Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-31


ments and several offered by senators
being disposed Of.
Notice Vas given in the Senate by
Depew, N. Y, that he would address:
the senate, on Monday next, on tbs
Puerto Rican bill
Bills were passed as follows: Fol
the relief of the heirs of Lawrence d
Bailey; ratifying an appropriation BY
the Legislature of Oklahoma out OF
the Merrill fund for the use Of the Uni
rersfty at Langston for colored stu
aonts to pay VIM. II. Wanamaker
100000 which he forfeited as surety Of
Gideon w. Marsh.
resolution offered by Jones, Ark,
directing the secretary OF war to send
to the Senate copy of the proceed
ings nf the court of inquiry called to
investigate the commssary department
OF the army was passed.
Spooner gave notice that he would
address the Senate next Monday, on
the Puerto Rico bill.
Consideration Of the Puerto Rico bill
was resumed at the conclusion of the
routine business. Proctor, Vt, ad-
dressing the Senate. lie spoke as an
uidIltTdDlp dtNbtdlt VI tliN i''li' u VI
free trade between the island and the
United States.
In opening ibis speech Proctor OK
pressed his approval of the civil gov
eminent feature Of the pending bill
and his regret on account Of the tariff
provision that he could not vote for it.
He briefly reviewed the history Of
the proposed Puerto tican tariff, quot
itSy d.. I.,, i,,h 1.,1
sage and the secretary Of war in his
annual report, as favoring free trade
between the island of Puerto Rico and
the United States. Then he referred
to the sudden change that somehow
had been wrought. and said
1T is strange that some of us. il
lack of an official statement or apparent
reason for this sudden shift, should b.
slow to give up a line of action which
we believe to be the only honest and
consistent course. 1t is charged a.
not know with what truth, if any
that this change was demanded and
brought about by the sugar ana tubac-
co interests, and also, it is stated. by
organized labor.
II, however. have failed to see that
the representatives Of this latter in
terest appeared before the committee
1t is practically admitted that frr,
trade with Puerto Rico does not harm
these interests materially, but they
claim that it creates a precedent that
may harm them if adopted in reference
to the Philippines and Cuba. 1t will
be time to cross those rivers when we
come to them and in my opinion. the
crossing will not be difficult when the
proper time comes for action.
Proctor then quoted long letter
written to him by Former Senator
George f. Edmunds. who dealt with
some of the constitutional phases Of
the pending question. Here are some
extracts from Mr.. Edmund's letter:
ANY such measure if enacted will.
believe. be unique in our whole his
tory. 1t will initiate and parallel the
acts of the British Parliament which
forced our fathers to just resistance
and revolution. and led them to estab-
lish constitution which. in studied
and explicit terms, forbade any such
discrimination
Congress is the creature Of the con
sttution and not the reverse. \ law
passed by Congress is its creation. q
mere expression Of its will, which it
may repeal or change at pleasure. If
therefore. assuming that the consti-
tuition does not exist in Puerto Ricol
Congress were to enact a statute de-
claring that the present constitute m
shall hc extended over ana be in fore,
in that island. the constitution gets il
only force there by the virtue OF the
statute. 1t is a statutory constitute, IN
and nothing els" ana 4 repeal Of :hy
statute would cVfinrIIiSh il
But the constitution as such | sup
pose all admit. it not subject t. the
control Of Congress. either to enlarge
or diminish. to expand or contract or
to be applied or withdrawn from any
people or place 1t is not a movable
thing. like the Ark Of the Covenant Of
the Israelitc. to ~ set NJ ana moved
here or there. as the tribes might wan
der. 1t is the actual event and condi-
ton ana not the legislative or cXccu-
tive will that must. in the nature Of
things. determine the status Of a man
or a country under it.
Puerto Rico ana its people cam
under the sovereignty Of the United
States by force Of the treaty with
Spain. ana I think al viii agree that
if any part of the people of the island
levied war against the United States.
or adhered to our enemies. etc. thCy
would be guilty of treason. fiut trca-
son is an exclusively defined constitu-
tionaI crime and it cannot exist on the
island unless the constitution that de
fines it is in force there
Proctor then continued:
Owe may do many wrong and foolish
things without violating the constitution.
hut il does not follow that We mus. 40
them. or ought to do them. ana claim.
Mr.. President. that the plain people. the
sensible. honest American people. who
look AZ this question from no standpoint
of interest. who are not sugar men nor
tobacco men. nor men who have any com
mcrcial or class interests which. it Is
claimed. must he placed by our action,
are the best judges of what is fair ANA
right and honest. ana that their judGmrn,
in the end must and will prevail. II W,
are not bound by the letter Of the consti-
tuition, we are bound by justice ana HIT
manity 10 deal with these questions in
the spirit Of American institutions and
American civilization
The people. Mr.. President. look upon
this as matter of principle. 4 question
OF good faith ana common honesty. and
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