The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-24

| nounced that as "a monstrous statement,
I made by man tainted and poisoned with
| political veIiom.''
His application OF the bred Scott case
was that the Supreme Court was unani-
I nous in declaring in that case that the
! Constitution covered the Territories. Mr..
! Vest also quoted decision by Chief Jus
I tice Marshall in a case as to whether the
term United States included the Dis
4 trict of Columbia. question which, he
said, is exactly pertinent to the question
now pending in respect TO the insular
! possessions. The decision used these
! words: THE United States is the name
given TO our great Republic composed Of
States and Territories. The District of
Columbia is not less within the United
States than Maryland and Pennsylvania.
and it is no less necessary that the uni
formity of import duties and taxes shall
be observed in the one than in the other"
Mr. Vest said that he had other decisions
of the Supreme Court in all of which the
court had, without a single dissent. de-
clared that the Constitution gave to the
people Of the Territories. and of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. all the rights. privileges,
and immunities given TO the people in any
of the States. When, he asked. had it been
heard that the Constitution required Com
gres TO extend its provisions TO Terri
tories before the new doctrine of imperial
ism was brought before the people.
That doctrine, he declared to be utterly
abhorrent to him, for IL violated every
principle of republican government. II
Porto Rico is in the United States" he
asked, where did Congress get the author
ity to impose duties upon imports from
that country? And by what right has il
been proposed to put an export duty upon
90 ,rb N efffufiGr nf ha
United States expressly says that no ex-
port duty shall be imposed either b. the
United States or by any State?
That" he exclaimed. lis strange and
a monstrous doctrine. Like the deadly
crevasse of the Mississippi, which UNDER
mines the adjoining levee, those who sup
port this doctrine are undermining the
Constitution. Under the glamour OF con-
quest and gold and glory our professions
Of republicanism and democracy are but
travesties in public life. The imperislists
would tear down the Statue of Liberty at
the mouth OF New York Harbor extinguish
the lamp. and leave us to the gloom and
darkness Of colonial despotism."
Mr.. Foraker replied TO Mr.. Vests
speech. He denied that in the bred Scott
case the judges were unanimous in the
opinion that the Constitution extended
proprio vigore 10 the Territories. He also
asserted that instead of all the authorities
being to the effect claimed by the Senator
from Missouri, they we're exactly to- the
contrary. What power is 1t, he demand
ed, that the Constitution eonfers upon
Congress?"
At the conclusion of Mr.. F0raker's re-
marks consideration of the Hawaiian bill
was suspended until today.
During the morning hour Mr.. Frye, the
President pro tempore. laid before the Sea-
ate a cahlegram, signed by Camara Conner
clio. which was dated San Juan. Porto Rico
and addressed to the President OF the Sem
ate and Congress. II reads:
Commissioned by people Porto Rico at
tending celebration comm emoration ami
versary birth Washington, request that
for humanity sake. solution be adopted
economic problems. Every day represents
considerable loss. leading to total ruin
MIR Hoar enQuired OF the Chair whether !