The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-15
CAN WE CREATE COLONIES?
TELLER HOLDS WE CAN WHILE
TURNER SAYS NOT.


lows the Flag, Says Turner.
Washington, March 1.-two arguments
were presented to the Senate to-day in
which almost antipodal periods were taken
by the two senator's.
Mr. Teller of Colorado in a brief speech,
maintained that the constitution could not
extend over territory acquired by the
United States while Mr.. Turner of Wash
ington deliberately contended that the con-
stitution embraced the acquired territory
the very moment the United States took
permanent possession of it.
Mr.. Teller held that this government
could make the outlying territory into
states or could hold it as colonies as it saw
fit; while Mr.. Turner maintained that the
United States could not hold colonies or
dependencies.
Aside from the constitutional questions
the two senators were in practical agree
ment Both were opposed TO the pending
Porto Rican bill and both objected TO any
of the insular territory becoming a part
of the United States or any of it's inhab-
itants citizens of the United States
Constitution Not In Force.
Mr. Teller, who expected to leave for
Cuba tonight, took the floor first. In a
general way he announced he had no
doubt of the power of the government to
govern the possessions it had acquired
Mr.. Teller declared he could find ample
authority for legislation relating to our
insular possessions-auth not derived
from the constitution.
and ] DO not believe" said Mr.. Teller
that the constitution is in force in any
of our new possessions. Congress, / be-
lieve, is supreme so far as the making
of legislation for acquired territory is
concerned OF course, in enacting such
legislation, Congress is bound by certain
fundamental principles that underlie this
free government.
After careful examination of ell Su-
preme Court authorities, l have been able
to find only one case that will support the
doctrine that the constitution goes of its
own Vigor into the acquired territory
He believed that making the acquired
territories a part of the United States was
optional with Congress- and that we nave
the same power as Great Britain TO hold
colonial possessions He did not believe,
however, that such territory should be re-
garded and governed as incipient states of
the Union.
Porto Rico. he thought, might be held
under the sovereignty of the United
States and the people, subject to our die
tation. might make the laws of the island
and the United States might determine
what the inhabitants should or should not
do He found no legal difficulty in deal
ing either with the acquired possessions
or their inhabitants.
Not wanted as Citizens.
81 do not want to make Porto Rico and
the Philippines part of the United
States and 1 do not want to make their
inhabitants citizens of the United States
said Mr.. Teller. He added that the re-
lation he would establish between the
United States and the acquired territory
was entirely consistent with the history
and traditions and principles of this coun-
try If he had time he believed he could
prove that the fathers OF the country
contemplated the acquisition and the hold
ing of colonies by the United States.
IF anybody" he continued, can show
better way out of the trouble than the
holding of the possessions we have ac-
dured I am willing to consider it.
Il would a great deal rather make Por-
to Rico and the Philippines colonies or
provinces, than to make them states
which would bring all their inhabitants
under the flag as citizens of the United
States. These islands are not part of
the United States to-day.
1--WE do not want the inhabitants Of
these islands to be made citizens of the
United States That is what this bill does
and if there were nothing else against it
that alone would induce me to vote
against it,"
All Possible Privileges.
Mr.. Teller said he desired all possible
and reasonable advantages and privileges
80 be extended to those people, but he
would not have them participate in The
election of a President of the United
States, nor would he give them represen-
tation in Congress.
'If the people of Porto Rico are citizens
of the United States then we are doing
them a great injustice if we levy a tariff
on their products; if they are not citizens
then we have the same right to levy
tariff on their goods as we have to place
a tariff on the products of Great Britain.
1.-THE question of the treatment of Porto
Rico and the treatment of the Philippines
are entirely different and distinct. Tho
great question is how can we do justice
10 the inhabitants of those Islands and do
Justice to ourselves at the same time. Bad
as this bill is, it is infinitely better than
anything the people of Porto Rico ever
had before"
Constitution Follows Flag.
) Mr.. Turner then resumed his discussion
of the Porto Rican measure, citing more
constitutional authorities in support OF
the contention that the constitution fol-
lowed the flag into all territories acquir-
ed by the United States with the idea Of
being held permanently.
Mr.. Turner challenged any senator to
produce a decision of the Supreme Court
holding it to be necessary that the consu-
tuition should be extended by act of Con-
gress over acquired territory or that the
constitution did not extend ex proprio
vigore over such territory
In conclusion he declared the pending
bill was manifesuy unconstitutional 1t
Ito, hi iaa md a
Unauthorized exercise of power over the
inhabitants of Porto Rico; and he thus
warned the powers in the majority.
Beware unless you be<ray the hopes OF
the future in the eXigencies of the pres
emit"
The Senate then, at 8 p m adjourned
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION.