The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-20


tcrs upon the government of Puerto
Rico unrrstraincd by the provisions
OF the Constitution. This we deny.
Those Of us who oppose this meas
ure. believe without exception,
maintain TINT the bill can mo- he
enacted into law without N total
disregard and violation of not sim
ply the spirit. but the express letter
of the Constitution.
''Tho Louisiana territory. Texas Cali
fornia, New Mexico. Oregon and Alaska
have all been acquired under our Consti-
tuition without Jar or strain to any OF
Its wise and beneficial provisions and with
out any demand for It's amendment. Every
foot OF this vast domain was acquired and
annexed under democratic presidents.
The democratic party has always favored
proper expansion. Those OF us opposing
this measure are net basing our opposi-
ton to Ii on the ground that 1t Is q meas
ure for expansion. Tnis is not a measure
for expansion. Whether the Constitution
OF the United States is extended TO the
islard 81 Puerto Rico ex-proprlo vigore or
not Il must be admitted that when we en-
ter upon legislation for the island, as con-
gress will do II IL passes this bill. that
question will be put at rest and the terri
tory will then be a part of us.
The control OF the president and OF
the military viii have ceased and the
expansion as 10 the island will have been
completed, Legislation by congress for
the island at once makes 1t part Of the
United States. II this bill passes, it must
follow then that it is a part of the United
States This being true. the proposition
which this bill carries for unequal taxa
tlon of the island as a portion of the
United states is the baldest form of impo-
riallsm itself
In the former acquisitions TO which
have referred no such measure as the
pending one was ever proposed or deemed
necessary. This effort therefore clea.ly
marks the dividing line between all former
acquisitions and that OF Puerto Rico.
can We not, in conformity with former
rules and laws which controlled lis III
annexation OF territory. do so now with
out violating our organic law If not the
argument. to my mind. is strong aud per-
haps uuanswerable that such annexation
should not he made. They Will cost us
more II this be necessary than they can
ever be worth.
This is n tax measure. The power to
tax IL the power to destroy. All taxes are
burdens TO be borne. They are borne
without murmur, 10 matter how high and
onerous, II they are only equal aud uni
form. Under our beloved government with
annexation approaching perfection, all its
blessings fall, share and share alike Oh
all its citizens everywhere and all its
burdens, great and small are laid equally
on the people. The wisest clause in Il
perhaps, is that one which declares that
all taxes must be uniform throughout the
United States. When they are unequal.
the complaints Will be loud sud long and
will eventually rend us and destroy tn"
government"
Mr. Richardson then proceeded with an
exhaustive legal argument to prove that
tho constitution extended over our new
possessions, quoting numerous DECISIONS OF
the supreme court in support OF his con-
tention. But even II 1t be conceded that
congress has the power 10 legisiate in
accordance with the provisions OF tho
pending bill" he continued, then the ex-
ercise OF such power would be unwise. If
we pass this bill tt will be an act OF bad
faith toward the people of Puerto Rico.
We are told that the Inhabitants OF that
island welcomed General Miles and the
armies OF the United States in July, 1898,
when they invaded their territory and
struck down the power of Spain. This
they did because they were assured and
confidently believed that as the tyrannous
shacSles OF Spain were stricken from
them. they were TO be admitted TO the
units and blessings OF our liberal institu-
lions as well as our enlightened ciViliZa
} ton. We are told our eolders were hailed
as redeemers. Why? II was because OF
the alluring promises held out to the in
habitants of the island by the United
/ states,
II know It is in tho power and dscre-
ton OF the house to pass measures direct
ly contrary to the decisions OF the SUI
| prone court and MISC In open disregard
! OF the advice of the chief executive; new
= ertheless I feel 1t is my duty before suct
+ action Is taken to bring to the minds and
attention OF members the decisions of the
J court and the advice Of the president.
= shall not assume that IL the Gentlemen
are reckless enough to disregard the
former, that they will the latter. We
S have been fully informed az to the painful
conditions OF the people in Puerto Rice
by the president; by the testimony OF
= officers OF the government who have
! been there and by the evidence OF the
numerous witnesses who have testified as
} TO these conditions before several COM
mittees OF this body.
"shnil we now do our plain duty
, Let MS vote down this most danger
Gus bill. am proud to he able T.
, say that in my opinion when the roi
Is called on it's passage, not a soil
, tary democratic vote In this cham
her viii be recorded in it's favor
, All VIII stand ny the Union and tn
constitution. We revere that In
strument Az the best ever devise
by the brain and intellect OF MAJ
IL has been the hope and the stny q
. our people for more than n hundre
years"
/ MIR. Richardson spoke over an hour. Il
was several times interrupted by applaus
e from his side OF the house This appiaus
e VAS especially vigorous when he said tina
every democratic vote would be- ca,
! against she bill.
: Mr. Dalgell PENN. the ranking ma
; iority member Of the ways aud mean
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