Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-04-03

Puerto Rico, declared Spooncr. vehe-
mently. by ONnard, or by any protected
interest, is libeion our institutions thal
ought not to be uttered here and oughl
not to find lodgment anywhere. | wan'
to repeat that Il large and industrious
lobby is here endeavoring to induce Con
sress To pass a free trade bill.
II don't think" intcriected Bacon
tartly, that any one of that lobby mas
deemed ii to his interest to speak to any
senator on this side of the chamber"
Foraker. in charge of the bill, said Mr.
Oxnard had appeared before the commit
tee, but since the day of his appearance
he CForaker) had not seen him. n an
sWer to a question by Turley, Dem
Tenn, as TO the source whence the rev
enue would be derived under the pending
bill, Spooner said: II say ii comes from
the sugar trust and its importers; from
the rich sugar producers on the lSlild
IN either event ii is right. 1t comes from
the right spot and it will go to the right
spot"
spooner concluded with an earnest ap-
peal for the passage of the measure
holding that the enactment of the bill
into law would be the just, wise and
generous" thing to do.
Perkins, Rep, Cal. one of the members
Of the committee which framed and re.
ported the pending bill, also advocated
the measure. He said that the Puerto
EicanS were not Americans and could be
come such until they had passed through
the stages Of development which had ele-
waited the type OF citizenship, 81 the
United States. Congress was called upon
to lcgiSlate for people entirely foreign
to our institutions and a union with us
could come only after they had become
AmericaniZed.
Sr!f-govcrnmcnt and self-support, Per-
llias said. were inseparable. The pro-
posed tariff would tend to make them
discriminating and he believed the prop
usitiun was as fair as any that had ever
simon. Rep. Ore. declared that he
should vote against the pending measure.
He was assured, he said, that the people
Of Oregon were entirely i'll accord with
him in opposing the measure. They We're,
~ said earnestly in favor Of free trade
between Puerto Rico and the United
ctatcS as 4 matter of good faith. lie did
nnt think the enactment of the bill into
law would cause the loss Of the state T.
me Republican party, but if there is
any one act passed by this Congress that
will render it doubtful, this is the one.
Simon WAS proceeding to elaborate
what. he said. had been promised to tn"
nrop!e uf Puerto Rico when he was in
frrrupted bv Foraker:
..\Vhat single pledge or promise has been
made 20 he people of Puerto Rico which
is not kept in this bill?'
Simon was about to read what Gen.
Miles hld announced TO the islanders in
his proclamation. when Foraker. remarked
that the pending mcasUr" WAS perfectly
in line with the proclamation.
Spooner then called attention to tho
Miles promises had not been kept. his
proclamation was in no sense bindinS
upOn Congress.
Simon maintained that the proposed act
WAS n serious party hiInGrr as well iS
wrong in itself. lie argued That the pee
he ii the island woe under our tllg ana
therefore, it should not he held for colo
nill exploitation. The assertion of our
power To levy the proper tariff was in
violation I'D tlcit Int Wcll-understopd
agreement with them. ANA ne could nut.
therefore. give it his support.
i. ARtH