The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-14

Mr.. Turner addressed the Senate yester-
day at the conclusion of the routine morn
ing business on the subject of the Porto
Rican bill, against which he made long
- legal and constitutional argument Inc
bill now before the Senate was read by
clerk. and Mr.. Turner, in beginning his
,spaech. declared that he is opposed to both
its policy and its provisions He described
it as being so revolving in form and feat
ure that no person in the Republican party,
from the President down, was willing to
admit its paternity.
Yet" he said, for some reason or
other it is determined to give 1t the Ie-
eliminating effect OF adoption, and to rec
ognize it as one of the offsprings OF the
Republican household. do not wonder
that some OF our friends on the other side
rise in protest against it, but they should
remember that they were warned what
the consequences and results would be
when they started out on the worldwide
career of land grabbing and body-snatch-
ing. in which the Republican party has
been engaged for the last year and half.
They were then warned that one of two
things would result-either debauching the
labor. trade. and citizenship of this coun-
try, or debauching its Constitution.
An Attempt TO Avert EVIL.
1.-The bill which we have before us is an
attempt TO avert the first of these evils by
Welding 10 the latter of them. We on this
side take no responsibility to ourselves
for the causes which have made this choice
Of evils necessary in the minds of our Re
publican friends While it will be charged
that the minority in Congress was in favor
of admitting the labor and the products or
the labor of the undergrad and underfed
people of the Philippines into this country
10 compete with the intelligent. seif-re-
specting highly paid labor of this nation,
those who would fix the responsibility
where ii properly belongs should remem-
Der that we. on this side, consistently op-
posed the acquisition of those islands from
the beginning on the ground that IT would
bring about the very result which our
Republican friends have now apparently
awakened TO for the first time, and which
they are endeavoring to guard against
And let them remember also that in
opposing the abrogation of tie ConstitG-
ton we do so in the light OF the TACT
that there is another alternative course
that may be pursued TO avert the evils
to which / have referred besides that OF
abrogating and debauching the Constltu-
ton. We have held that alternative out
TO our friends continually and are willing
10 joln them in its adoption. 1t is plain
and simple and both prudence and honor
agree In urging its acceptance. Let the
Filipinos go in peace; give them now
such assurances as will Immediately re-
suit in a cessation of hostilities; main
tain orderly government in the Islands
until the people themselves have been
enabled TO establish suitable and orderly
government there; then serve notice on
the world that their liberty and independ-
ence are under our protection, and with
draw from the islands, reserving such
portions Of them as may be necessary
for naval, coaling and military stations.
If the commercial interest must have
its pound of flesh make such treaties OF
amity and commercial relations as their
sense of gratitude may prompt them TO
make with us and which viii secure to us
all the commercial advantages Of annex
alton, without any of its political burdens
and responsibilities"
Injustice to Porto Rico.
Mr. Turner said he thought the propo-
sition Of the bill 10 levy tariff on COM
merce between Porto Rico and other por-
lions of the United States YVES poor re-
situations on the part of the Porto Ricans,
and mo amount of sugar-cOating could
disguise its evil smell or nauseating
taste" II was, to his mind, desperate
assault upon the liberties of the people,
and no more preposterous measure look
ing 10 the granting OF power TO Congress
had ever been presented in either house.
The evident purpose, he declared, was
TO break down the system which had
stood the test Of 1913 years. The bill was
clearly unconstitutional and II was re
pugnant to every utterance of the Su-
preme Court bearing upon the subject. IL
had been denounced as crime and as i'm
perious and vainglorious, and Mr.. Turner
said he did not believe We could main
tain such a system as was proposed with
out its being reflected upon our own in
situations. He feared, indeed, that It. was
one of those innovations against which
the fathers had warned the American
people. and he considered il wise 10 stop
and consider where we were drifting.
Mr.. Turner said he did not agree with
Mr. Foraker that We have passed the law
book stage" and he quoted numerous de-
clsions of the Supreme Court 10 sustain
his position. which was that the Constitu-
ton must apply equally 10 all portions OF
the territory Of the United States. and that
there could properly be no discrimination
In favor Of one section in the matter OF
taxation or otherwise in the interest of
another section.
He then went on with legal and con-
stitutlonsl argument against the right 10
impose customs duties on the trade be-
tween the United States and Porto Rico.
Without finishing his speech Mr.. Turner
yielded TO motion to proceed 10 the con
sideration Of executice business.
AT the opening OF the session Mr. Frye,
the President pro tempore. appointed Mr..
Bard TO the places on committees made
vacant by the following designations: Mr..
Rean. from the Committee on Public
Lands; Mr.. Thurston, from the committee
on Railroads Mr. Simon, from the Com
mittee on Potomac River Front; Mr.. Eos
ter. from the Committee on Woman Suf-
frage. and Mr.. Wetmore. from the Commit
tee on Manufactures.
Mr.. Aliens Denial.
Mr.. Allen. rising to a question OF per-
sonal privilege. said he had been misrepre-
scented by the Washington correspondent of
a New York paper who had reported that
he (Mr. Allen had abandoned the free
coinage OF silver. and that he desired 10
make public denial Of that statement.
Nothing that I ever said" he continued.
could b. any kind of torture be construed
as lack of faith in my party platform,
which declares for the free and unlimited
coinage Of both gold and silver at ratio OF
I6 10 l." He said that II there was any
subject on which he was sensitive IL was
the one TO which he had referred, and ne
declared that he had clearly stated his
position in regard to it during the present
session.
He read the official report of the colo
guy In the Senate on which the assertion
was founded. and said there was nothing In