Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1900-02-09
An Important Document.

e~qulNdlCnt 10 -O per cont OF the
Americant tariff on goods imported in
Puerto Rico from the United States
and vice versa, were submitted to the
House today. Tho Republicans OF the
committee except Mr.McCall OF Mas
s~achuetts, agreed to report in sup
port OF the bill, devoting a copsider.
able portion OF their argument to sus-
tanning the contention that the clause
OF the constitution declaring that ~all
duties, imports and excuses shall be
uniform throughout the United
States Is not applicable to our new
possession, which, they cay, are not
United States territory within the
meaning of the declaration. The
Democrats, together with Mr.. New
lands OF Nevada, took the contrary
view. Mr.. Mccall, practically holds
with them. lie made n separate re-
port saying he cannot support the
bill "because it does not follow the
rule OF uniformity prescribed by tho
Constitutions rule which in my
opinion, governs the Congress in leg.
i~slatlOn ol. the territories Of the Unit
cd States"
Mr.. Mccall is unsparIng i'll his de-
nunciation Of the policy to which the
bill will commit the government.
The minority report is signed by
all the Democratic members OF the
Ways and Means Committee and Mr..
Newlands, the Silver member. 1t
says III part:
Tho undersigned members OF the
committee are unable to- agree with
the conclusions Of tho committee in
respect to the bill reported to regu-
late tho trade OF Puerto Rico and for
other purposes and respectfully sub
NIT Il views MS follows:
Tho bill raises two questions
which must be considered and deter.
mined:
a The right of power under our
written constitution to enact the
measure.
- Whether, if we have the power,
should Congress exercise il in the
way provided in the bill.
"Tho bill is framed upon the idea
and the assumption that Congress has
entered upon the government OF
Puerto Rice unrcstruincd by tho pro.
visions OF the constitution"
The report then takes up tho con
stitutional provision that all duties.
imports and excuses shall be uniform
throughout the United States, and
presents the law decision that the
term UNITED States" has universal
application TO territory held. This
branch OF the subject has previously
been covered in "A special report.
Proceeding, the report says:
III the position taken by the major.
ity OF the committee in recommend.
ing the passage of the bill be the cor
rect one, and Congress has the power
to govern territory Of tho United
States, independent OF the Limitation
OF tho constitution, 1t must follow
that Congress is not restrained from
passing laws imposing custom duties !
on tho products and ores OF the terri.
tories OF Now Mexico and A~rizona:
the furs and fishes of Alaska, and the
lumber Of Oklahoma and all other
products Of these territories or OF apy
II OF them. The power to pass such
laws was never before claimed in our
land.
at is wholly inconsistent with the
theory and .orm OF our government
Exercise OF such power is pure and
simple imperialism, and against it We
enter our most solemn protest. We
never have held and cannot hold ter.
ritory MS a political dependency, aud
subject to unequal taxation.
"Our union is ono OF the States.
with common interest and common
destiny. The blessings of free GOV.
eminent rest Mike upon our peoplc.
whether in the original thirteen
States or III the youngest member oi
tho Union or in the newest ncouircd
territory. 1t does not matter in which
form territory il acquired, il il To no
held under our constitution with the
object OF finally being admitted into
inc Union ma Estate. In support Of
this doctriue, tho decisions OF the Su-
preme court arc uniform and in bar.
mony with the doctrine herein enun.
ciated.-
After calling attention to tho Prcsi.
dents recent recommendation for tho
abolition OF oil customs duties bo.
tween Puerto Rico md the United
States, and the Secretary of War re-.
port to tho same effect, the rcport
concludes Hs follows:
W 10 not know Why tl,ese sudden
changes hRvo occurred. We %cnnuoi
believe that tho President has been
converted from the opinion nc SO late
ly expressed, or TINT he now nd,oits
the unwisdom OF the solemn advice
no 80 recently gave Congress. We
arc not advised that his opinion was
hastily formed md that he Ind not
matnrcly considered the subject IN.
on which be was advising us.
we do not believe ,hnt the pcople
OF this land, ardontly attached ma thoy
arc to our FREQ institution, can bc
80.