The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-22

remove something OF this misundcrstand-
ing, that | may be enabled 10 convince
YOU and the people of your section OF the
country that we regard you as in ali things
our equals. and In all things entitled 10
the same respect and the same treatment
that We claim for ourselves that we are
In no wise disposed. II II we're in our
power, 70 Cypress you, or deprive you of
any OF your rights under the constitution {,
Of the United states, or even narrowly TO
split hairs with you In regard to these
rights but are determined TO give you
as far as lies In our hands, all your
rights under the constitution--not gruds-
ingly but fully and fairly. + hope that.
BY thus dealing with you, We will become
better acquainted. and be better friends
II was not until 1871 that an act Of COM
gress purported TO extend the constitution
over the District OF Columbia and 1t thus
appears that ten years prior to this-tbe illus
trious leader OF the republican party main
tanned that II was as effective there as la
Illinois.
Attention has been called in this debate to
internal taxes levied in Alaska by congress.
When the same question shall be presented
respecting Puerto Rico IL will be squarcly
met and II Is sufficient now to say that under
the constitution both direct and indirect taxes
may bo levied In Alaska without being uni
form throughout the United States. The ques-
ton here is whether import duties shall be
uniform: and the record OF the republican
party was completed in 1868 In favor of the
extension of the constitution OF it's own force
to the Territories when the administration
declared in the following orders that Alaska
was entitled to free trade after the ratifca-
ton OF the treaty with Russia by which 1t
was annexed to the United States
Furs from Alaska via Hawaiian Islands in
American vessels free.
Furs brought from the Hawaiian Islands
| In American vessels, certified by a resident
United States consul products of Alaska,
procured by American whaling vessels In
| Alaska, tho landing Of which was mere
incident in the transportation to the
United States, are admitted to entry free
| OF duty.-Circular to collectors, March 5,
1868
sltka. Merchandise from, Shipped after
Ratification Of the Treaty Entitled to
Free Entry.
Merchandise CoiD shipped from Alaska
after the ratification of the treaty with
the United States. June 20 1867, is entitled
to entry free Of duty.--Letter to collector
al New York Anril 8, 1858.
All Mr. President, what change what n
marvellous, what an ominous change! The
republican party in It's youth, dedicated to
manhood liberties. and under the leadership
/ az Lincoln would extend the power Of con-
gress to the Territories accompanied by tho
constitution. In order to liberSte a race. The
republican party of today, dedicated to COM
mercial greed and under the leadership OF the
junior senator from Ohio (Mr. Hanna), would
carry the power of congress to the Territories
unaccompnnled by the constitution, in order
| to accomplish the industrial enslavemont Of a
people struggling TO be free
Coming to tho bill itself, II would be para
ticuarly unfortunate II, at the outset of our
relation to this island, in imposing tariff
duties, we should in the Judgment of the sec
rotary of war the president and millions OF
! their countrymen, disoredit the public faith
and violate our plain duty people. We
| engaged in war with Spain upon high grounds
of human sympathy and National obligation
and our conduct should not be furnished by
so credible and 80 grave an accusation. Now
that We are to deal directly with a people for
whose kindred nearby we went to. battle, our
course should be above suspicion, for ii Is
especially incumbent upon a great Nation in
dealing with weak and dependent country.
TO place It's action upon such generous and
magnaDmous lines as to dsarm criticism and
It's honor. To impose duties upon the trade
between Puerto Rico and the United States
Wuuin also. IN my judgment, in an economin
sense, be detrimental to the best interests of
both countries.
The objection to the imposition of such
duties which desiro to urge particularly.
however is that congress Is without author
tty under the constitution to impose them.
II IS not my purpose TO discuss tho broad
question of the power Of the United
limitations. upon that power Nor do
intend to debate now the full extent of the
epplleaton of the constitution TO acquired
territory previous to statehood.
II has been asserted by some that the
constitution does not Of its own force eX.
teud over the Territories. and by other.
that it does extend over them. Very prob.
AMY, Mr., President, these general assertions
In many instances wore not intended TO eX-
press fully tho opinions of the speakers but
however that may be, both PROPOSITIONS are
in my opinion Inaccurate and uusouud Mani,
testify there are provisions Of the cOnstitu
ton which do not extend to tn Territories
such, for instance, as those relating TO thu
election OF members of this body. for tn
territories are not entitled 10 reprrs ~ atiot
here; and there are provisions which d,
Apply such for instance, as thoes whicl
authorize tho acquisition. disposition an,
government of thu Territories for these in
volye their very origin and existence
some provisions applying and others not
hA tatt..
legislation Is whether there nre appropriate
provisions which are operative AS Puert
E Rico has been annexed as territory of tn
t United States whatever may be said q
many OF the provisions of the constitution
those unuuestionabv amply to This hin whicl
late to taxes duties. mnosts. aud excuses
There are three provisions OF the consttu
ton which 1t Is proper to consider in de
terminng this question. First no tax o
duty shall be laid on articles exported fror
any state; second congress shall have powe
to dispose of and make all needful rules an
regulations respecting the territory or othe
property belonging to the United states and
third, congress shall have power to lay an
collect taxes duties. imposts and excuses
to nay the debts aud provide for the commo
defense and general welfare of the Unite
States. but all duties lmposts aud excise
/. shall be uniform throughout the Unite
d states,
n majority of the committee which re
u norted this measure take me position tina
9. Is not governed or restricted by any of tn
y guaranteosN or prohibitions in the coustitu
4 ton, Those OF who disagree with tbs
is contention believe that when congress leg
slates respecting the Territories II is boun
30 to observe the guarantees OF personal right
10 as wen as other limitations upon COMPRESSION
: al power contained In the organic law
10 Mir. Presidtut. | 40 not believe that m
= prnvislon Of this bill which authorizes III
AZ collection OF import duties in this countr
"a on goods from Puerto Rico Is drawn under &
A. IS Rermane to the territorial clause ut tn
y constitution. 1t Is In that guso but & l.
- nevertheless in evasion OF he constitution
rho tax Is levied by the United states; II
levied for the United States; it Is levied an
collected in the United States; It is Ievie
tpoh ,itizens and importers az the Unite
States. and II Is finally paid in whole {
in part by consumers In the United States
|hC United states are as clearly respol
sblf Cor thc EXPENSES of government IN Pucl
20 Rico as for the expenses o. the Ftder.
government ~ any state az the Union, an
when q tax Is levied upon IMPORTS conf;
nom Puerto Rico into the United Stct'
congress Is proceeding not under the terri
toral clause 81 the constitution, but undo
the taxing clause, to levy taxes. to raj,
revs nuo to sunport the government OF II
United States That the duties are to be al
TlieG exclusively 20 the payment Of expend
lures in Puerto Rico Is only a remote inc
dert tho urinary consideration being tht
they are for the use Of the United STATE
levied aud collected as stated, sut aSmitin
for the sake OF argument that this provisll
| OF tho pending bill 10 under ths territor
clnuee Of the constitution. Ii Is In violatio