Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-09
AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT.
a. CABINET OFFICER DISCUSSES
THE PORTO RICAN
TARIFF BILL
tBy Telegraph to virginian Pilot,

(By Telegraph to Firginian- Pilot)
Washington, March S.-A member of
the Cabinet tonight gave out the fol-
lowing as an authoritative statement:
There has been wide misnppre-
hension of the Porto Rican tariff I'LL,
OF the attitude of the President, of the
action of Congress and of their rela-
lions to each other. The criticism and
the concern which have come from
some well-mcaning quarters arc due
almost entirely 10 u MISUNDERSTANDING
Of the real facts.
THE attempt to represent tina. there
has been disagreement between The
President and Congress is wholly un-
founded. There has been no essential
differences between them. Both nave
sought the same object. The recon-
mendation OF the President ana the
House bill, in their purpose and their
effect. come to the same thing. AS
consequence each rightly sustains the
other.
WHAT M'KINLEY URGED.
'~Fhe President in his annual mes
sage of December urged that the Gus
toms duties on trade between Porto
Rico and the United States be re-
moved. Imports from Porto Rico into
the United States have been and are
now paying the Dnglcy rates. They
have no preference over goods from
any foreign country. The President
felt that Porto Rico should be re-
lieved OF this burden. lie urged that
1t should be removed, not as n matter
of legal right hut Of liberal and hui
name public policy.
WHAT HE PROPOSED.
what the President proposed was
that the United States should offer the
largest and most generous measure OF
help to the distressed and suffering
island. and he has never wavcred Il
single instant in the object he sought.
Had his suggestion been accepted and
followed by all in his spirit and as he
meant it. with the limitations he in
tended. all would have been well There
would have been no harm in any dircc-
ton But when the time came for ac-
tion in Congress two tendencies were
seen. On the one hand, there were good
men and some business and agricultural
interests that, while not objecting or lit
lie Directing 10 free trade with Port o
Rico alone. feared that free trade with
Porto RICO would be made n precedent
for free trade with the Philippines.
I.hcy felt that there should be n dis
tinct assertion and exercises of tbo
power TO impose duties however small
as an assurance thai. this powcr was
reserved for other cases
On the other hand. what the Pres
ident proposed as worthy act of ma
tiohai generosity and liberal policy WAS
Sei"eu by political opponents and claim
ad as necessity and inevitable meas
IRE of inherent constitutional right.
Ihey insisted that the Constitution. by
It's own force. extends to Porto Rico
and all the new island possessions. and
spreads all It's provisions over them.
including uniform taxation. They were
eager to commit Republican Congress
10 the adoption of free trade with Porto
IItcO, not as measure n
petliency, but because they could then
claim That ii had rveted hard AM
fast principle. which would tie the
hands of the Government everywhere.
IN the Philippines as well as in Port o
Rico
1t was n cunning game. but it did
not succeed. The apprehension of the
honest objectors. who feared that the
concession OF full free trade to Porto
Rico would lead to misconstruction and
the designs of the crafty partisans who
meant that II should. were both met
ana frustrated by the bill which passed
the House and which leviee Is Der cent.
or less than one-siXth of the Dingley
rates.
There was another point which was
not generally understood The bill pro-
yides that the whole amount of duties
on goods coming from Porto Rico shall
be- paid back to Porto Rico for the hen
eft of the island. That 1t fully har-
monizes with the object at which the
President aimed Of relieving the trade
OF Porto Rico from burdensome re-
strictions. and of extending the largest
degree of help. and when it was crown
ed by the Presidents special message.
promptly carried out by the House.
providing not only that tho duties here
after collected, but that those hereto
fore collected to the amount of two
million dollars should be appropriated
To be expended wholly in Porto Rico
for her development and Improvement
absolutely no ground was left for any
pretense that the policy of the Presi-
dent and Congress was in the slightest