INTER-
ESTED GALLERY
PREPARING FOR A VOTE
speechmaking VIII Close at Four
O'Clock This Afternoon, When
Vote VIII He Taken
Delay Sought.

WASHINGTON, April 2-Advocates
and opponents of the Puerto Rican tariff
and government bill waged vigorous war
in the senate today for seven hours.
Long before the senate convened. at IL
o'clock, the galleries were crowded and
many remained until the senate ad-
journed
Those who listened OF the debate today
were we'll repaid The speeches were
good, and the running debate unusually
| bright and lively During the speech of
Mr.. Spooner (Wis) particularly, the
chamber fairly scintillated with sparks
as he crossed argumentative swords with
some OF the best debaters on the Demo-
cratic side His address, if so 1t could
be called. was devoted almost wholly to
! a discussion of the constitutional ques-
tions involved III the pending bill.
MIR. Bate CTenn.) opened the discussion
Of the day with d carefully prepared
speech In opposition to the bill. He was
followed by Mr. Cullom (Rep., Ill) In
vigorous speech supporting the measure.
Then came Mr.. Depew CRep., N. W a
member of the committee which framed
the bill, who made an eloquent and force
| full defense of the measure.
! Mr.. Spooner, who spoke next, was fol-
| lowed by Mr. Perkins (Rep., Cal). also
member OF the committee on Puerto
| Rico, who presented a strong argument
for the bill The closing speech was de-
livered by Mr., Simon (Rep., ,Ore), who,
In criticising the measure, entered into a
brief discussion of the political effects Of
! it's passage.
The final vote on the bill will be taken
late tomorrow afternoon. 1t is arranged
for o'clock, but an effort will be made
| to extend the time Tor debate beyond
| that hour.
| MR.. DEPEW'S SPEECH
Mr.. Depew vigorously supported the
| pending measure and was given a cordial
hearing. He said In part:
Mr. President, 1 have been listening
with great interest to the many and very
able speeches which have been delivered
upon the Puerto Rlcan tariff. 1 have en-
| deaVored to find In them q solution OF the
singular political conditions which seem
to have arisen out of the presentation Of
this measure. l have thought perhaps the
! fact that the country is divided info
storm centers and normally placid condi-
| tlons is due to the extended discussion of
| the constitutional question having OBJ
| Scured the real meaning or measure of
revenue and relief.
There IS no division among the ina
! Jorfty In either house as to the power
Of congress to legislate on this subject
! Inc majority all agree that the constftu-
ton does not extend by Its own power
\ over these new possessions, and tha:
congress can legtslate for them as it
deems wise subject only to the prohibi-
! tlons upon congress In the constitution.
The Democratic party accepted the other
view, that the constitution does extend
| by It's own force into the territories, from
| the moment that 1t was invented by John
/ Z. Calhoun for the purpose of Carving
! slavery into the new territories, when It
was impossible against the aroused con-
| ton to that effect 1t is but fair to saw
| that while the action of the country by
| the unanimous consent Of all statesmen
and OF all parties for fifty years. and the
! trend or the decisions of the supreme
court, sustain the power of congress to
take the whole or any part Of the con-
stltuuon and the laws OF the United
| States into new territories and to es-
! tabllsh governments for them, yet the
! questions raised by the acquisitions of
Cuba. Hawaii and the Philippines, when
result In such broad and comprehensive
| Interpretation as will make clear for all
time the position of the United States
come to us.
The Republican party stands upon the
action Of Jefferson, Monroe, jackson
POLK, Pierce and Seward, that congress
has the power to govern these ACQUISITIONS
subject only to the prohibitions of the
constitution.
II recall for the consideration and ad-
monitlon of my Democratic friends that
story of Gen Jatksons governorghip of
Florida, to which he was appointed by
PRESIDENT Monroe, under the act of con-
gress OF March 8, 1921, providing that
all military, civil and judicial powers shall
De vested In such person and persons,
ana snail be exercised in such manner as
the president of the United States shall
direct He, claimed and exercised the
! exactive, Legislative and judicial functions
| OF government under this commission
and was sustained in them all. AS legisla-
ture he enacted laws which brought him.
as governor, IN conflict with the ex-
| governor under Spain. AS governor he
promptly arrested and imprisoned that
ex-oticial, and as Judge proceeded to
punish for contempt the federal district
| judge, who had issued q writ of habeas
corpus for the Spaniard's release. 1t was
after all this that he became and has
since continued to be claimed as leader.
| counselor and inspiration for the Demo-
| cratic party.
Under this power we can and will pro-
! VIDE both for the development of our new
! possessions and the protection of indus
| tries and employment within the United
| states. AS time and experience demon
sbano straee me e. necessity 1sy for new laws and
enacted, but always with intent to main
! tin the high standard OF American citizen
snip and the scale Of American wages.
Preferential tariffs will promote trade be-
| tween the United States and ali these
| islands
Puerto Rico. Hawaii, Guam, TutuIla and
| the Philippines are to be held and gov
erned by the United States with an I'm
/ perative duty on our part to their inhabi-
| tants for their civilization. the encourage
ment of enterprises which will utilize
their resources, and for their constant1v
| increasing participation in their local and
general governments, and also for their
and our commercial progress and growth
! do not believe that we will incorporate
! the alien races, and civilized, sem1-ciy-
tiZed, DarbarouS and savage peoples of
| these islands into our body polite as
states of our Union"
| Applause swept over the galleries at the
| conclusion of Mr.. Depew's speech, and it
was several minutes before Mr.. Spooner
| (Wls). who followed the New York SEN
ator, could proceed.
MIR. SPOONER'S ARGUMENT.
Never since the close of the War Of
! the Rebellion" said Mr. Spooner, In onen-
| ing his address, has either the president
or the congress been called upon to solve
problems of equal difficulty with those
! which confront us now The Spanish war
placed us in control of eleven or more
millions Of people-stranger to u.s. to our
| language, to our government, to our in
| stitutions; and that control brings to us
great responsibilities.
Adverting to the position taken by
| Mr.. Bate that the constitution covered
Puerto Rico of its own weight, Mr.
| Spooner pointed out that Gen Bate, onlv
few days ago had voted for an amend
ment providing for the extension of the
| constitution over Puerto Rico. The DO
sition taken by Gen Bate in his speech
and that assumed by his vote, said Mr.
| Spooner, were like Kilkenny cats-"they
| eat each other up