Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-03-05
republicans throughout the

sound the sentiment of this state on
the Porto Rican tariff bill passed by
the house and now pending in the sem
ate, placing tariff of Is per cent on
the products of the island, and on the
supplementary bill recommended by
President Mckinley and passed by the
house, giving TO the president all
funds collected under the tariff to be
used to relieve conditions in the
island. The Tribune says: The con-
census of. opinion, as shown by the
dispatches, was that the island should
enjoy the privileges of free trade. In
many instances men said the passage
of the tariff bill was a grave political
error. and not few declared it would,
if passed by the senate, hurt the re-
publican party. The question of con-
stitutionality was raised by several
leading LAWYERS in the state. There
were those who favored the tax. sup
plemented by the act of the president
in returning funds collected as a good
thing, declaring the sugar and obac-
co trusts and spectators controlled
the products of the islands and would
reap the benefit of free trade, whereas
the act of taxing the products anu
returning the funds direct to the peo-
pie would furnish instant relief. Many
of the interviewed declared full con-
tidence in the ability of the admins
tration to handle the question, while
others see in the bill only the estab-
lishment of precedent and chance
to test in the courts the extent of the
power of the United States. y"
The dispatch from Rock Island says:
ut is the feeling among influential
republicans here that a mistake has
been made by the house of representa-
tives not only as a matter of public
policy, but politically, and that the
quicker the action is offset by SEINE
form of legislation such as will better
meet public sentiment the better all
around.
William Jackson, Member of Pom
tiac Ref0rmatory, says: Porto Rico
now being part of the United States,
it would seem to me that the same
conditions of trade ought to exist be-
tween the island and the United
States that now exist between the
states.
IT. H. Thomas, Postmaster:
fully indorse the administration $
policy in this matter.
''E. +. Parmenter, Master-in-Chan-
Gerry: l believe the people of the
United States intend to and will treat
the people of Porto Rico fairly and
that congress will treat them Justly.
1t is true that congress has put a duty
of ID per cent. levied under the Ding
ley law, on imports into this country
from Porto Rico, but every dollar of
this money has been given back to
them for their own benefit. Such
liberality was never before exhibited
by any country towards colony.
u. X. Scott, City Attorney: am
in favor of free trade with the ISL
and.
George w. Gamble, Gin cuit Clerk:
| favor free trade with the island I'M
der all conditions.
IS. j. Ferguson, County Superin-
tendent of Schools: L indorse the or
iginal stand of the president and think
Porto Rico is part of the United
States and should be treated the same
as the territories lying within our
boundaries"
From Moline these interviews were
sent in:
wv. c. Bennett. Manufacturer: am
opposed to the tariff bill. If Porto
Rico belongs to the Uuited States
their exports to this country ought to
be free.
wv. j. Entrikin, Attorney: l don't
like it at all. We ought to treat Porto
Rico Just the same as other territories
of the United States. l think they
have made a mistake.
B. f. Peek, Attorney: the tariff bill
was passed not for the purpose of rdis-
ing revenue, but rather to raise the
question whether or not the United
States is legally bound to extend the
constitution to its new possessions.
If the inha bitants of the islands are
entitled legally to the benefits of the
constitution then congress has no
right to impose the tariff. If, on the
other hand, the constitution does not
apply, then the islands are colonies
and congress can govern them Gas it
will. l think the latter view is cor
rect"
The Times-Herald, an administra-
ton paper, this morning, discussing
the subject editorially, declares: Our
conquest of Porto Rico was a peaceful
ovation. There was no haggling over
terms. no talk of independence, no
quib5ling about relations. Gen.
Miles pledged the protection of the
stars ard stripes, and Porto Rico ac-
cepted the pledge with all that it i'm
piled. When we contrast the atti-
tude of the Porto Ricans Loyalty ac-
cepting the situation, and contiding
their future without question or con-
dition to the honor of the United
States with that of the Cubans and
Filipiuos, we understand how the
American people feel bound to extend
to the former ungrudgiugly every
privilege and benefit that American
institutions afford. This sentiment
was reflected in the report of Gov