The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-29
CAPE NOME MATTER
INTERESTS SENATE.


house until today there had been a rising
tide Of protest against II, and that pro-
test had eliminated in righteous indlg-
nation. Ii had come from every part OF
the country and from people in every
walk Of life and it was based upon the
principle that Puerto Rico, in all the cir
cumstances, should have free trade with
the United States, Upon the question pre-
sented he said there was infinite variety
of opinion. After explaining briefly an
amendment he had offered earlier in the
day, Davis maintained that a tarin could
not be levied as between Puerto Rico and
the United States, although 1t was per-
fectly competent for congress to provide
for the collection OF internal revenue taxes
on the island.
why do some insist that there Is no
other way Of solving the question pre-
scented when a way is presented that Is
undoubtedly constitutional? he inquir-
ed. Why Insist upon a tariff upon the
products Of the island by a bill which is
so ophemeral as to expire In n year and
day. Why, indeed, insist upon the pro-
visions Of this measure when It would be
far better to let existing conditions con-
tinue."
Davis contended that the amendment he
proposed would go far to appease the
storm Of protests and indignation which
had arisen and would satisfy the people
OF this country and the Puerto Ricans
themselves
IF | interpret the signs OF the time in
this country Alright" he said, there is in
tense opposition to this bill among our
people This will be allayed by the adop-
ton of the proposition in my amend
ment. As to Puerto Ricans, they will be
quite satisfied by the evying and COL
Letting Of Internal revenue taxes on rum
and tobacco"
The whole project of levying a tariff
on Puerto Rican products. he said, was
self-generativ6 of objections-obiectlon
which would spring from every possible
source. All sorts of arguments had been
urged In support of the tariff. First, 1t
was charity, but that had been swept
away by the passage of the s., 900 900 APP
preparation bill Then It was that be
yond Puerto Rico lie the Philippines"
AS to that" said he. II believe that
sufficient unto the day is the evil
and the good thereof. The Philippines
will present their problems in time.
would not work an injustice against the
people of Puerto Rico to meet an I'M
certain question as to something else"
The next argument advanced to sup
port the tariff, he said, was the protec-
tion the 10 per cent, would afford to our
products and labor He ridculed such
proposition, as no proteCtionist would
contend that Is per cent. of the Dingley
rates would afford adequate protection
for any trade. Adverting again to the
Rican problem Davis said:
when We come TO deal with the Phil
ippine question we viii take care of that.
Puerto Rico is little more than roo miles
from our coast; the Philippines are 5000.
The island OF Puerto Rico is naturally a
part of the North American jurisdiction.
The Philippines are the part Of the do
main Of Asia Against the product and
the people of the Philippines when the
time comes the rights of American labor
will be protected by any party that may
be in power"
Davis said it was inconsistent to ex-
tend our laws relating to the coastwise
trade to the island and not extend our
tariff laws. As to the feeling in the
country upon lthe question. he said
Il think l would be as firm as anybody
under a sudden transitory public mani
festatton OF feeling. bat when that senti-
ment speaks to US week after week in
constantly swelling volume. we must take
heed Of 1t. This question Is well under
stood by the people. supporters Of this
bill cannot lay the hatteriug JUNCTION to
their souls that the editors Of the great
newspapers do not understand quite as
well as we do. The people understand it
too, and understand II we'll.
They understand we'll that upon dis
titled spirits and tobacco there is not an
imposition OF a mill Of taxation by this
bill, The subjects Of taxation upon which
we place heavy burdens go scot free on
the island OF Puerto Rico And what do
they propose as an exchange for that
Kind Of taxation? why. the imposition
Of "a tariff IL is so easy to place a tax up
on those articles that | shall be surprised
II the proposition 10 do SO does not meet
the approval Of congress and the people.
What are the people going 10 say II this
bin passes2 They win say. Free rum
and "a tax on the -four the people eat