Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-09
PORTO RIco's GOVERNMENT
A Bill to Be Reported By the 51nsular A.
fairs Committee.
Action ON the Proposed
Tariff-Many Letters Of Protest Re-
ceived, Some From the fslaud.

l1lteuQ Wltnln a snort time 20 report 10 the
House a bill extending a2eivil government
to Porto Rico. This committee has juris-
diction over the whole matter of govern
ment for our insular possessions except as
to revenue and tariffs. There threatened to
be a conflict of authority between the in
sular committee and the ways and means
committee of the House on this subject
but if it is to he assumed that the revenue
laws of the Islands may differ from those
obtaining within the borders of the United
States proper the ways and means is the
only committee having authority to deter
mine what insular revenue laws shall be
recommended to the House for adoption.
Will Wait on Tariff Measure.
The republican members of the insular
committee have held a conference at which
this subject was thoroughly discussed, and
the determination was reached that there
should be no interference by that commit
tee with the policy of the party and that.
therefore, there should be no question
raised as to the revenue feature dealt with
by the ways and means, committee. In
compliance with this policy. the insular
committee will defer action on the proposed
measure for civil government for Porto
Rico until after the House has decided
whether or not it will adopt the revenue
plans proposed by the ways and means
committee. 1t is expected that the ways
and means bill will be taken up for con-
sideration by the House about the 18th of
the month, and that it will provoke a great
deal of discussion.
Extension of Civil Government.
After it is disposed of the insular COM
niittee will bring in bill providing for the
civil government Of the island. This will
provide for complete civil government
legislative, judicial and executive, under
the general 1crrilpria1 pl1D iS
stood that the irsular committee will not
go into the broad question of whether OF
not the Constitution of the United States
extends over the island and will not raise
any question as to the application of a
discriminating tariff duty. They will deal
simply with the question of government
which comes within iner jurisdiction,
though some of the members of the COM
mittee doubt the constitutionaiity of a dis
eliminating duty. 1t is recognized, how
ever, that there is probability that the
contention will be maze i'll the courts that
the extension of civil government over the
island cparates to nTllify the tariff law
adopted while the island is under military
rule that is that simultaneously with the
extension of civil government the pro-
visions of the federal Constitution will of
necessity begin to apply.
Protests From Porto Rico.
The chairman and members of the insu-
lar committee being deluged with let
lSrS protesting tnat q Iallufe TO treat Porto
Rico as a part of the United States terri
tory will be a violation of the provisions
of the Constitution and will be imperialiStic.
The Porto Ricans particularly are protest.
ing upon the ground that, while the very
small duty proposed in the ways and means
bill will not be burden upon the commerce
of Porto Rico, If the theory that discrimi
mating duties may be levied, is adopted.
there will be no hindrance to an increase
of these duties at any time when some
special interest demands it of Congress,
and that such duties may be made prohibi-
tive if any sort of discrimination may be
made. The Porto Ricans are asking what
they will become if not citizens of the
United States. and what the Island Of
Porto Rico will be if not "a part of the
United States territory.
The Philippine Question.
There is some reluctance on the part of
members Of the committee to go into the
Philippine question at this session. The
Spooner resolution. giving to the executive
just such powers In dealing with the Philip
pines were given to jefferson in dealing
with the territory of Louisiana, has been
introduced into the House and will probably
be considered by the committee, but 1t Is
uncertain whether there will be any favor
able acton on it. The opinion is held by
some members of the committee that the
President will have these powers without
any special legislation by Congress, and
that, therefore 1t is unnecessary to bring
irritating and Understanding a propo-
sit.on to the front at this session. What
will be done, however has not yet been
determined, since there is a desire on the
part of the Senate to have some such ac-
ton taken.