The sun., 1900-02-09
THE PORTO R|CAN TARIFF
Three Reports on Proposed Bill
Presented to the House
Of Representatives.
UPHELD BY THE MAJORITY
Minority Declares Bill is Framed on
Assumption That Congress will
Govern the West Indian Is.
land Unrestrainad by
At
the Constitution.
UPHELD BY TIE MAJORITY

session of the house Mr.. Payne, chair
man OF the committee on ways and
MEANS, presented the report upon the
Porto Rican tariff bill. Mr.. Richardson
tTenn.) presented the views OF the minor
ity, and Mr.. Mccall (Mass.) presented
a separate dissenting opinion. Mr..
Payne gave notice that he would call
the bill up on Thursday. Feb. 10.
The Republicans of the committees, ex-
cept Mr.. Mccall CMass.), report in sup
port Of the bill, devoting considerable
portion of their argument to sustaining
the contention that the clause OF the con-
stitution declaring that "all duties, inn
ports and excuses shall be uniform
throughout the United States" is not
applicable to our new possessions, which,
they say, nre not United States territory
within the meaning of that declaration.
The Democrats, together with Mr..
Howlands tNev.,, take the contrary
view. Mr.. Mccall, the dissenting Re
publican, practically holds with them.
In his separate report he says he cannot
support the bill, because it does not fol-
low the rule of uniformity prescribed by
the constitutional rule which, i'll his
opinion, governs congress in legislation
for the territories of the United States.
Mr.. Mccall is unsparing in his denuncia-
tion of the policy to which the bill will
commit the government.
The Majority Report.
The majority report says the % per
cent duty is necessary to prevent United
States manufacturers of spirits and ci-
gars from being at q disadvantage. A
considerable portion of the report is de-
voted to a discussion Of the crops of
Porto Rico and markets for them; also
the necessities for customs duties to keep
up the revenues of the island. The re-
port declares that the revenue laws to be
applied to Porto Rico are absolutely
within the power of congress to deter
mine.
Discussing the question, SIS Porto
Rico included within the meaning of the
term United States in the constitution? y
the report says: "rhat it is not so includ-
ed would seem apparent from variety
of considerations. 1t must be recollected
that the term United States has more
than one meaning. 1t means, in the first
place, the several states respectively that
constitute the federal union. 1t means,
again, in a geographical sense, all the
territory over which the United States
has jurisdiction, just as the British en-
pire means all the component parts of the
kingdom Of Great Britain. But it means
| in its political sense that corporation
which is the result of federal union and
constitutes the United States a nation
1t is undoubtedly in this latter sense that
| it is used in the constitution"
After citing many cases in support OF
| its contention the report concludes:
"First.-That upon reason and author
ity the term United States as used il
the constitution has reference only to the
states that constitute the federal unioT
and does not include territories.
"Second.-That the power of congress
| with respect to legislation for the terri
tories is plenary.
''Third.-That under that power con
gress may prescribe different rates fol
duty for Porto Rico from those pre-
scribed for the United States"
The Minority Report.
The minority report says in part:
''The bill is framed upon the idea ant
the assumption that congress enters upoI
| the government of Porto Rico unrestrain
ed by the provisions of the constitution
| The report then takes up the constitu
| tional provision that all duties, etc, shal
| be uniform throughout the Unitel
| States" and presents the law decision,
| that the term United States has uni
versal application to territory held" Th,
branch of the subject has previously beer
covered in special report.
After calling attention to the presi
dents recent recommendation for the alb
olition of all custom duties between Porte
| Rico and the United States and the re
| port of the secretary of war to the sam,
| effect the report concludes as follows:
| I'VE do not know why these suddaI
changes have occurred. We cannot he
lieve that the president has been con
verted from the opinion he so lately ex
pressed or that he now admits the lin
wisdom Of the solemn advice he so f,.cen.
" gave to congress. We are not advised
| that his opinion was hastily formed ~,
that he has not maturely considered III,
| subject upon wAich be was advising is
| "We do not believe the people qf thi,
| land. ardently attached as they are to OIL
| free institutions, can be brought 10 fav0i
a policy which oppresseA the inhAbitau,!
| of territory owned by the United State.
anywhere and over which the ns 81 ttt
republic floats, even if such policy
should serve III 4 degree to Zurich soti,t
citizens of the Union. We profess rar
nestly against the adoption " Il rohbel
policy which makes this repubHG take III,
place of the ruthless monarchy, spain
in dcspniling Porto Rico, now partiaI
Of the Tnite' States.
"It is wholly inconsistent with the the
nry and foem nf our gnycrrtrnlA. 'lht
exercise af sGrl power is pure aMl smip!,
imperialism, aud against il He sHtrt
our most Sulerln protest. W. ueger huY,
held ard cannot hold Territory as po
litical dependency ana subject - ueaaU
-ayation Oar Union il o.te ~ state,
with COMMON interest ana Il comm"l
lestiny'
Electric Wire Hurts d StGaeni.
Hanovet, \. H.. t'c!. s N mos
serious i've taat Inns occurred I'll IAnavc
since the toaiileratan which swept, III
| busines section II years ago broke o;i
in the hIrdsome Davidson buCk s
Golden corner, near Dartmoutli cailes
campus, and destroyed The structure
causing loss Of $4,000. Npny Dart
mouth students, who occupied rooms il
the building, lost their belongings, an,
one of them, II. Il. kellnar, OF Newark
n. j., member of the freshman class
was severely injured by coming IN con