The age-herald., 1900-02-22


 l pie thereof.
 The privileges of the constitution could | not be forced or extended to an inch of ter ritory outside the union of states until the people of the territory had been heard from In the language of the constitution and | the decisions of the supreme court, Porto Rico and the Philippines were the property | of the United States to be legislated for as congress chose.
 Cromwell Opposes the Bill MT. Cromwell, of Ohio, was the first re- l publican to oppose the bill upon the floor. "It is never an agreeable thing" he be- gan, ito take an active stand in opposi- l ton to ones political associates. It Is much l easier to drift with them and yield personal l views and support the recommendation of l the majority of the committee controlled by | his own party. In minor matters l have, | upon numberless occasions, yielded my per | sonal preferences. But in a matter of so l great moment as the present measure, | which will establish precedents to control l the future, dealing with questions of right and equity in our treatment of those un- | der the protection of our flag l. for one, believe that every member upon his solemn l honor should decide for himself and cast his vote as his conscience dictates. It is a duty he owes to himself and to his party | that he should not assist in the commission of an error which may affect its future domination in the government, and to his country that it may stand as the exponent press my preference of the bill as original of all that is just and honorable in It's treat I>ment of its citizens. Therefore, as a result of the ways and means committee and ex- ly introduced by the gentleman from New York" (Mr. Payne.)
 Conforming, MT. Cromwell said he did not doubt the power of congress to enact this | legislation, but he did not agree with it's justice or equity. The original bill proposed to establish free trade with Porto Rico and was In accordance with the recommenda- hons of the president and secretary of war, who are familiar with the conditions and | necessities of the people of the islands. He announced that he would support the sub- stitute if 1t was offered and defeated rath- CT than not have any legislat tion, he should vote for the pending measrue. This an- nouncement drew round of applause from the republican side It created some sur prise upon the democratic side when it was
 understood that Mir. Cromwell intended to
 oppose the bill outright. MT. Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, arose to interrupt MT. Brom- we'll The latter refused to yield
 President Favors the Bill
 "I presume the gentleman who ds about to interrupt me-" said he, 'Ts prepared to say, as I ann informed he has said to oth- CTS, that the president is in favor of this bin. l don't dispute it, but I say that no longer ago than day before yesterday representative of one of the great repub- iican papers of this country, was sent to the president by his paper for the purpose of asceTtaining the views of the president. The paper wanted ito support the presiden- tial policy; it wanted to know whether 1t should continue edttorially to support the position the president had taken in his mes- md hh ,doitfxu was assured at that time that the president was of the same opinion stll, and that the paper should go on as it had been doing. Now, If the president since his message to congress In December has detained infor- nation which shows tllia't conditions are dif- ferent to-day from what they were then it is solemn duty that he owes to congress that he should coGnrnunicate that additional attenuation to us (applause) that we should not be dependent upon conversations and interviews of individual members of This house with the chief executive for the information upon which, we, as a legisla- tive body. are to act The constitution pro- vides that the president shall give Ito con- gress such recomme enda tons as he may. think proper for the information of the members in the proper discharge of our duties. Let the president send message to this house. Let him say to us: Conditions are different to-day in Porto Rico from what they were in December. Let him say: I have additional information that did not have when I wrote my message in De- cember and the recommendations of the president will receive at the hands of every member of this house, and I am sure am speaking for myself, that it will receive at my arands ali the consideration that is due to every conscientious and honest chief executive of this country (Appiause) But we got no such information at first hand.
 "It comes to us through half dozen ,t,ou1t tasalx, okIt bot will call personally upon the president he will assure that he wants us to vote for tfas bill.
 ''As said at the beginning of my re- marks, If we cannot get the bill that was originally introduced in the house, if we cannot have what the president recom- mended to us an absolute necessity for the people of the island of Porto Rico I, for one, am willing to take half loaf rather than no bread.
 Should Have Consulted
 'I am ready now to say this, however, and say it with all due respect to the com mittee-that if the committee on ways and means in this house had taken its republi- can colleagues into its confidence when this great measure was under consideration, there might not have been the same opposi- ton to the bill that there is today. (Ap- plause.)
 1.-The only conclusion that can reach is that the opposition which has been made by certain interests in this country has been powerful enough for this committee to change their minds"
 In conclusion MT. Cromwell said: If merely for the purpose of proclaiming your right to legislate as you choose, you deem it necessary to make any distinction in the tariff laws of the two countries. let it be shown by modification of the internal revenue, laws, which shall relieve, rather than increase. the burdens of the islands. This means much for the Porto Ricans. If they are not treated fairly-if they con ceive the idea that they are being treated no better than they were under Spanish rule: if they look with suspicion upon our professions friendship-they will, be ready to cast off their allegiance and join our foes whenever opportunity is offered'