The age-herald., 1900-03-03

inee ar holding colonies I see no reason why we shou1d not have provinces or colo nies. A free government like ours would carry freedom and light to them. But the party in power has reached the point where it must determine upon and enunciate a policy with regard ito our insular posses sfons. want the party in power to say whether it may be the purpose ultimately to take in this island as a state. know the people there are fit for .self-goyern- ment. and they ought to have 1t as soon as it may be given.
 MT. Teller then sent to the desk an amendment in the form of an additional section, which he said If adopted, would settle what the policy of the government would be. He thought something of the kind ought to be adopted because congress was now brought squarely to the issue as to what is was to do with the island pos- sessions. The amendment declared that it is the intention by this act to establish temporary government in Ponto Rico for the purpose of enabling the people there of establishing permanent government, re- publican in form, in which there shall be accorded to tine people the right of self government, and to that end they are au- thorized to hold convention and adopt constitution (to be approved by the presi- dent), consistent with the principles of free government and that shall recognize the sovereignty of the United States over Porto Rico and the inhabitants thereof, as recog- nized by the treaty between Spain and the United States The inhabitants of Porto Rico are declared to. be citizens thereof and their rights as citizens shall not be denied or abridged except by conviction in @ court of justice.
 Shall Have Benefit of All Provisions
 They shall have the benefit of all those provisions of the constitution of the United States for the protection and maintenance lection of the personal and property rights of the people, but it is specifically declared that the adoption of the island constitution by the inhabitants of Porto Rico and the approval thereof by the president of the United States shall not make these inhabi- tants citizens of the United States, nor shall it create any obligation on the United States to admit Ponto Rico as state; nor shall the establishment and maintenance of a government by such constitution in- terfere with the sovereignty of the United States over Porto Rico and the inhabitants thereof.
 Mir. Foraker replying to MT. Teller said there was nothing remarkable about the bill except that the inhabitants Of the islands were treated in the bill as citizens of the United States.
  not imply the right of vote, but only ale glance to the government and protection by the government.
 In response to an inquiry MT Foraker said the constitution was not immediately extended over the territory of Louisiana, when it was acquired, but it was given the most autocratic government poSslble-a one-man government.
 The law in all newly acquired territory would be the legislation which congress misr.It enact for the territory and that leg is.atfon night include all CT in part. There was lEIsention to make Porto Rico a state, CT, in the accepted sense territory. The island was a dependency. We don't propose to deal with the peop,e of Porto Rico inequitably," said MT. Foraker.
 Have Given Ihem the Benefit.
 Tt is true we have put duty on prod ucts imported into this country from the island. but it is also true that We have given every dollar back to them for their own benefit. We impose the duty because it is needed for revenue" Mir. Foraker said that in his mind the fact that this bill raises a question which could be determ- dned only by the supreme court of ehe United States was more important than levydng tariff on Porto Rican products
 .-Beyond Porto Rico lie the Philippines. It has been suggested that Tn our eastern possessions we shah QlaNe the open door M We open the Philippines ito the trade of adl the world we shall have the products of tine world poured into the United States and our whole protective tariff system will fall to the ground. TG.is raises a question on which it ds entirely unlikely senators in douth VIII ever get together. It wiM have to be determined by the courts and 1t IS highly important that the determina- ton should be reached soon."
 MT. Stewart of Nevada gave notice of an amendment striking out the provision levying duty of 15 per cent. of the Ding ley tariff on Porto Rican products. "The proposition dn the biA," said MT. Stewart is in oppoistion to a.q republican platforms. l don't want amy territory in which the constitution does mot follow the flag. We cannot discriminate against any seution of our own coutry. If our principles of gov eminent are mot broad enough to cover any territory under the flag, chen we had better bring the flag back
 The senate at 5:15 D. am- adjourned until tomorrow.