Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-21
56.h CONGRESS
CONTINUED from page ~

publican party had. since this message,
entirely changed its policy IN dealing with
this matter and he said. it was solely on
account of the political exigencies. lie
discussed the injustice of legislating for
the people Of Puerto Rico on account of
political conditions here ana denounced
the doctrine upon which the bill WAS
founded.
He said that the Republican party was
sponsor for government BY injunction in
the United States ana that il now pro-
posed a new dOCtline-goNcrnmtnt with
out the constitution. lie said that if Con
gress should govern the territories ana
new possessions without the CpnStitu-
tional limitations it would create 4 CON
gressiOnal deSpotiSm precisely similar To-
that claimed by Great Britain at the time
of the Revolutionary War; that the power
claimed to enact this bill was prccisel .,
the power that was claimed hy the Erit-
ish Parliament for the enactment of the
stamp act. He said: Every person who
votes for this bill announces himself Il
follower of George Ill"
He argued the injustice Of Congress fix
ing the terms upon which Ihe Puerto Ri
cans should sell their goods in this cOun-
Try ana &C the same time tht terms upon
which they must purchase II ON this c"un-
try. This power. he said, hld been ana
always would be abused. The intention
of this bill. he asserted. was to force all
of the leaf tobacco to be exported here
for manufacture ana thereby paralNZt
the manufacturing industries Of tht.
island. He then argued the injustice OF
permitting the 3t0,0oi tons of sugar in H.
wall to be admitted free Of duty. while
the bill imposed 4 heavy customs GUY
upon the 10000 tons Of sugar from Puerto
Rico, the difference in tins treatment, ne
said, resulting from the Tact that the su-
gar interest of Hawaii WIS owned hN a
few mllionaires. while that Of Puerto
Rico was owned by several thousand
small farmers.
lie said that the present bill, denying
az it did, TO the inhabitants Of al terri
tories ana new possessions any IF the
rights Of citizens ana imposing heavy
penalties upon them. would have a tend
ency to give new lf" to the Instruction
in the Philippine islands ana make the
Inhabitants have little faith in receiving
justice from this country. Tie argued
that the supreme court had decided that
the constitution extended to all territory
and that there must be every Whcrr uni
fOrmity in customs duties ana taxes.
The wisdom uf this intrrprctItt"H wa
then discussed. the speaker maintaining
that none of the restrictions Of the con
stitutiOn could he a curse To- Puerto Rico.
or to the philippine islands. mat thuS"
who upheld this new doctrine did Sp be
cause they knew that the equality ana
justice of the constitution would prohibit
them from exploiting the new possessions
for their own selfish ends.
He argued that ii thu new doctrine
that the constitution did not extend to tn.
new possessions prevailed there could
be no EXPANSION. for no people would
willingly unite with MS when they Wcrt.
told that they were to b. thr absolute
chattelS of a Congressional drSrnti~m.
He discussed At length the turmoil and
discomfort that would arise if Congress
created difference in the taxes. tariffs
and customs duties in the various pos
sessions.
In closing he said: THE passage of the
pending bill will end the history Of tin
republic ana open the history IF tn" en-
pire 1t destroys constitutional govern
ment ana creates Il Congressional dcS-
putSn.
Hepburn again tried t. reach an agree
ment for the consideration vi tha Nic1-
raguan bill. March g. Payne. \. ". uh-
jected. The House then adjourned.