New-York tribune., 1900-01-26
ISLANDS NOT TERRITORIES
PROBABLE LEGISLATION BY CONGRESS
FOR NEW POSSESSIONS.
[BY rE1uoRApH 10 THE rn1pUNE.l


tBV TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
Washington, Jan. 25.-The members OF two
sub[committees Of the House Of Representa-
tives-a subcommittee of the Ways and Means
Committee and a subcommittee Of the Insular
Committee-are devoting thorough study and
investigation to the constitutional questions
raised respecting the status of the nsular terri
tory now belonging to the United States by
virtue of the treaty with Spain. It is under
stood that Messrs. Bailey and Swanson, and
several, If not all, of the other members of the
minority OF the Ways and Means Committee.
and all, or nearly all, Of the minority member
ship Of the Insular Committee, have about de-
cided to espouse the doctrine laid down by Cal
houn (and, indeed carry 1t to a greater extreme
than he did in the fight over the admission of
California-that the Constitution is self-acting
and that the people of Puerto Rico and the Phil
ippine archipelago entitled to all the i'm
munities, rights and privileges enjoyed by the
people of Arizona or New-Mexico without any
action by Congress- and that the islands stand
on the footing as the Territories. They
may wait for another conference with Mr.
Bryan Saturday before disclosing their pro-
gramme
THE CONSTITUTION NOT APPLICABLE
The members Of the majority, with perhaps a
single exception, are strongly opposed to this
position, and both sub-conmittees will undoubt-
edly report that the constitutional provisions are
not applicable to the islands ceded by Spain
and that the authority of Congress and the Ex-
ecutive in the premises is plenary and absolute.
Many of the members, after reading the report
Of Mr. Rosss powerful speech delivered in the
Senate on Tuesday. declared that it completely
cut the ground from under the latest disciples
Of Calhoun and advocates of his theory in Con-
gress.
1t is almost, If not quite, certain that the ma
jorty in Congress will hold that the Constitu-
tion and laws of the United States have not and
do not automatically operate so as to extend
over. or include the islands ceded by Spain but
that those islands are simply territory belong
ing to the United States' and that the power
of Congress over them is limited only by the
nature and spirit Of American institutions; that
in the absence Of treaty stipulations to the con-
trary the political status and civil rights of
the inhabitants of Puerto Rico and the Philip
pines are subject to future action by Congress-
and that such action will not change their status
or rights; that such territory is the common
property of the several States Of the Union, and
not part of the United States
GOVERNMENT FOR PUERTO RICO.
With this a basis of legislative action, one
branch Of Congress at least Will proceed. The
tons will frame and report bill for a political
and civil government for Puerto Rico somewhat
similar to that established in the Northwest Ter
ritory by the ordinance of 1871. It would be
government administered by officers appointed
by the President and confirmed BY the Senates
would create political entity" as one Repub-
lican Representative to-day expressed it. and
that is about far as legislation in that di-
rection by this Congress will be likely to go
There will be no obligation. expressed or inn
Piled to establish or create territorial govern
ment, in the sense that one exists In Arizona or
New-Mexico, at any future time. Sufficient
unto the day is the duty thereof" said Senator
Ross in his great speech. and that is the spirit
In which the Insular Committee will probably
deal with the Puerto Rican question in this
Congress.
The Ways and Means Committee, of course.
has jurisdiction in the House of bills relating to
tariff and internal revenue legislation for Puerto
Rico. Republican member of that COMMITTEES
to-day expressed the opinion that such legisIa-
ton would be had at this session, and he thought
the prevailing sentiment in the committee now
so far the majority was concerned was to
make a bill which would provide for lower
tariff on Puerto Rican products imported into
the United States than like products imported
from foreign countries. and providing for
longer free list He remarked that the tariff for
Puerto Rico would also probably admit United
States products at lower rates than the products
Of other countries. Manufactured tobacco, he
thought would not be admitted from Puerto
Rico free Of duty on account of a fear that If
such policy should be adopted a good many
Puerto Rican cigars" manufactured either
there or in Cuba and partly wholly composed
of Cuban tobacco, would find their way into the
United States without payment of duty. 1t was
the opinion of this Representative that a subst-
tute for the Payne bill extending the customs
and internal revenue laws Of the United States
over Puerto Rico would probably be favorably
reported by the committee and passed by the
House. He added: Congress is bound by every
consideration Of equity. mercy and justice to en-
act legislation to relieve the distress in the
island, and to do it practicable"
HENDRICKS PROBABLY CHOSEN.