Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-30
StaIwart Republican, Proctor Of
Vermont, Speaks Today
"PLAIN DUTY" OF CONGRESS
President Was Right AZ First, lie Says
Quotes Edmunds-Pet,us Makes
an Amusing speech.
(Afternoon Dispatched


given in the Senate today by MI De-
pew On. Y.) that he would address the
Senate on Monday next on the Puerto
Rican bill.
A resolution offered yesterday by
Mr.. Jones (Ark) directing the secre-
tary OF war to send TO the Senate a
copy Of the proceedings OF the court Of
inquiry called to investigate the com
missary department Of the army. was
passed.
Mr.. Spooner gave notice that he
would address the Senate next Monday
on the Puerto Rico bill.
Consideration Of the Puerto Rlcan
bin was resumed at the conclusion OF
the routine business. Mr.. Proctor (Vt)
addressing the Senate. He spoke as an
unalterable advocate Of the policy OF
free trade between the island and the
United States, and was accorded close
attention on both sides OF the cham
Der.
Mr.. Proctor expressed his approval
Of the civil government feature OF the
pending bill and his regret on account
Of the tariff provision, that he could not
vote for IT, He quoted extracts from
the Presidents annual message and the
secretary Of wars report faVorlng iree
trade between the island Of Puerto
Rico and the United States: referred
to the sudden change that somehow
had been wrought and said
rs IL strange that some OF us. IN
lack OF an official statement or appar-
emit reason for this sudden shift. should
be slew TO give up line OF action
which we believe to be based on prin-
ciple and justice which we believe to
be the only honest and consistent
cOurse2
1T is eharged-I do not know with
what truth II any-that this change
was demanded and brought about by
the sugar and tobacco interests ana
also, IL is stated by organized labor
II however. have failed 20 see that
the representatives OF this latter inter-
est appeared before the committee. II |
is practically admitted that free trade
with Puerto Rico does not harm these
interests materially. but they claim
that II creates a precedent that may
harm them II adopted In reference 10
the IhilDnines and Cuba. n WIN be
time TO cross these rivers when We !
come 10 them, and In my opinion the
crossing win not be difficult when the
proper time comes for ACTION.
Mr. Proctor then quoted a long letter
written him by former Senator George
r, Edmunds. who dealt with some OF
the constitutional phases Of the pend
ing question. Here are some extracts
from Mr.. Edmunds letter:
ANY such measure II enacted will.
| believe, be UNIQUE In our whole his
tory. II will initiate and parallel the
acts OF the British parliament, which
forced our fathers to Just resistance !
and revolution, which led them to the
establishment OF a Constitution which,
in explicit terms. forbade any such dis
elimination.
Puerto Rico and It's people came |
under the sovereignty OF the United !
States by force OF the treaty with |
Spain, and ] think all agree that II any |
part OF the people OF the island levied |
war against the United States or adj
hered 70 our enemies they would be
guilty OF treason But treason is an
exclusively defined constitutional crime |
and II cannot exist on the island un-
less the Constitution that defines II Is
in force there"
Mr. Proctor then continues;
we may do many wrong and foolish |
things without violating the Constitu- |
ton, but IL does not follow that we |
must do them OF ought 10 do them |
and | claim, Mr.. President, that the |
plain people, the sensible. honest |
American people. who look AT this ques- |
tion from no standpoint of interest, who |
are not sugar men, nor tobacco men. |
nor men who have any commercial or |
class interests which il Is claimed must |
be placated by our action. are the best |
judges OF what Is fair and right and /
honest, and that their judgment In the |
end must and will prevail. II we are |
not bound by the letter OF the Consti- |
tuition. We are bound by justice and |
humanity to deal with these questions |
In the spirit OF American institutions |
and American civilization.
The people believe as the President |
die when he wrote In his annual mes
sage that our plain duty Is 20 abolish |
the customs tariff between the United (
States and Puerto Rico
''The people know that sentence by |
heart, and they viii repeat Il millions |
OF times within the year from It's de- |
liyerance unless We perform what the |
President says is our plain duty.
The people believe this is ques-
tlon. not Of mere policy, but OF prin-
ciple.
"The plea Of harmony in the party |
appeals TO me strongly. But this Is a |
question higher than policy or party. |
II Is a question Of principle and II Is |
better that even a small minority OF |
the party should be right than that |
we should all be wron-.
III Is OF vital consequence, Mr.. Pres
ident, that this. our first important |
step in legislation for our new acquisi-
ton. should so commend itself TO the /
judgment and conscience Of the Amer
lean people
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Proctor's
speech. Mr.. Pettus (Ala.l addressed /
the Senate on some Of the constitu-
tional phases presented by the Puerto |
Rcan bill II win attempt 10 show"
said MIR. Pettus How a majority Of |
this Senate has cult the public road
the road pointed out by the law or the |
land; and also show what the result OF |
II will be. In discussing this question, |
we viii get back 20 the very founda-
lions. The great error Of those IN the |
majority here Is that they are In viola
tion OF all our notions OF justice and
common sense They take their de- |
parture In the belief that the United |
States Is sovereign in the sense that
some European nations are sovereigns.
tits not so and can never be
We are governed In our relations
with these territories by the law Of "a
lions so far as they are applicable. The
Idea is that when territory Is coded 10
a nation that nation cannot necessar-
lily exercise the powers OF its former
owners. u must exercise sway In ac-
cOrdance with It's own limitations. |
When we took the islands We took them !
with the limitations OF exercising only |
such power over them as was possible