The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1900-03-31

Ricans' unquestioned right, open
ed our ports, to unrestricted trade
with them, Then came protests
from interests in this country that
felt that they would be injured by !
competition with Puerto Rican
products. Not the sugar "trust,"
but the beet sugar growers, not
the tobacco ''trust," but. the to-
bacco planters-no trust at all,
but the small growers of beet su-
gar, tobacco and fruits scattered
over the country felt that their
interests were involved. But
their protest soon died away
when they realized that if all
Puerto Rico-it is. only as large
as Connecticut-Were to be given
over to any one industry rather
than divided among many--the
effect on that industry in this
country would be as a bucket Of
water in an ocean. The ,Presi-
dent firmly resisted the appeals
to him on that ground. Had that
remained the one consideration
he would have insisted that Con-
gress carry out his early recon-
mendation.
MCkinley's Final Triumph.
Even the menace of a partisan
issue, however did not drive the
President from his original splen-
did position. Accepting the is
sue as laid down by Democratic
leaders, he consolidated the Re-
t publican majority in the House in
the interest of the people and the
future for measure that main
tanned our national rights. That
accomplished, he plunged the op-
f position into despair by recon- =
s mending the immediate refunding
!. to Puerto Rico of the $2,oo5,ooo
+ thus far collected on her products
: so that there might go to the is
+ land with the assertion Of power
' an overlooking measure of relief.
, Give all, he said, not part, and
, yet not a Democratic vote was
+ cast for the proposition! 1t was
y not an abandonment of his De-
, cember messages; it was an in
tensification of it.
The Presidents Timely Act
- The Presidents second recon -
t mendation should be considered
n in full in any discussion of the
S subject. 1t was as follows:
e To the Senate and House of Repre-
n sentatives Since the evacuation OF
Puerto Rico blythe Spanish forces or
the 18th day of October, 1898, the Unit
ed States has collected on products
coming from that island to the ports
~ of the United States the duties fixeC
|, by the Dingley act and amounting tC
- $2,O95, ,455.88, and will continue to col
lect under said law until Congress shall
otherwise direct.
Although had the power, and, hav
, ing in mind the best interests of thu
= people of the island used it to modif!
t duties on goods and products entering
l. into Puerto Rico, | did not have tn
- power to remit or. modify duties Of
IL Puerto Rican products coming into tn
n ports of the United States.
In view of the pressing necessity TO
r . immediate revenue i'll Puelto Rico TO
y conducting government there and TO
y the extension of public education, an
Il in view also of the provisional legisla
tion just inaugurated by the House 0
- Representatives. and for the purpos
= of making the principle embodied il
le that legislation applicable to the imme
, diate past as wellas the immediate .fu
- ture, recommend that the above sur
7r so collected and the, sums hereafte
Dr. collected under existing law shall, will
st out waiting. for the enactment of th
general legislation now pending, be az
= propriated for the use and benefit c
"a the island. .s.-
,d -. - WILLIAM Mckinney.
y. Executive Mansion, March 2, 1900.
r, The Position of the Democrats.