St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-03-07
At THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Congressman CIRCUITS Speech on the
Porto Rican Tariff Bill.

Porto Rican Tariff Bill.
The Porto Rican tariff bill passed
the House last Wednesday and the
closing hours of the debate Yves
marked by some of the liveliest and
best speeches of this sts ion. The
sneakers on both sides were limited
to FIVE minutes and just before the
vote was taken the Speaker recog-
nized Congressman Grout who has
been an earnest advocate of the bill
from the start. His address bristles
with good points and we give it in
full as it appeared in the Congress
sional Record of the following day.
Mr.. Chairman. l was so completely
absorbed in committee work all last
week that l did not follow this debate,
and did not even read the bill until Sat.
urday evening. l felt that l could trust
the committee on ways and means, made
up, as it is, of the most experienced and
able men of the House, to lead me on this
question.
But when l learned that the Republi.
can ranks were disintegrating, that from
our own side of the House was heard the
echo OF the howl-the stock howl from
the other side--that ut is unconstitu.
tional" and violative of our pledges to
the people of Puerto Rico and unfair and
oppressive to them, began to fear lest
this great committee might have pre-.
sented to us an unworthy measure; but
when came to read the bill my fears all
vanished.
Now, what does this bill propose !?
But, first of all, let us take just a glance
at the situation in Puerto Rico. It has
but lately come into our hands through
the fortunes of war, and until we estab.
lish for it a permanent government it is
our duty to provide temporarily for the
preservation Of order, the administration
Of justice, the education OF the children.
and for the care and support of such as
cannot support themselves; and of this
last class there is a large number, which
has been increased by the destruction of
large share of the products of the earth
by the terrible tornado which swept the
island last summer and has left MANY
poor people in a starving condition.
Now, Judging from the graphic descrip-
ton by young Alexander Hamilton of a
hurricane in the West Indies, which, YOU
will remember, first brought him as a lad
into prominence, it can. think, be fairly
said that it is one oil the most terrific
things on earth, unless from the list of
horrors we except constitutional argu-
ment in the house of Representatives.
Laughter.
anyway, the tornado left large num-
bers destitute who must be fed, and it
has been estimated by General Davis,
now administering affairs in the island,
that Tor this purpose, including expenses
OF government, schools, ETC., it would
take 81 900, 900 for the year.
The practical question at once arises,
How shall the money be provided? Sup.
pose bill had been brought in to appro.
pirate this $4,000, 900 from the treasury
to meet this expense, what would our
friends on the other side of the House
have said ? Would they have approved
it Nay, nay.
They would have said, and rightlfully,
too, that the people OF Puerto Rico ought
to pay the expenses of an economical
and just government OF the island, and
there would have been no answer to their
claim. But such bill was not brought
IN, and instead thereof we have the bill
before US as temporary measure to pro-
vide the revenue for this expenditure.
Now, let us for just moment look at
the provisions of this bill, keeping in mind
that aside from the constitutional obiec-
ton the only criticism of it is that it is
unfair and oppressive to the Puerto
Rican people.
First, the bill provides that all impor-
ttations coming into Puerto Rico from
foreign countries shall pay as duty the
rates prescribed by the Dingley law; and
OF this do not understand anyone who
believes in the doctrine of protection to
complain. Of course our Democratic
friends find fault with this, but they con-
ceive it to be their mission to find fault
with everything that this side of the
House may do. Besides. they are free
traders anyway.
Second, it provides that on all articles
gong into Puerto Rico from the United
states 70 per cent of the Dinglev rates
snail be paid. But il, as we protection
It's contend, the shipper of goods into a
country where they encounter a tariff
pays the duty, then the Puerto Ricans
10 not pay this duty. Our own people
pay this duty; and while they might per-
Ihapsraise some objection to the provision,
now now can it be said to be oppressive to the
Puerto Ricans?
IN the third place, the bill provides that
all goods coming from Puerto Rico into
u. .ne United States shall pay duty OF rs
pet cent OF the Dingley rates. Now, this
uuty the Puerto Ricans pay; and If it
S went into the treasury Of the United
o'a'es and the people of Puerto Rico
were taxed in some other way for the
support OF their government, it might
well De said it was an unjust exaction
from that people.
our the bill provides that every dollar
~ ~ coilected shall be turned over to the
t tLiesioent and expended tor the benefit of
t ue people OF Puerto Rico-in charity to
rue lle poor, for schools and courts, and the
nAe' And who doubts that under the
a,my Officers still in control there the
money will not be honestly and wisely
tHHpenued! And who also can fairly say
.fas thls IS unjust taxation of the people
Vi mat island? OF course, if this tax were
f RIi1 oy the poor people there, it would
'' n heavily upon them; but it is not.
nn henember, this is tariff duty on i'm
R Roits coming from Puerto Rico into the
o unlted States, which are principally SUI
Sai ana tobacco. The sugar and tobacco
planters of p,.a..a D. Ii 81 Lie