The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-09
PORTO RICAN RELIEF BILL
Mr. Lindsay Addresses the Senate
in Opposition to 1t.
He Declares That the People Dem1 nd
Unrestricted Free Trade Between
Islanders should He Regarded as
Citizens OF the United States.

In the Senate today the debate was con-
tinued on the Porto Rican Relief bill, Mr
Lindsay speaking IN opposition to it. MI.
Lindsay said. in part:
The selection Of the Island Of Porte
Rico as the proper subject for establishing
the principle that the territories acquired
by the United States through the recent
treaty with Spain are not per Sc integral
portions thereof is. in my opinion, singu-
larly unfortunate. The inhabitants Of Por-
TO Rico, if not content with Spanish su-
premacy. were not engaged in insurrection
at the time We commenced the war for the
liberation Of Cuba. They had resisted the
appeals Of the Cuban people and steadily
refused TO assist them in their revolution
airy movement for independence. When. in
the progress Of cur war against Spain. We
deemed il eXpedient 10 invade Porto Rico
and TO drive the Spanish armies from that
island. we met with no resistance from
the inhabitants. On the contrary. We were
received with open arms and our soldiers
were hailed as the advance guard Of Ameri-
can civilization, American generosity, and
American brotherhood.
When the sovereignty Of Porto Rico
was Ceded by Spain 10 the United States,
without exception the people recognized
their allegiance 10 their new sovereign,
and, demanding nothing on the ground Of
citizenship, willingly and cheerfuIly ac-
cepted the provisions Of the treaty. 10 the
effect that their civil rights and political
status should be determined by the Amer
lean Congress. Every vestige OF the gov
ernment administered by Spain disappear
ed with the ratification OF the Treaty OF
Paris, and the Porto Rican peapIe would
have been left in a condition OF chaos had
not the Executive Of the United States. as
the COmmauder-in-Ch Chief OF our Army and
Navy made provision FOR their temporary
security.
In the absence OF authority from Con-
gress 10 the contrary. the Executive has
enforced against the products Of Porto
Rico the provisions Of the Dingley Tarin
bill, and since the 18th OF October, 1885,
we have collected as tax on Porto Rican
products imported into The United States
s. Gs5. 455.SS. II the claim. always insisted
on by the friends Of protection. that i'm
port duties collected on foreign goods are
paid by the foreigner aud not by the con-
sumer be correct. IL results that during
the eighteen months We have exercised
sovereign authority in Porto Rico We have
taxed the people Of hat island for our
own exclusive benefit over s.. 900.
The Injustice OF this tax is so manifest,
tho impropriety Of its collection so clear,
that the President Of the United States
has recommended that the moneys so col
lected shall be applied alone TO the use Of
the Porto Rican Government
we have before ms f. hill FrrffTp7 An
act temporarily 10 provide for the relief
Of the Island OF Porto Rico. and for other
purposes. which has received he ap-
provai OF the House OF Representative.
The passage Of this bill by the House OF
Representatives has provoked general con-
demnatiou by the people Of the United
States They almost universally demand
that trade between the United States and
the Island % Porto Rico shall be unre-
stricted by any customs duties whatever
and that We shall redeem the good faith
and the implied pledges Of this country 20
the people Of Porto Rico.
The amendment reported by the Sen
ate Committee on the Pacific Islands and
Porto Rico as a Substitute for the House
bill contains all the Objectionable features
OF that bill and makes provision for con-
dition Of affairs in Porto Rico absolutely
Inconsistent with the supposed powers Of
this Government 10 interpose tariff taxa
tion on the trade between the Island Of
Porto Rico and the continental States and
Territories OF the United States.
Il do not claim that We are under legal
or constitutional obligations TO make ciu-
zens of the people OF Porto Rico. In fact
do not believe that We are. But as We
nave discretionary power in The premises.
I approve OF 50 much Of the substitute for
the House bill as provides that the Porto
Ricans shall be deemed and held to be
citizens Of the United States. and i oppose
the taxing features Of the bill and the
substitute whether the Porto Ricans be
made citizens or not. II we intend 10 treat
them as the inhabitants Of a dependency.
and to tax and govern them as such I in
sist that We cannot consistently declare
by Congressional enactment that they are
10 be deemed and held 20 be citizens OF the
United states.
Il am not afraid to be Just TO and liberal
and generous with the people Of this Amer
I lean island on the ground that we may es-
tablish a precedent that can be used
/ against us when we come TO determine the
civil rights and the political status OF the
. Filipinos- We need not make citizens OF
the Porto Ricans unless we deem il expe-
dent. but making them citizens Will place
us under no obligations, constitutional or
otherwise, 10 follow that course when We
come 10 Iegislate concerning the Tagals.
Malays. etc. wao inhabit the islands Of
/ the Philippine archipelago.
The action of the House of Represen-
! tativeS in response to the message CT the
/ President recommending that the 81. .G95. =
I 1851 collected in the way Of duties on
| imports from Porto Rico since October IS,
| 1898, be set apart TO pay the expenses of
/ the government Of Porto Rico. which will
/ doubtless be followed by the Senate,
leaves no excuse for the tariff taxation
! proposed by this bill. and the country Will
not accept as sufficient the explanation
\ that these OdiOus tariff provisions have no
| greater or more cOmmendable purpose
| than that Of making a case for the SUI
preme Court in order that in advance OF
( legislation in respect to the Philippines
we may have the authority OF Congress
! defined by that high tribunal and may
| legislate in accordance with what that
court may conclude to be our legislative
power under the Constitution"
PLACED ON THE CALENDAR.