The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-09
PUERTO RICAN TARIFF
HEATED COLLOQUY IN THE SENATE
BETWEEN MEssRS. HOAR
AND FORAKER
QUERY WAS UNANSWERED

Massachusetts Senator Compelled
the OhIOan to Definitely State His
POsitiOn-Mr. Foraker Does Not
Consider Puerto Rico an Integral
Part of the United States, but a
Mere Dependency.
WASHINGTON, March S.-Formal dis.
cussion Of the Puerto Rican tariff and
civil government bill began in the senate
today and continued uninterruptedly fol
four hours and a half. The principal
speakers were Mr.. Foraker (Rep, o., in
charge of the measure, and Mr.. Pettus
Dem, Ala-), but at various times during
the debate lively colloquies occurred, In
which several senators were particl-
pants.
After Mr.. Mason Qll) had entered his
motion to discharge the committee
foreign relations from further considera-
ton of his resolution expressing SYM
pathy for the Beers, and 1t had gone
over until tomorrow under the rules,
Mr.. Pettus delivered a carefully pre-
pared speech in opposition to the pending
bill. He argued that it was unconstitu~
tional and in opposition to the principles
fathers Of the constitution.
Mr.. Foraker occupied the floor during
the remainder of the session He ex-
planned the measure in detail, and gave
the reasons why the committee had de,
termined upon the levying Of a tariff
upon Puerto Rican goods. In his opin-
lon it was impossible for a direct tax to
be levied upon the people to support
local government, because of their. des.
titute condition. This fact had caused
the idea Of imposing small tariff, to
raise sum sufficient, with the internal
revenues, to give the people not only
local elf-government, but to build roads
and erect schools Then, too, 1t was
necessary that the question Of extension
of the constitution over our insular pos.
sessions should be determined by the su,
preme court and by the very provisions
Of the bill it would be inevitable that
the supreme court should pass upon that
question. Puerto Rico ard the Philip
pines, he said, We're on the same basis,
SO that the courts decision would de-
termine our right to levy q tariff on
products of the Eastern archipelago
Mr.. Pettus congratulated the president
on the position he had taken III his last
annual message favoring free trade be,
tween the United States and Puerto
Rico. Mr.. Pettus declared the policy OF
the bill was bad, affecting questions Of
law. THE bill is Illegal he said, land
unconstitutional. 1t is a blow at the
constitution, which declares that all du
ties shall be uniform throughout the
United States"
He also called attention to the speech
of Mr.. Davis, which he said was a most
remarkable spectacle of inventive genius
The SENATOR said Mr.. Pettus, turns
over to the Puerto Ricans the constitu,
tion in installments, a little now and
then"
Mr. Morgan gave notice of motion to
lay the whole substitute of the senate
committee to the house bill on the table.
MR.. HoAR's QUERY.
Mr. Foraker became involved in COL
loquy with Mr.. 1oar as to the consti-
tutional rights of congress to levy duty
on products from a territory OF the
United States, in which the Ohio senator
said that the provisions of the constitu-
ton had no application in the case of
Puerto Rico Mr. Hoar continued to
press the point, and Mr.. Foraker finally
declared that the question in point has
passed by the law book stage and has
become one OF justice and humanity
Mr.. Hoar-That is the senator's
answer?
mo, 1T is not" retorted Mr.. Foraker,
warmly. "I answered the senator's ques,
ton and the persistency with which the
senator presses it shows that he does
not want to accept the answer. 1 might
stand here and quote decisions of the sr.
| preme court until the last Puerto Rican
had. starved, and it would have no effect
upon senators who differed from me.
| This contention has been going on for
| two years, and 1t will have to be deter
mined ultimately by the supreme court.
! If we cannot levy duty on the prod
! ucts of Puerto Rico we cannot levy q
duty upon the products of the Philip
pines. If the Philippines are now a part
! Of the United States, and II we cannot
! levy a tariff on their products, we might
! just as well dismantle our custom houses
| and go out of the protection business.
| There can be no intelligent legislation
| on this question until we get command
| ing Wow of the situation that will be
| afforded us by decision of the supreme
! court"
! Replying to a question from Mr.. Teller,
! Mr.. Foraker said that he regarded Puerto
! Rico as a dependency Of the United
| States and not as an integral part of the
I United States.