New-York tribune., 1900-03-15
The DEBATE IN THE .SENA TIE.
Mr.. TELLER DECLARES THAT THE con.
STITUTION Is NOT IN FORCE IN
NEW POSSESSIONS.
TBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

Washington, March 14-Perhaps the most radi
cal and uncompromising declaration yet made In
Congress OF this country's power to hold and gov
ern territorial dependencies unhampered bv the
guarantees and inhibitions OF the Constitution is
10 be credited 10 Senator Teller. of Colorado who
continued to-day a speech the pending Puerto
Rican bill which he began early in the debate
on that measure Mr. Teller IS convinced that the
Constitution allows Congress to treat acquired nos
sessions colonies. having no share whatever in
the National political system. In his view both
Puerto Rico and the Philippines are now legally
without the Union. and should remain indefinite
ly, and Congress should. a matter of policy. see
that their Inhabitants should not be recognized in
any genuine sense citizens of the United States
AS against such dependencies Mr. Teller argued that
tariff duties could be properly levied against
Great Britain any other foreign nation. To that
part Of the Foraker bill the Colorado Senator could
sec no objection, but to those portions of which
seemed to grant the Puerto Ricans ? status which
might possibly be confused with American citizen
ship, he entered his earnest and unconditional
protest
Mr.. Teller said the constitutional questions in
volved in the discussion Of the pending bill had
been thoroughly elaborated and discussed, but
he believed them of sufficient Importance to be
further considered. His only purpose to-day was
TO say in a general way that he had no doubt of
the power Of the Government to govern the pos
sessions il had acquired He declared he could find
ample authority for legislation relating to insuar
possessions-authority deri.ed from the Constitu-
ton.
And / do not believe he said. that the Con-
stitution is in force in any of possessions
Congress- believe, is supreme far the max
ing of legislation for acquired territory is
cerned. OF course, in enacting such legislation
Congress is bound by certain fundamental prin-
ciples that underlie this free Government. After
careful examination of all Supreme Court author
tiles have been able find only that will
support the doctrine that Constitution goes of
its own vigor into the acquired territory. My own
belief is that make the acquired territories
a part of the United States not Congress
may fit. If do not make them part of the
United States ] believe may hold them col
onies-that have the power to hold them
Great Britain has hold colonial possessions. -
NOT PART OF THE UNITED STATES.
make the acquired territory a part of the United
States in the that it should be regarded and
governed as incipient States of the Union Puerto
Rico might, he thought, be held under the SOW
ereignty OF the United States. the people, SUBJ
Ject TO our dictation. might make the laws of the
island and the United States might determine
what the inhabitants should should not do. He
found legal difficulty in dealing either with the
acquired possessions their inhabitants.
Il DO make Puerto Rico and the
Philippines part of the United States and 1 do
not make their Inhabitants citizens of the
United States" ne said adding that the relation
would establish between the United States and the
acquired territory entirely consistent with the
history ami traditions and principles Of this coun-
try. IL he had time he believed he could prove that
the fathers Of the country contemplated the acqui-
sition and the holding of colonies by the United
States. Difficulties might grow out of the problem
presented but he knew that the American people
would deal with the problem with fairness. with
justice and with courage. If anybody" he con-
tnued, could show better way out Of the
trouble than holding the possessions we have ac-
quired am willing TO consider it, would a
great deal rather make Puerto Rico and the Philip
pines colonies provinces than to make them
States, which would bring all their inha abtants
under the flag citizens OF the United States.
These islands are not part of the United States