Washington sentinel., 1900-08-04

This bill provides for only a fifteenth
Of that Under this bill the difference
between free trade with Porto Rico and
the provisions OF the bill is only $1,000
a month It is estimated that the cost
OF the Government will be S2oo 600 q
month If this bill we're really for the
purpose OF raising revenue, 1t would
provide much more revenue. II is for
the purDos-, and the purpose only, OF
preventing competition against the
sugar, tobacco and coffee trusts,
It's necessary to raise enough revenue
for the economical administration OF
public affairs in Porto Rico. The Re-
publicans have already provided that
revenue for a year by donating s2, Ooo,-
600 tor that purpose out OF the Treasury
OF the United States. The dill also
provides for a local system Of taxation
based upon any principle that the local
Legislature may outline. Ia fact, there
is no provision IN the bull limiting the
amount Of taxes which may be raised in
this way. The States and Territories
Of the United States have all deemed it
necessary to make a constitutional
limitation upon the power OF taxation,
but the authority vested IN the Porto
Rico Legislature under this measure is
absolutely without limit.
Mr.. Speaker, the business men OF this
country have spoken. The press OF this
country has spoken. The business men
have not declared in favor Of tariff
upon the trade between the United
States and Porto Rico. The newspapers
OF the country have not so declared The
voice Of the people has been heard, and
that voice has demanded free trade
between the United States and Porto
Rico. It is claimed that the people OF
the United States and the press OF the
United States do not understand this
question,
They understand this question pre-
cisely as the President Of the United
I States, his Secretary OF War, the
! Attorney General and the Republicar
members Of this House understood
up TO few days ago. The opinion va
then unanimous, Itswas not parts an
question; 1t was not political question.
Everybody knew that duty and policy
both demanded that we should have
Tree trade between the United States
and Porto Rico. Suddenly, and without
warning, a maj ority OF the Republic ans
in Congress discovered that the entire
world was wrong and that they alone
we're right They had all been wrong,
but suddenly some great light had
broken in upon them.
have listened 10 vain for any explain
alton, or any attempted explanation Of
this sudden conversion, The people
have not changed their minds, the news
papers have not changed their views,
no new arguments are made. no new
facts are discovered, but suddenly aud
without warning the Republican m m
bers OF Congress act in direct opposition
to the wishes Of their constituents, II
there had been any reasonable explana-
alton, any legitimate inducement, any
new fact or new conditions, II IS certain
that they would have been brought out
. during tbs debate
, But they have not been so brought
out, and the business men Of this coun-
I trv will demand OF Congress some
- reasons TOR acting in direct opposition
to the interests oil the business commu-
. nifty, and that reason must be much
more clearly stated and definitely pro led
than il has been vet. The only argum enl
which has been brought 10 bear IS that
: Of the party lash" and the hand tnai
1 wields the whip IS invisible. The hip
e can be seen plainly enough, but she
business men want TO know who mas
hold of the handle and why the Repub-
u lican members OF this House have beer
e scourged into abandoning their pTlnci-
D ples and voting against the declared
wishes / the President and his Cabinet