The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-09
PUERTO RICO TARIFF BILL.
DEBATE OPENED ~ THE SENATE
FOR AND AGAINST IT.

p.ttus, Hoar aud Davis Criticlso the nm.
WASHINGTON, March s-The whole OF to-
days session OF the Senate wa, given up to tho
discussion ot tho Puerto Rico TarIff bill.
First. Mr.. Pcttus dem. Ala made n short
argument against II, intcrsperscd with scrip
turn quotations, and then Mr. Foraker rep.
Ohio. who Is in charge OF the bill. undertook
20 answer all tho attacks that have been
made upon IL from both sides Of the chamber.
Three Senators on tho Republican side
Messra. Hoar. Davis and Teller criticised
the bill. while on tho Democratic side Mr..
Tillman OF South Carolina riliculcd NopubIi-
cans for pretensions OF philanthropy in connec-
ton with recent acquisitions Of territory. one
of his question as to the Presidents change OF
position stung Mr. Foraker Into the reply that
he did not have charge Of the Presidents opIn-
ions, and that the question should be put to
his colleague Mr.. Hannal not him, Tho re-.
spouse created some amusement in the Senate
Chamber and In the galleries. Mr.. Foraker
held the floor. meeting all comers, until tho
hour OF recess. He was the solo advocate and
defender OF the measure.
Mr.. Pettus began thus; JOB says: When |
looked for good. then evil came And every
hopeful patriot may now use the words OF that
long-sufYering man when he sees this proposed
leRislhtlOn TOT tne kONcIn"cut VI lho i'IoHu VI
Puerto Rico"
THE President OF the United States he con.
tinued. In his message to Congress gave his
opinion as to the laws needed for good govern
ment In that territory Of the United States. No
sordid politician has put his vilo finger in the
ink OF that message. 1t advised justice and
equal rights as the rules for our action In
framing lava for the government Of the new
citizens Of the United States In Puerto Rico.
and It specially advised that there should BE-
no tariff duties levied on goods coming to Us
from that island. or going from other
parts OF the United States to Puerto Rico.
The President Is the head Of the party now in
power In both Houses Of Congress and wo
had tho right TO hope and 70 believe that he
would have some influence over this admins
tration. and practically when the ~rallying cry
Of the party for three years had been support
the administration. The Secretary Of War
gave US substantially the same advice. And
now the newspaper press is trying to make US
believe that the Secretary Of War wrote this
bill, and that tho President advised tho
compromise Of justice to Puerto Rico In
In order to hold the party together. For one, |
refuse to believe this against the President,
ind for answe l say. there are not such things
done as thou sayest.' For. though he may de-
sire q reelection. he was q brave soldier and an
able and generous man. And for him 1t Is not
all OF lie to be reelected by a party which he
cannot influence to do justice or to act for tho
common good Of all OF the citizens as he sees IL.
When he signs this bill | may believe the vile
things I hear asserted against a good man"
Mr.. pettus then referred to the action OF the
Chamber OF Commerce Of the State Of New
York. recording It's emphatic opinion that
every consideration Of Justice AMI hu-
shall be unrestricted by any customs duties or
taxes" He wanted to prove. he said, that some
good can Sone out Of Na 5ort a., h as declared
levied Q tax on goods imported into
States and ni from Puerto Rico into other parts
declared that all duties. Imports. and excuses
Mr.. Pettus referred 10 Mr. DAVIS proposed
amendment as an Interesting specimen OF In
TEsI .d I &C. se@n d \ i n,O 3; ed fni;s 70 P P,.;rs'
mt met all all g a.. SnSel SS. By iP %su linn now 9
e. faiaI states tnS' e Ss ss Sn act { 81 c SHsltas1'!o" of the
BIT Ii !e sR%st g NJ iE, R$,' Ss'o. The f f ss%f,sr q ,. 5@S
tural quotation, The trouble is with most PEG.
pie that, like the Senator from Alabama. they
can quote Scripture. but seldom know how to
ton was from JOB. When looked for god,
then evil came | am not at all surprised that
the Senator from Alabama was looking Tor
that any evil has come, 1t will be my purpose
to satisfy the Senator from Alabama that he Is
mistaken that there Is no cause for the apnli-
cation OF the Scriptural quotation he has made;
and that he not only looked for good, but that
good has. IN fact. been proposed by this meas
that this bin does not deal fairly with. the peo-
pie OF Puerto Rico. Instead OF this bill being
iliberal and ungenerous in Its provisions, Il Is
cress for any territory OF the United States
since the beginning OF our Governmen t.
MI Davts,The Senator from Ohio admits
that this method OF raising revenue and hand
ing II back 10 n political subdivision OF the
country is without precedent. 1t has not been
done for Hawaii and has never been done for
any Territory. The theory and practice has al
ways been for the general Government to pay
itself all the expenses OF u Territory. Why. not
raise the revenue in Puerto Rico. cover it into
the Treasury and ray it by means Of n direct
appropriations What is the reason that this
tariff rate, anomalous, ~unheard, Of. %unrrece-
Puerto Rico, while the other dav a bill was
passed In. the other, House approp. .ating two
millions for Puerto Rico from the Treasury
Mr.. Foraker-There has never been an In
stance where II has been the practice to collect
revenues in a territory, cover them Into the
Treasury and then appropriate them Tor the
benefit OF the territory. Tho case Of Puerto
Rico Ia anomalous and without precedent, not
only as to the legislation proposed. but also 10
To the conditions which exist there. IL Puerto
Rico ls to have schools and roads II must have
money. and IL Is an utter impoSsibility to raise
money there by direct taxation on property.
Mr.. Davis Then the wise and proper thing
to do II 10 make an. appropriation rom the
general revenues Of the Government.
Mr.. Hoar Rep, Mass, said he would like 10
state q constitutional difficulty which occurred
t.. him.
quoted pleasantly. when the Senator from
Massachusetts has a question to ask
Mr.. Hoar stated his difficulty at some length.
It was that rs "A duty on exports Is forbidden
by the Constitution. the proposed duty OF 10
per cent. on goods for the United states and
Puerto Rico would be a violation OF that prohi-
MIR Foraker replied that the constitutions
prohibition had no application whatever to the
Government OF Puerto Rico or To- the action Of
Congress In governing Puerto Rico
In reply TO a question by Mr.. Tillman Dem.
&. C.l MI. Foraker said TT will he a question
what we ought 10 do with the Philippines and
am frank 10 say that II the Supreme Court
decides that we cannot levy any tax on our i'm
ports into the Philippines. we will have 10
adopt q very different policy from what | now
anticinate.'
Mr.. Tillman-Will the Senator explain why
It is that the President Of the United States.
who had better sources Of Information than
the senator had. gave IA TO understand In his
message that IL would be our hounden duty to
have free trade with Puerto Rico. and only
changed his opin ion when IL was found that
the interests Of the sugar and tobacco trusts
were being injured by FREQ trade?
Mr. Foraker-I will have to refer the Senator
TO my colleague. | do not know. | am not the
keeper oithe Presidents, opinion. This sllu.