The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-09
No Disagreement Between the Presi-
dent and Congress as to the
Proposed Legislation
CRITICISM NOT DESERVED
OPPOSITION CHARGED WITH WORK.
ING A CUNNING GAME.
Apprehension Of Honest Directors
Founded ON a Wrong Idea-An Old
Republican Platform Quoted.

WASHINGTON, March s.-A member of
the Cabinet tonight gave out the follow
ing authoritative statement:
There has been a wide misapprehension
of the Porto Rican tariff bill. of the atti-
tude of the President, of the action of Con-
gress, and of their relations to each other.
The criticism and the concern which have
come from some well-meaning quarters are
due almost entirely to misunderstanding
of the real facts. When the country cor
rectly understands the truth, as it certain
ly will, it will thoroughly approve what has
been done.
1.-The attempt to represent that there has
been a disagreement between the President
and Congress is wholly unfounded. There
has been no essential difference between
them. Both have sought the same object
The recommendation Of the President and
the House bill. in their purpose and effect,
amount to the same thing. AS a conse-
ouence each rightly sustains the other.
The clouds of confusion on the subject
have been clouds of misunderstanding, and
will clear away. A simple statement OF
the facts will make this plain.
Dec 4, urged that the customs duties on
trade between Porto Rico and the United
States be removed. Imports from Porto
Rico into the United States have been. and
are now, paying the Dingley rates. They
have no preference over goods from any
foreign country. The President felt that
Porto Rico should be relieved OF this bur-
den. He urged that it should be removed,
not as matter Of legal right, but OF lib
eral and humane public policy. His argu-
ment indicated his reasons and suggested
his views as to the question OF constitu-
tional obligation. Porto Rico, severed from
Spain had lost her old markets, and had
gained none in their place. She had been
devastated by hurricane and left desti-
tute Humanity dictated every effort to
lift her up and to give her a new market.
This was the Presidents plea, and what
need of such plea if the Constitution of
itself carried free trade to Porto Rico? In
that case free trade goes to her, whether
right or not.
WHAT MKINLEY PROPOSED.
"What the President proposed was that
the United States should offer the largest
and most generous measure Of help to the
distressed and suffering island, and he has
never wavered single instant in the OBJ
ject he sought. Had his suggestion been
accepted and followed by all in his spirit
and as he meant it. with the limitations
he intended, all would have been well.
There would have been no harm in any di
rection. But when the time came for ac-
ton in Congress two tendencies were seen.
On the one hand there were good men and
some good business and agricultural inter-
ests that. while not obiecting. or little OBJ
jecting, to free trade with Porto Rico
alone, feared that free trade with Porto
Rico would be made a precedent for free
trade with the Philippines. They felt that
there should be distinct assertion and
exercise of the power to impose duties.
however small. as an assurance that this
power was reserved for other cases.
ION the other hand what the President
proposed as a worthy act of national gen.
erosity and liberal policy was seized by
political opponents and claimed ne
cessity and inevitable measure of inherent
constitutional right. They insisted that
the Constitution, by its own force, ex-
tends to Porto Rico and all the new island
possessions and spreads all it's provisions
over them, including uniform taxation.
They were eager TO commit Republican
Congress to the adoption of free trade
with Porto Rico, not as a measure Of
generous expedency, but because they
could then claim that it had riveted a
hard and fast principle which would tie
the hands of the government everywhere.
in the Philippines, we'll as in Porto
Rico. without regard to varying conditions.
and which would expose the administration
end its party TO all the criticisms and at
tacks that would be made on such a
position.
'It was a cunning game, but it did not
succeed The apprehension of the honest
objectors who feared that the concession
of full free trade TO Porto Rico would lead
to nisconstruction and the designs of the
crafty partisans who meant that ii should,
were both met and frustrated by the bill
which passed the House. and which levies
Is per cent. or less than one-sixth. of the
Dingley rates. That low rate involves no
possible hardships. 1t has the advantage
of producing needed revenue which. until
civil government and law are organized
In Porto Rico, cannot be raised as well
from any other source.
REFUND OF DUTIES.
There was another point which was not
generally understood. The bill provides
that the whole amount Of duties on goods
coming from Porto Rico shall be paid back
TO Porto Rico for the benefit of the island.
Thus il fully harmonizes with the object
at which the President aimed. of reliev-
ing the trade Of Porto Rico from burden
some restrictions and of extending the
largest degree OF help; and when 1t was
crowned by the Presidents special mes
sage. promptly carried out by the House.
providing not only that the duties here