The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-27
THE DEBATE CONTINUES.
Discussion of the Porto Ricnn Bill
StiII Engages the House.

Discussion of the Porto Ricnn Bill
stiII Engages the House.
The entire time CT the House yesterday
was taken I'D with the discussion Of the
Porto Rioan bill Under the rules the day
belonged to the District OF Columbia, but
in view Of the pending debate on the Tariff
bill Chairman Baboock Of the District
Committee, when the House met at II
o'clock. asked that next Monday be set
aside for the consideration Of District
business. and il was so ordered.
After the passage OF several private bills
Mr.. Payne Of New York. leaSer OF the ma
lority. asked consent for a modification OF
the order governing debate on the Porto
Rican Tariff bill so as to provide for gen
eral debate today. the measure to be Ie-
ported TO the House "Wednesday al o'clock
,. N.
Mr. Richardson. leader OF the minority.
agreed to the request with the condition
that there be session tonight and the
minority be given the right to offer their
substitute cn Wednesday il they SO de-
sired. This was agreed 20.
Mr. Richardson, speaking CT Mr.. Payne
request. said:
This is a remarkable request to come
from the majority. We oonstrue il 10 be a
rank and candid confession that they have
brought here a bad bin and an admission
in open House to the country that they
have not votes enough 20 pass IT.
Mr. Bartlett OF Georgia was the FIRST
speaker OF the day. He opposed the bill.
He argued that for constitutional reasons
L ought not to pass. He was opposed to
holding territory which was not 10 be in
corporated into the United States. He cited
the elementary principle OF international
law that whenever country, whether an
empire. monarchy. or republic. acquired
territory by purchase or otherwise, that
territory became q part OF such country
and subject 20 It's laws. He called atten-
tion 10 the consolation which those men
have who consider the bill uncoustitu-
tieusl. u was that no matter what Con-
Eress might do, there WAS q court VIII b.
guided by precedents. would see that the
Constitution should not be o7erridden.
Nj Lanham Of Texas followed Mr. Bart
lett He made a constitutional argument
against the bill. and said in Part.
I'VE are nOw brought face 70 face, in an
intensely practical way. with conditions OF
the utmost impor ance-that mark the
initial step in the inaugurc ion Of a civil
policy in the administration OF our iusulaT
possessions. The ISSUES so well predicted.
and the complications 90 much dreaded by
50 many CT the good and far-seeing people
T.
VI hat shall the harvest be- Is an anxious
enquiry which presses itself upon the at
tenti0n CT every true American.
The time has come when IN Porto Rico
at least. in some degree. civil government
is TO be substituted for military rule. The
people Of that island greeted our approach
and welcomed our sovereignty. We made
promises to them aud ought 10 keep faith
with them"
N- r.pba-, .,.t+o7 t1,, l,f..o-i,,i f.of
dent Of the capture CT Porus the Indian
king. by Alexander and the treatment ac-
corded him by his conqueTor and enouired
II the Porto Ricans were less deserving
than was Porus. and are we less magnani-
nous than was Alexander, the Grecian
warrior?
rs there asked Mr.. Ianham. with us
more Of barbarism and less OF human toll
GRAFTON ia the closing year oI the nine
teenth century than there was with the
heather in 80 B. C.. ." Mr. Lsnham did
not contend that the people OF Porto Rico
were ready for statehood but that the isl
and is as much a part Of the United States
as are New Mexico. Arizona and Oklaho-
ma. and for purposes OF the imposition OF
or exemption from taxation its people are
90 be considered as The equals Of the in
habitants Of any Of cur Territories.
Mr.. Boutell Of Illinois urged the pas
sage OF the bill. dwelling at considerable
length on what he termed the diverse opin-
ions OF its opponents. He said that Mr.
Bromweu OF Ohio thought Il was sound
enough consdlutionally. but that il was a
bad financial measure Mr. Mccall. he said,
thought il was defective constitutionally.
but effective as a fiscal measure. Mr.
Littlefeld thought it was bad in every
particular. The speaker took up the testi-
mony that had been brought before the
Insular and Ways and Means committees.
which, be maintained, showed that the
people OF Porto Rico were unat for self
government
He maintained that the fundamental
rights OF American citizenship would be-
endangered IL the inhabitants Of territory
acquired by conquest or perhaps involuu-
tarly, as a result OF war, came into fun
fellowship with our people without the con
sent OF the latter. lie was opposed, he
said, to admitting the Porto Ricans and
the Fiiipinos 20 free competition with !
American labor. He was in favor Of DOING
Justice TO those people. but we must not do |
wrong TO ourselves. Mr.. Bouteu said he
would not support the bill If il were TO be
made permanent measure.
tie declared that the Democratic party I
was the only party that had sold American l
territory 10 a foreign monarch. In 1919 a I
Democratic Administration against the (
protest o. the people Of Texas sold $50. 0o0 F.
square miles of territory. with the people I
on g. TO the King Of Spain Mr Bouten /
eAciaimed; II We exercised the prerosa- /
tives Of an earthly empire the Democratic +.
part exercised the prcrcgat.ves Of the Al 4
mighty
Mr Cochran sought 90 Interrupt Mr.. I
Bouleli several times. but he declined to 4
yield.
MI Williams Of Illinois. in speaking
against the bin. said he thought the Presi- !