The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-20

Or. Azel Ames and Senior Tulio Lar
rinaga. delegates from Porto Rico, who are
in this city. eudeavoring to have Congress
adopt legislation for that island which
viii be received with satisfaction by its
people. in speaking on the question to a
Times reporter yesterday, said:
The discussion Of the Porto Rican
tariff is involving not alone q question Of
policy on that one point, but is going deep
into the broad question Of how big
America really is under the Constitution.
That is, whether new territory, taken on
as Porto Rico was. is made an integral
part Of the nstion or whether it is merely
an appendage a bit Of property. or a
colony.
Industrial conditions in Porto Rico de-
mand relief al once" said Senior Larrinaga,
who is one OF the best known civil en-
gineers OF that island. Continuing he
said: 1t is clearly shown by reports Of
United States officials that the island is
worse off under American rule than il
was under Spanish. Its products. Of which
coffee and sugar are the principal ones
found a Spanish market under favorable
tariff conditions. while it was a province
Of Spain. Now it is on the same basis as
other foreign countries and is subject TO
the same tariff. which bars her out Of
Spanish markets"
Porto Rico has gained absolutely uoth-
ing from the United States" INTERCEPTED
Or Ames. as the regular tariff is still in
operation against her. Therefore. the agri-
cultural interests are suffering vastly. and
this means financial distress to the 20 hole
IA
would open the ports OF this country free
to her products would wholly change his
condition. Once remove the tariff bars and
her soil and climate would do the rest
Senior Lsrrinsga said that by the Span
ish-Ameri1an Peace Treaty Porto Rico
came into the possession Of the United
States. and il had been supposed by most
people that she was 10 come into al the l
rights and privileges belonging TO any I
other portion Of the country. But a bill I
has been reported by the majority OF the /
Ways and Means Committee Of the House I
which is now being discussed. establish /
ing a tariff Of 25 per cent Of the regular /
tariff on all the articles imported into the |
United States from Porto Rico. This |
policy is upheld on the ground that II is 1
absolutely necessary 10 make some differ
ence between the labor Of the two coun-
tries II IS opposed by those who do not
believe in the need or policy OF placing
restrictions on the trade Of Porto Rico and .
by those who insist that Porto Rico is an
actual part OF the United States and that
the Constitution prevents any discrimina-
ton In tariff between different sections Of
the Union.
The argument. continued Senior Lar
Tinags, comes finally to this: Is Porto
Rico a part OF the United States or does
she belong to the United States2 Is it a
partner and subject when proper coudi-
tons are fulfilled to statehood. or is it
property"
The Constitution itself affords no
meas by which this question can surely
be decided, said Dr. Ames. The makers
OF the Constitution cannot be appealed TO-
II must be settled by broad minded men,
according TO the true spirit Of the Con
sttution, ana its settlement will affect
the position likewise Of others OF the new
possessions. But Porto Rico should not be
left to suffer. at any rate. under present
conditions II came TO us peaceably and
readily and il would be a disgrace TO have
harm rather than great benefit come to
i because Of change from Spanish control
10 American.
Whether as territory OF colony IL
should be given every possible benefit
which comes from connection with
America"