New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-23

Presi-
cent understands the situation at this time"
Mr. Grosvenor replied that he was not the mouth
piece OF the President. and that Mr.. Richardson's
question Gid not correctly represent what had been
said ne added; Il think I know the President
sonabiy well, and speaking as an individual and
knowing all things involved in the situation here
now. think that nothing would give the Presi-
Dent greater sorrow than the defeat of this bill
ana the turning over OF this House TO the Demo-
cratic minority"
Mr.. Grosvenor said II was hardly m he s,,nnosed
that the President at the time he made his
mendauon Tor the relief Of Puerto Rico appre-
Grated mat such a simple question would be made
the text Cor constitutional issue more grave than
anything since the bred Scott case
Taking up the broad right Of Congress to deal
with the subject, Mr.. Grosvenor said Daniel
Webster had been the first to maintain the power
OF Congress over new territory. And yet 1t re-
mained for Massachusetts member Of the House
Representative from Cambridge Cfr McCaID, to
call this right in question
The reference TO Cambridge brought Mr. Moody,
Of Massachusetts, TO his feet with the statement
that Harvard University the side OF the
Ways and Means majority.
Who are that side?" asked Mr. LAttleheld
of Maine.
Professor LangdeH and Professor Thayer, Of
Harvard" answered Mr. Moody.
Mr.. Grosveuor's discussion of the fiscal and con-
stitutionaI question varied by good uatured
political railery with members across the aisle
When Mr.. Neville OF Nebraska, asked II MI
tTrOSVenOr
with the Declaration of Independence in the Phil
tppines the Ohio member answered that when the
Democratic party got through with the Fflipinos
II would need ernbalming. At another point Mr.
Grosvenor created laughter by referring ironically
Aguinaldo as the George Washington Of the
Philippines
Mr.. Grosvenor said in closing:
But We have got the Philippines on our hands
and will tell you what We shan tel [ne peoPIe oa
now. We viii say We have acquired title 10 . me
them but they came to US, and We could not help
ourselves A gentleman Went out INTO me 80
the first thing we knew he had captured the LORD
only knows how naany Islands out there. We have
and are there. and our nag IS mere anu 80 We
the Democratic senators in Congress without any my
protest from any body We navT 60 70 axe care Of
them We are going to make all the money OUT OF
the o1entaI Countries and We are going 70 EN-
balm the doctrines Of the DeclaTatl9h o. inst
As soon as we think the time has come 70 40 IT,
and We are not gong g Gods 40 earth s 4 go howng that
We have got 70 do it now. Applause ana laughter
on the Republican side)
Mr.. ECALL IN OPPOSITION.
A. ,,ocau Of Massachusetts,, then spoke in oppo-
sf+ton "a the bill His speech was followed with
great interest as he the only member o. liie
WAYS and Means majority to dissent Ioln III
majority report 49, .,z
NOT apree with his colleagues TO the pendlng
bill but he was compelled to dissent because II IN
voIved nothing less than the proposition that Con-
gress in dealing with territories or the CA4teu
had absolute power unfettered by any OF the hn4'd
lions Of the Constitution. The question was not
Des the Constitution govern Puerto Rico? put' Does
= govern US? Can Congress, which is the creature
Of the Constitution. do those things when II pro
hibits? He continued in part as follows
want has been expended in discussing the meaning
OF the term United States II Is patent C ma 80
ion IN any one of three different senses according
sense which has become justly fashionable since
the OF the Rebellion and Iaac Is Ia 4io ~
states but that 1t rests in the people as whole
body polite created 6y the M dignity Of any
Controversy about syntax Our ReyoItlon TI nsr
3 M prime motive which led 70 the establish
AUG Il1F I CSorsTt-1Ition was desire do away
With the barriers upon trade when were SCI ~ ~.
The frontiers OF each State so that trade might pc
freely carried on throughout the dominion OF the
As our Government is not simple and elementary
Government but one Of limited powers G4luvt o+ q
DaFIlers I'M M pisor- before the adoption OF the
ferTe9 In the same clause and the method extends
ritories then the rule Of uniformity applies 10 that
same area ,.,--,
ag5incq King nneouaiy' it is not bound by any
limitation upon its power IN the IONS ne
concerned and when we regard the circumstances
Of which our Government and the 9t
@ 6cb 5env the Existence Of absolute
power in Congress, IL is clear that the theory OF
despotic power is absolutely repugnant 10 our IL
stitutions,
TROUBLE N FUTURE PREDICTED.
But We are now considering the case Of ter;
ritory which IS part Of this continent. admitted
70 be within the natural radius o. our political
sc+fon and of great Importance TO our defence Our
victory over il was a bIoodless victory. Instead Of
resisting US il turned to this great Power as
child turns TO its mother. DO not view without
the people Of that island But II We are 70 tax them
are willing to submit taxes which we impose
II requires little discernrnent 70 see ne CANCER mo
which a different practice WouId iead W. impose impose
by this bill certain per cent or duties upon GOODS
passing TO and fro between tn9t Island ana IalS
country. How long viii II be DeIore some po%e
interest viii demand that they be recognizedE me
members OF Congress. The Puerto Ricans do not
vote: they merely our subjects. Can there be
more for the benefit of great interests in this coun
try and that that hapless people who were told by
Di5SS-lls7 Ill, bsso-Da The victims ~
G G0H sHt0F'0n rather than me snAFsIs II our s9
How was Spain treating them-selfsh. heartless.
,--Ie SpsirP At the time Of their deliverauce they
had twelve Representatives and four Senators IN
the Spanish Cortes. and helped 70 make the laws
for the whole Spanish Empire. They had 10 per
cent duty upon goods passing between the two
4oun[ n s ann 'i T6ey had almost Complete au
tonorny for their own local affairs. and $50 600
in the treasury Look az the practical appIca-
ton Of our proposed tariff. Upon a territory but
little larger than Rhode Island there are Gr0%uS
a million people Inc great question: WIN t aI
is the food question: Upon many articles OF food
,-+eTs me price IS not increased TO our people
FOR every bag OF -four and every barrel of pork
ths5 goes 10 must be paid Upon the importation Of
rice alone I told, the duties WI amount 70
Io WITCH we have invited those trusting people?
There is no safety in departing from the const-