Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1900-03-30
ONE NIGHT CURE

did not succeed. The apprehension
of the honest objectors, who feared
that the concession of full free
trade to Puerto Rico would lead to
misconstruction, and the designs
of the crafty partisans, who meant
that it should, were both met and
frustrated by the bill which passed
the house, and which levies Is per
cent, or less than one-sixth of the
Dingley rates. The low rate In
wolves no possible hardship. It
has the advantage of producing
needed revenue which until civic
government and law are fully
organized in Puerto Rico, cannot be
raised as well from any other
source.
"There was another point which
was not generally understood. The
bill provides that the whole amount
of duties on goods coming from
Puerto Rico ahall be paid back to
Puerto Rico for the benefit of the
island. Thus, it fully harmonizes
with the object at which the presi-
dent aimed-of relieving the trade
of Puerto Rico from burdensome
restrictions and of extending the
largest degree of help. And when
it was crowned by the PRESIDENTS
special message, promptly carried
out by the house, providing not
only that the duties hereafter col
lected, but those heretofore col
lected, to the amount Of $4,000, 900,
should be appropriated, to be ex
pended wholly in Puerto Rico for
her development and improvement,
absolutely no ground was left for
pretense that the policy of the
president and congress was in the
slightest degree harsh and oppres-
sive.
Nobody can understandingly
object to the Is per cent duty all
paid back to Puerto Rico, on the
ground that it is unfair and hard
toward Puerto Rico. He can un-
de;standingly object only on the
claim that there is no power to
levy any duty at all; and such
claim would leave the president
and congress powerless and help
less in the Philippines as we'll as in
Puerto Rico.
PURPOSES THE SAME.
Between a Is per cent duty as
provided by the congressional bill =
every cent of which is to be re-
turned to Puerto Rico, that island
also getting all collected at the
other end-and the removal of GUS
tom duties as suggested by the
president for humanity's sake,
there is absolutely no difference
whatever in practical results. In
both, everything is for humanity.
Congress was aiming at the same
result as the president and the
president rightfully accepts the
act Of congress. The. representa-
ton that either was not in accord
with the other disregards every
essential element in the case.,
"But between Is per cent duty
and a free trade as a constitutional
right, going necessarily and in
stantly wherever new land may
be acquired, there is the worldwide
difference between reserving full
discretionary power to deal with
the new possessions, as their vary
ing interests and ours may require,
and leaving no discretionary power
in congress whatever. And this
is the real issue which has been
forced by the attitude of the mi
nority in congress.
"The country is starting out on
"a new departure, and on new ex-
pertinent, and it is-of the highest
Importance, for our own safety as
as well as for the welfare of the
new peoples who have come under
the flag, that we should leave our
selves free to deal with each case as
its own merits demand. The
claim which insists that free trade
goes by legal right to Puerto Rico
would bind US hand and foot.
THE partisans who sought to put
the president and congress in a
hole have, perhaps, unconsciously,
dug a pit for themselves. They
will find that they have taken
position which would estop them
from carrying out the policy they
have proposed for the disposition of
the Philippines. But as I do not
wish now to discuss the matter in
broadest aspects or to treat it in a
partisan spirit, 1 do not pursue this
point. 1t is enough for the present
to say that our contention that the
constitution does not, by its own
force, extend over the new possess
sions without legislative act is in