New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-09
PLEA FOR PUERTO RICO.
SENAT TOR FORAKER EXPLAINS
THE PENDING BILL.
GENEROUS TREATMENT FOR THE ISL
AND. WHICH is HELD To BE A
EXPERIMENTATION AC-
TION URGED
TBT TELEGRAPH To THE rR1RuxEI

chairman Of the committee that framed and re.
ported the measure. which is a substitute foe
the Puerto Rican Tariff bill passed by the
House. held the floor most OF the time, and al
he had invited Interruptions the discussion as>
sumed somewhat Of a colloquial character He
took the floor chiefly TO make a brief reply to
the remarks Of Senator Pettus. who opened the
debate to-day and who complained of what he
called the illiberal and ungenerous treatment
proposed for the Puerto Ricans. and in his eff
fort to do so he drew into the discussion Sem
ators Davis Tillman, Hoar and one or two
others. The attitude of Mr.. Pettus in regard
to the free trade amendment proposed by Mr..
Davis probably agrees with that of most Of the
members of his party in the Senate. and he ex-
pressed his opposition to it on constitutional
grounds.
Mr.. Foraker explained the bill in detail. and
gave the reasons why the committee had deter-
mined to levy tariff on Puerto Rican products
Senator Bacon who had offered a free trade
amendment earlier in the day. made a short
speech in opposition to the bill. His amend
ment extends the customs laws of the United,
States over Puerto Rico, and further provides:
There SHALL In accordance with Section g.
Article l. of the Constitution of the United,
States be duty imposts levied collected,
or paid upon any articles imported into Puerto
Rico from any port of the United States. and
no duties or imposts shall be levied. collected
or paid upon any articles imported into any
Mr.. Morgan gave notice of his intention To
move 10 lay the entire substitute Of the Senate
Committee for the House bill the table.
SENATOR FORAKER'S SPEECH.
Speaking Of the criticism aroused by the bfr4,
both in the newspapers and among the people.
Mr.. Foraker said it seemed that the idea was
abroad that the act proposed TO deal nliberaliy
with the people of Puerto Rico. He was of
SI<A
prevailed, Instead of being nliberal" he said,
1.-The measure is the most liberal and generous
legislation proposed for Territory of tha
United States" So far as he had been informed,
no intelligent and appreciative man in Puerto
Rico had dissented from the propositions CT the
measure. There might have been some crtti%
cism on the part Of Puerto Ricans. but generS
ally it accepted as an excellent bill.
Mr.. Foraker then discussed at length the testfs
mony of Governor-General Davis before thu
Committee on Pacific Islands and Puerto Rico
Mr.. Lindsay interrupted Mr.. Foraker to fst
qure if General Davis himself had not recon-
menGed free trade with Puerto Rico.
Yes" replied Mr.. Foraker. "he did make such
a recommendation. But the committee. arres
full consideration. decided against his proposiS
tion. We are here TO Iegislate for the whole
United States and we were forced to consider
the question from all points of view The tart3
Z
Ricans, and in its generosity it is without prece,
dent in the territorial legislation of the United
States. The mortgage indebtedness of the island
is S26,OJO.OO0- The United States Government
extended the time for the payment of that debt
for eighteen months. If it had not been for this
United States the whole OF this vast property
would have been sold to satisfy creditors. II
necessary the time will be extended again. and
perhaps again, until Congress gets done dis
one
relief of a suffering people"
GENEROSITY TO PUERTO RICO. ]
Mr.. Foraker explained the provisions Of rhs
bill. showing that all the internal taxes and tn
customs duties instead OF being paid into tha
United States Treasury. as had been the case
IN every other Territory would go into thA
treasury of the island. and be solely for tas
benefit OF the Puerto Ricans- In round hgurea
these revenues would aggregate 50. 600 O0O about
S1,4OOOOO from customs and 100000 from tnS
ternal revenue.
Mr. Lindsay asked how much the last year Of
Spanish rule the island cost the Inhabitants
About S4.OOO.OO0." replied Mr.. Foraker. And
1T was expended as only Spaniards can expend
money that comes 10 them in that way"
Mr.. Gallinger remarked that it was proposed
to expend S1OOOOOO for school houses on thu
island. and a like for the construction ot
roads.
Yes" said Mr.. Foraker. I'VE propose TO do
that, and we propose in that connection to pro.
vide the inhabitants with remunerative labos
and employment"
Continuing. the Ohio Senator said that aftes
all means of raising revenue had been considj
cred it was found necessary to provide at least
81 100000 more a year Then 1t was proposed
to levy a duty of % per cent of the DingIey
law rates on products of the island imported
into this country and to return the amount 50
raised to Puerto Rico
The Senator admits" said Mr.. Davis. inter,
rupting. that this handing back OF revenues ID
a political subdivision Of the United States Il
unprecedented. Then why raise the reves
nue. as usual and. if necessary TO relieve disc
tress in Puerto Rico. provide the relief by dk
rect appropriation from the United States Treas.
ury?'
TAXES FOR THE ISLANDS BENEFIN
THE United States has never undertaken I'd
support a local government in any Territory"
replied hIr. Foraker The situation in PUERTO
Rico is anomalous If the island is 10 have
schools good roads and public Improvements Il
must get them through taxation. and such tam
alton as is proposed in this bill"
What effect is gratuity Of this kind" in.
quired MIR. Davis "a gratuity which places thS
inhabitants In the status of mendicants- going
to have upon the people of Puerto Rico? n
seems to me direct appropriations for theit
needs would be much TO be preferred"
This is a great emergency" replied Mn
Foraker I'VE cannot depend upon such approt
priations as the Senator suggests The people
would all be dead of starvation before the relet
could reach them The Senator from Minne-
sofa would vote for such an appropriation. and
other Senators would not. The committee thor
ouobIv constdared that matter and decided