The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-25

Committees. General Davis had stated on
the 18th Of January that the people of
Porto Rico must raise at least $1,000, 900
annually by taxation or otherwise.
Mr.. Tawney turned his attention to the
discussion OF the legal and constitutional
questions in the bill, contending that the
proposed method of governing Porto Rico
was in essentials like that with which the
present Territories had been governed
He said Imperialism in the sence of tyranny
was impossible in the Republic until the
Republic itself should have been destroyed.
No one proposed to establish Imperialism,
but il was the intention 10 make an i'm
perial domain a Republic.
Mr.. Eddy supports the BiII.
Mr.. Eddy, supporting the bill. said the
discussion exemplifed the truth Of the old
adages that history repeats its IT. and
that there is nothing new under the sun -
Every war in which the United States had
engaged, he said, was entered into with
enthusiastic unanimity. and rs it progressed
the people were split into factions, the
minority criticising the conduct Of the war
and denouncing the methods OF the mdj9ri-
ty. And when the majority were engaged
in settling the great questions that grew
out of the wars the minority always as
serted that If the propositions were carried
out the country would go - ruin. All the
doleful things that have been said, the wild
gesticulations that have been INDUCED in
in this debate, Mr.. Eddy said. would soon
be relegated to the Democratic chamber OF
horrors for use at subsequent time.
Referring to the bill, Mr.. Eddy said that
all parties were agreed that immediate
legislation for Porto Rico was imperative.
The bill was n good one. although as an
individual he would have been better sat
isfied II II had extended the internal reve-
nue. laws over the island.
The next speaker was Mr.. ToIlpkns, a
Republican in opposition to the bill. De-
clarng his loyalty to the Republican party,
he said he did not recognize the pending
bill a Republican measure.
Regardless of the constitutional ques-
tion," he continued. Il take the ground
that having taken their Island, having
thrust upon them our Government. having
gone to them bearing the banner of free
dom, and having assured them Of our in
tention and purpose TO bestow upon them
the immunities and blessings of the liberal
institutions of our Government 1.-THE Ian
guage of the letter of General Miles TO the
Porto Ricans. July rs. 1889, and having
promised to give them, In the language of
the same letter. the advantages and bless
ings of enlightened civilizations having
assured them that we came to them in the
cause OF liberty, justice. and humanity, it
would be the most fragrant injustice and
the clearest and most patent evidence Of
insincerity and bad faith to deny them the
same privileges, immunities, and trade
facilities enjoyed by all our States and
Territories, especially when 1t is conceded
that all the products they car export and
even double their present producing ca
pacty, would not II admitted fee OF duty.
interfere with our own products
Discussing the means of raising revenue
70? the island, Mr.. Tompkns said; col
lect it by means of a system OF local taxa
ton upon the land. and then, too. the rich
sugar and tobacco plantation owners VIII
have to pay it. The gentleman from Ohio
tMr. GrosvenorD stated that the sugar and
tobacco interests constituted but small
part OF the interests of the island, and 1t
is conceded by the Ways and Means Com
mittee that these two classes constitut9
only % per cent OF the producers OF the
island. Their proposition. therefore, Is
that % per cent OF the producers shall pay
a tax for the support and maintenance OF
the entire island, for no other tax Is pro-
posed by this law. The injustice OF such
a plan must be apparent 10 all. better
plan would be TO devise and put in opera
ton an equitable local system OF taxation