The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-23
THE NEEDS OF PORTO RICO
Mr. Bacon Deneunees the toBfer-
ence Report on the Tariff Bill.
Its Adoption. He Asserts, Would He
Building Wall Hctween the
Island and the Rest of the World
The Promise of Free Trnde and "a
Stable Government should he kept

Relief Dill was taken up IN Tue senate yes
terday. and Mr. Bacon made an eloquent
denunciatory attack upon it. in which he
was followed and supported b. Messrs.
Cockrell and Sullivan. In beginning his
remarks Mr.. Bacon explained that he had
not intended TO discuss the report at that
time, but that he would do so at the re-
quest of Mr.. Cockrel. the disagreeing
member of the Senate Conference Commit
tee
The Georgia Senator began with an en-
phatic statement of his objections to the
changes in the relief bill that were made
in conference. He declared that though
the general wording of the report would
indicate that mutual concessions had been
made on behalf of both the Senate and the
House, an analysis of it would show that
the Senate had yielded practically every
thing and the House nothing. The provi-
sion of the conference report to which Mr..
Bacon made especial objection. was the
one striking out the Senate amendment 10
the bill which limited the appropriation OF
revenue TO that collected up to January l,
1900. instead of permitting it TO apply to
that collected up to the present time, and
to future collections. as provided in the
House bill. This, he declared, might ap-
pear a very harmless change. but beneath
it was deep-laid scheme to secure radical
action without appearing to do so. His OBJ
lection to striking out the amendment was
based not only upon the contention that
the appropriation bill should be definite in
its terms, but upon his belief that that ac
tion had been taken for the purpose OF
providing for the contingency that the
tariff bill now pending may fail.
Means II Thrift Wall.
The adoption of the conference report
and the passage Of the bill, Mr.. Bacon
asserted, mean the continuance of tariff
wall between Porto Rico and the rest of
the United States, tariff wall not only
of Is per cent of the Dingley rates. but
OF 100 per cent of those rates. Those who
did not believe there should be a tariff
wall between Porto Rico and the rest Of
the United States should not close their
eyes to the fact that the adoption OF the
conference report and the adjournment of
Congress without further legislation on
the subject would leave the tariff wall
standing, thus permitting the apparently
innocent appropriation bill to accomplish
more than the regular Porto Ricon tariff
measure would accomplish IL passed. He
described the storm Of indignation"
which has burst over all the country
at the policy of establishing tariff duties
against Porto Rico and said that the
bill to restore the amount collected thus
improperly was "a p'-ace offering to
appease the indignatio.. Of the people"
The tariff policy had not only stirred up
trouble in the country at large, but had
stirred up trouble in the Senate. II bad
led to the institution of committee which
he had never before heard of, "a peace
committee to make peace between Re
.publicans on that question. on which the
country at large was divided and on which
the Republican party was necessarily di-
vided.
All this talk about charity and benevo-
lence," declared Mr.. Bacon, lis a mere
afterthought The bill was drafted sim
ply for the purpose of making peace with
an outraged people" He dwelt upon
the insistence of the House conferees
upon the language continuing the col
lection and return of the tariff under
existing law" and repeated that the con-
ference report involved the question
whether -! not there should be continued
not moderate tariff bill, but the present
Dingley act, between Porto Rico and the
rest of the United States.
The House could have accepted the
Senate amendments, and he insisted that
there could have been no such failure
but for the intelligent direction OF the
bill by the interests which were advocat-
ing a tariff on the exchange of our CON-
merce with Porto Rico.
What Porto Rico Needs.
Mr.. Bacon declared that not only does
he want free trade with Porto Rico but
he wants it quickly. The great need OF
the islands people, he said, is to have
such legislation as will put them in
position to help themselves, and this can
not be done by the course now proposed.
He also contended that the money to be
returned would not go to the people from
whom IL had been collected and that is
what the people OF the island want, free
intercourse with the people of this coun-
try, and not misdirected charity.
Mr.. Bacon said the provision of gov
eminent for the Porto Ricans should not
be difficult. They were in the main an
intelligent people and could be assimilated
without difficulty.
He presented proceedings OF mass
meeting recently held in San Juan, Porto
Rico. 20 show. he said, how utterly
parslyzed is the business of the island by
reason Of the fact that We have erected
this tariff wall. and on account of the
doubt as to how We are going to leave the
island at the end of this session"
The paper having been read. Mr. Bacon
said that Congress should not turn a deaf
ear to that appeal, but should make a
most immediate response to it. 1t was
the pressing duty OF the day to make a
declaration that would put an end to a
condition OF affairs such as was portrayed
in the appeal OF that unhappy people"
II the dominant party would agree there
would be no difficulty in Immediately
passing a bill giving Porto Rico Terri
torial government on the same basis as
Oklahoma, Alaska. New Mexico. or Ari-
zona, and above all giving the most I'M
limited right Of free trade with the other
parts OF the United States.'
Position of the Democrats.
Mr.. Bacon declared that whenever the
Republicans were ready to give the island
that kind of a government the Democrats
would vote in favor of 1t without hesitation.
"N1ll you agree" asked Mr.. Foraker. 'to
fix time for vote upon the governmental
bill now pending?"
Mr.. Bacon-Yes. so far as am con-
Mr.. Cockrell-We will wait until We get
through with the appropriation bill before
fixing a time for a vote on another meas
ure.
Mr.. Foraker-of course. IL there is objec-
tion we cannot insist at this time
Mr. Bacon-You will not find any objec.
tion to naming time for vote when you
complete your bill, and We will agree to a
date as early as is consistent with the
necessity OF a proper examination Of amend
ments. We are disturbed by whisperings
that it Is not the intention OF the party in
power TO settle the tariff question. and We
do not want to leave the matter there
Mr. Foraker-We have heard nothing of
that kind over here. and again assure you
NJ int n. al