The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-02-22
PORTO RICAN
TARIFF BILL
Before the House and Great
Debate Is Inaugurated.
GREAT QUESTIONS INVOLVED.
Democrats Are Solidly Arrayed
Against Measure and Discuss
sion Will Invoke Interest:

A Washington special says: The
debate on the Porto Rican tariff bill
opened in the house Monday.
On all hands it is agreed that this
bill, although it applies only to Porto
Rico, involving as it does the question
of the power to govern our new pos
sessions outside the limitations OF the
constitution, is the most Important
measure which will come before this
congress.
Interest in the bill is intense among
the members on both sides and there
is urgent demand for time. The Dem
ocrats are solidly arrayed against the
measure and they will have powerful
support from the Republican side in
Mr.. Mccall, of Massachusetts,, and
Mr.. Litt!efeld, of Maine, both able
and forceful debaters. How far the
Republican disaffection will extend,
or whether it will endanger the bill,
it is impossible to say at this time.
Mr.. Payne, the floor leader OF the
msjority, refused to agree that vote
should be taken upon substitute to
be offered by the minority. This sub
stitute, which has not yet been framed,
will be in substance the bill originally
introduced by Mr.. Payne providing Tor
free trade with Porto Rico by the ex'
tention of the customs and revenue
laws of the United States over the
island.
The debate Monday was in the ma
ture of long range bombardment be-
| fore the clash of the contending force'
in battle. Mr.. Payne opened with q
general argument in support OF the
bill, going largely into the material
side Of the situation which the bill Is
designed to relieve. .,
The house then went into committee
of the whole with all questions relat'
ing to the close of the debate open
Mr.. Payne, in charge OF the bill, II
opening the debate, received marked
attention.
ssThis bill by its TERMS" he e1
planned, "relates only to the island o'
Porto Rico. It cannot be taken as
precedent of any Legislative action II
reference to the Philippine islandl
when the present insurrection shall
have boen overcome except in 80 fal
as we assert in it our view of our pow
er under the American constitution.
"But our constitutional power il
questioned. T find no case where tn
Question was directly involved O
which is decisive.
cit is now universally conceded
that we have the power to acquire ter
ritory by conquest or by treaty. :
find no limit in the constitution t.
this power. In respect to Porto Ric
we are not haropered by treaty stipu
lations by act of congress. We hav
absolute power"
RICHARDSON LEADS OPPOSITION.
Mr.. Richardson, Of Tennessee, tn
leader of the minority, made the open
ing argument in opposition to tn
measure.
81 am not an alarmist," said he
"but in my Judgment the pending bill
is more dangerous to the liberties 9
the people of this republic than an
measure before seriously presented t
the American congress. It will prov
more far reaching in its provision
and disastrous in the results that mus
of necessity follow if it should be Ell
acted into law than any act ever pass
ed by congress. >,
"The bill is framed upon the ide
and assumption that congress enter
upon the government OF Porto Rlc
unrestrained by the provisions OF th
constitution. This we deny. Thos
of us who oppose this measure, I bt
lieve, without exception, maintal
that the bill cannot be enacted int
law without a total disregard and VIZ
lation of not simply the spirit, br
the express letter, Of the eonstlt'
ton"