New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-06
FOR UNIFORM TARIFF LAWS
SENATOR DAVIS OFFERS A FREE TRADE
AMENDMENT TO THE PUERTO
RICAN BILL
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnIBuNE.l

lions of the Puerto Rican bill to-day excited d
good deal of comment and some adverse criti-
cism among Representatives who supported the
bill which passed the House asst Wednesday.
and caused general surprise among Republican
Senators. Members of the majority Of the Ways
and Means Committee and the Republican mem
bers from Minnesota who voted for the bill-as
all Of them did with the exception of Mr..
Heatwole-regarded the amendment with dis
favor
1t was pointed out, however. by some mem
bers of the House who had seen the text OF the
proposed amendment, well by Senator
Lodge and several other Senators. that Senator
Davis's proposition did not at all involve the
question of whether the Constitution extends
proprio vigore over territory acquired by the
United States, or the question raised as to the
extent and fulness of the authority of Congress
to deal with such territory, and therefore did
not in the least compromise or weaken the posi-
ton taken by the majority in the House or
Representatives in regard to those questions
Indeed, 1t is generally known that Senator Davis
occupies precisely the same attitude in regard
to those questions do the Republican majority
in both branches of Congress, with perhaps a
dozen exceptions.
1t is now asserted that all the Republican
Senators, with less than a half dozen excep-
tions, will support the bill reported by Sem
ator Foraker on Thursday including the tariff
provisions. Those who were thought likely to
support the Davis amendment besides himself
were Senators Hoar, Mason, Nelson and We'll
lington, while Senators McLaurin and McEnery.
it said. would vote against it. AS the
amendment is not in harmony with the con-
struction given to the Constitution by Demo-
Gratis generally they are not thought likely to
support the amendment. Indeed 1T does not
that they could do so without repudiating
their own opinions and the attitude occupied by
their party in the House Of Representatives.
TEXT OF THE AMENDMENT.
The effect of Senator Davis's amendment is
to have the tariff laws of the United States
applied to Puerto Rico foreign imports, but to
allow absolute free trade between the United
States and Puerto Rico. He also proposes new
section follows
For the purposes Of this act the following pro-
visions Of the Constitution of the United States
hereby extended and made applicable 10
Puerto Rico:
The Congress shall have power to lay and col
lect taxes, duties imposts and excuses, to pay
the debts and provide for the common defence
and general welfare of the United States but all
duties, mposts and excuses shall be uniform
throughout the United States.
No captation other tax shall be laid, unless
in proportion to the census or enumeration here
nbefore directed to be taken
No tax duty shall be given by any regula-
ton of commerce or revenue to the ports of one
State over those of another: nor shall vessels
bound to from State be Obliged TO enter,
clear or pay duties in another.
The amendment is as follows:
And 1t is hereby enacted that all duties. i'm
posts and excuses imposed levied. laid or col
lected by Congress upon Puerto Rico, or any
products business Thereof or in relation to
said Puerto Rico shall he M form with all
duties imposts and exciSSs lad and collected
throughout the United States.
That capitation or other direct tax shall be
laid by Congress in upon Puerto Rico. unless
in proportion to the census or enumeration d.
rected to be taken by the Constitution
That no tax or duty shall be laid on articles
exported from Puerto Rico.
That no preference shall be given by any regu-
Iation of commerce or revenue to the ports of
Puerto Rico over those of any State of the
Union nor shall vessels bound TO or from Puerto
Rico be obliged to enter, clear or pay duties In
any State of the Union.
Nor shall any preference be given by any reg
ulation of commerce revenue to the ports or
Rico, shall vessels bound to or from the
ports of any State of the Union be obliged to
enter, clear or pay duties in any port OF Puerto
Rico
Senator Davis says his amendment speaks for
itself 1t extends the Constitution over Puerto
Rico and by so doing implies that ii cannot be
extended to the Philippines or other territories
except by legislative action
MAY REMIT DUTIES ON FOOD.
Senator Lodge and some other Republican Sen
ato1s would be inclined to remit the duties on
foodstuffs imported into Puerto Rico from the
United States, which have been placed on the
free list by Executive order 1t is suggested
that such amendment might remove the OBJ
jections of several of the Republican Senators
who desire to have provision made for the free
admission of breadstuffs and provisions into
Puerto Rico from the United States. An amend
ment has been proposed by Senator McCumber.
of North Dakota, which provides fo- the free
admission Of the following named products
when exported from the United States:
Barley, barley malt. peared or hulled barley,
barley -four, corn or maize and the meal or -four
or huiied oats. rye and rye flour wheat and wheat
-four. rolled or crushed wheat, and all meat prod
ucts.
MANY OTHER AMENDMENTS OFFERED
Senator Culberson has proposed an amendment
providing for the free admission into Puerto
Rico for a period of ten years. beginning April
H. 1899, of Spanish scientific, literary and
artistic works not subversive of public order. He
has also proposed an amendment which, if
adopted, would impose the full rates of the
Dingley tariff all articles imported into
Puerto Rico from the United States. He has
likewise proposed an amendment providing for
free trade between the United States and Puerto
Rico.
the BILL several of which relate to the tariff sec
ton. One of them provides for free trade be-
other provides for the imposition of the full
rates of the Dingley tariff on all articles i'm
ported into Puerto Rico from the United States:
a third provides for free trade, and fourth
strikes out of the bill the provision for the
for the benefit of Puerto Rico of all the
duties collected in the United States on Puerto
Rican products.
Mr. Foraker to-day gave notice of amendments
imposing a duty of five cents a pound on coffee,
Rico, and TO prevent the importation from
Puerto Rico to the United States of goods or
products not actually of Puerto Rican origin