Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-03
Senator From New York Gives His
Views on the Porto Rican
Tariff Measure.
HE SEES No CAUSE FOR CONTENTION
Opposition to the Bill the Usual Eac- /,
+. tical Operations for Advantageous
Positions in Presidential Year
eThe Republicans Stand.

ed Press. 1.-The senate convened today
at IL o'clock in order that the debate on
the Porto Rican bill might be extend.
ed. The public galleries were all
crowded. Vest, of Missouri, rising to
question of privilege said that upon
his return to the city after an absence
on accounr of illness he found that on
the vote to strike out the provision in
| the Porto Rican bill for the duty Of
IS per cent of the Dingley duties he
was noted as absent, but was not;
paired. He explained thar he had a
general pair which he thought was
sufficient. Had ne been present ha
would have voted to strike out the du-
ty on Porto Rican products.
Bates of Tennessee, after the Porto
Rico bill had been laid formally before
the senate, delivered his announced
speech in opposition to the pending
measure. Cullom of Illinois followed
with an argument in favor of the bill.
Depew of New York then spoke as fol-
lows:
Senator 'Depew said in part:
| What is adj this contention about?
What is the apple of discord which is
lashing some friends to fury? The
president proposed free trade and this
bill gives free trade in all the neces-
saries of life, in all implements and
manufactures required for the resusci-
ta1ion, development and working OF
industries, and tariff, amounting, on
the average, to per cent, upon their
market value on luXuries.
This tariff comes off by operation
| of law in two years, and as much soon-S
er as the people of the island, thru
their own legislature, decide to abol-
nues necessary for the support of their
| government, their roads, and their
schools and for their general welfare
by direct taxation.
THE opposition to this bill is the
result of the usual tactical operations
for advantageous positions in a presi-
| dental year. The Calhoun eheory OF
the constitution and the century-old
| light of free trade to destroy protec-
ton have made united and
desperate charge upon the pol
| icy and provisions of this meas
ure. The democratic position in re-
gard to our island territories is clearly
defined. They will claim that the mo-
ment any territory becomes the prop
erty of the United States, by conquest,
purchase, cession, or discovery it is un-
der our constitution and laws; that its
| people and products have the same
rights and are entitled to the same
the United States as the people
and products of any state in the.
\ Union; that statehood must speedily
come and cannot be denied; that this
would break down every protective
barrier, against pauper labor and adj
init free into our ports the things pro-
duced by people working in our tropi-
cal possessions for few cents u day,
and would degrade our citizenship,and,
therefore, if they get in power they
will at once abandon these islands.
The republican party stands upon
the action of Jefferson, Monroe, Jack-
son, Polk, Pierce and Seward, that
congress has the power to govern
these acquisitions subject only to the
prohibitions of the constitution.
Il recall for the consideration and
admonition of my democratic friends
that story of General Jackson's gov
ernorship of Florida, to which he was
appointed Dy GreSldent Monroe, under
the act of congress of March 8, 1921,
| providing that all military, civil and
judicial powers shall be vested in such
person and persons and shall be exer-
cised in such manner as the president
of the United States shall direct He
claimed and exercised the executive,
| legislative and judicial functions of
government under this commission
and was sustained in them all. AS leg
islature he enacted laws which
brought him, as governor, in conflict
with the ex-governor under Spain.
As governor he promptly arrested and
imprisoned that eX-ofiicial, and as
judge proceeded TO punish for con-
tempt the federal district judge, who
had issued a writ of habeas corpus
for the Spaniard's release. 1t was af-
| ter all this that he became and has
since continued to be claimed as lead
er. counselor and inspiration for the
| democratic party.
Under this power we can and will
provide both for the development of
our new possessions and the protec-
| ton of industries and employment
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