Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-02

longer 4 possession of Spain; Porto Rico
and the philippines belong to the United
States: while charges have been, and are
now, taking place in other parts of the
world which he trusted and believed We're
in every instance for the betterment of
mankind.
The Philippines We're not demanding any
special Legislation at our hands at this time
Our wise and just President was dealing
With those peoples in the best possible
manner. preparing the Fiipinos for self
government. and in that connection Mr..
Cu!iom said he wished to say that he had
great confidence in the distinguished COM
mission about to depart for the islands,
whose mission was to aid the people in
their preparation for and in the establish
mcnt of governments carried on under law.
so that at no distant day they might be-
come capable Of enjoying liberty under
law and be fully prepared and ready for
civil government under an act of Congress
making them one great body polite.
1t Woufd be time enough after peace was
fully restored in the Phi ippines, the com
plet" supremacy Of the government Of the
L Initcd States recognized. and after the
people had been guided in their conduct of
affairs for a time, for Congress under the
Constitution to step in anu provide a civil
government for the people Of all the ISL
ands Of the archipelago.
Porto Rico Vow the Issue.
But. Mr.. President said Mr.. Cullom,
Porto Rico is at this time demanding our
attention. What shall We 90 with this
island possession? Porto Rico has had the
attention OF the President from the time Of
| the surrender of the Spanish army in 1893
up to this hour. Its people poor ig
norant and unfortunate, their property haV-
ing been largely destroyed or swept away
by a great storm. They have been cared
| for by the President and the Secretary Of
War. Only recently, upon the rccOmmen-
| datiOn of the President. Congress appro-
priatcd over two millions of dollars. which
had Il 1t1+i fyfy1,
| Porto Rico for Il certain period up to Janu-
| airy last. The amount is to be used in pur-
( suance Of the act H"Ger tie direction of the
| President and Secretary of War for the ben
| eft of the needy, the distressed. and to
| rchablitate the country in the Improvement
| of roads. in the building of school houses. in
| aid 20 the poor people. in planting and Gull
| tivating crops, etc. Mr. President, some
| chamber. because the government first COL
| lccted this sum from the Porto Ricans, put
it in the treasury and thcn under act of
| Congress authorized the President to take it
| out and give it back TO them, complain and
| criticfse the performance.
Paid by the Trusts.
| well, Mr. President, if it went back TO
the same parties who paid IT, who were in
fact part of the sugar and tobacco trusts
| il would seem to be useless performance
but the fact IS, it was paid by a very few
persons, importers connected with the sugar
ard tobacco monopolies. One Of the firms
| "a. S. Lacells & Coz who paid a part OF
this tax of two million dollars is now
| suing the United States to recover bach
| the amount paid, which suit in my judg.
| ment is evidence, if need further evi
dence, that those great corporations, trusts
| and monopolies, instead of being in favor OF
| the proposed tax, are really opposed to il
| and advocate free trade between Porte
Rico and the United States.
| 'ha cnl1aptD1
| the imports from Porto Rico, which was
largely paid by the bankers and agents o
the American Sugar Refining Company ant
| the tobacco trust, / am informed goe:
| back to relieve distress and help build III
| that country. Now that immediate ant
| substantial relief has been given to the peo
| pie of the island We must meet the question
| as to what shall be the policy of the Unitet
, | States in dealing with them temporaril.
| and in the future. Congress may be sal
to be dealing with a condition well
theory.
< Concluding, Mr.. Cullom said that by
= | clause in article . of the Paris treaty It
1 provided that: 'The civil rights and pc
| l.tical status of the native inhabitants o
| the territories hereby cedsd to the Unite
| States shall be determined by Congress,
| which would be found to be the basis of tn
| title of the United States to the contrc
g and government of Porto Rico.
n The Constitution and the Flag.
1.-The bill under consideration" he sait
| provides for a civil governme mt, and pre-
| vides that all the inhabitants who wsr
: Spanish subjects on the 11th day of y
1899, and continued to reside in Porto H.,
= | and their children born since, shall
deemed citizens Of Porto Rico. and a. sue