Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-02-09
MORE IMPERIALISM.

Following is a Washington dispatch from
the Chicago Record
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb, Sin order to
Justify its action in imposing a duty upon
Puerto Rlcan products, the committee on ways
and means has decided that the United States
consists only of forty-tive states. New Mexico,
Arizona, Oklahoma Indian Territory and Alas
ka are not part of the United States any lon
ger. We have a right, therefore, to charge
duty upon everything imported into the United
States from Oklahoma Arizona. The Dis
trict Of Columbia, where the capitol of the
United States stands, is excepted from the field
and is admitted into the union of hearts and
the union of hands under the care of the flag
of our union forever because ii is governed in
directly by the president ana the congress Of
the United States. Our territories are colonies
without constitutional rights ditto Hawaii,
the Philippines, Puerto Rico and thc I.adrones.
In other words, the committee on WAYS and
means asks congress to establish a colonial
policy that places the United States as a nation
on the same ground as Great Britain with re-
spect to its outlying possessions. Great Brit
ain consists of England, Scotland and Wales.
Ireland, Canada, Australia and India are known
as "British possessions lava is not part
of Holland, nor A]ge1s and Martinique of
France. They are distinct and separate emit
ties, although governed under French authority
as colonies.
This proposition offers something new in the
way of controversy. 1t has never been dis
Gus ,ed in congress, but it lies entirely upon the
disposition OF congress how the constitution
shall be construed.
The following is an editorial taken from he
Chicago Record:
COLONIES AND THE CONSTITUTION.
sub committee of the ways and means
committee of the national house of representa-
tives appointed short time ago to
slider the question as to whether or not congress
in legislating for our newly acquired island
possessions would be bound by the terms of the
constitution of the United States. the sub
committee consisted of Representatives Dalzel,
Grosvenor, Hopkins, Richardson and New
lands. report signed by Representatives
DalZell, Grosvenor and Hopkins was submitted
to the full committee last week.
According to this report, the term United
States in that provision of the constitution de-
claring hat al, dues, imposts and excuses shall
beunform tn roughout thenation refers only to
the states constituting the federal union, and
does not cover territory merely belonging to the
United States. This opinion of the majority
OF the subcommittee is directly contrary 10 the
decision of the United States Supreme court in
the California case, delivered i'll 1883. 1t is
further declared i'll the report Chat congress
has the power to govern Puerto Rico and the
Philippines independent of the limitations OF
the constitutional Representatives Richard
son and Newland5 present a minority report
taking directly the opposite view.
These questions ultimately must be passed o II
by the United States court. In view of the
disagreement BY the members OF the committee,
it would seem that the SCORER the court was
called upon for an authontive declaration the
better. Its decision will have Its disagree able
features whichever view it avors. Should the
contention OF the minority be upheld by the
Supeme court, congress would be much hamp
cred in the administration of affairs in the Phil
ippines, in case those islands are retain d.
The position of the majority Of the subo
mite means that congress, Will possessing
only delegated authority at home, is vested
with absolute powers in territory belonging to
the United States. For instance, resident of
Manila might be deprived of life, liberty or
property without due process Of law. and priv
ate property might be taken for public use with
out just compensation. The only chick upon in
justice or abuse of power, in other words, is
the benevoence of congress.
1t is contrary to our ideas that governing
authorities should possess such absolute powe
over human beings anywhere, and it is doubt 4
full if the American people desire to cothe their