Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-03-13
PORTO RICAN BILL
NON. RICHARD cAkMoN's NOTABLE oEIfv.
cry UPON THIS MEASURE.

Logical and Clear Exposition OF the
Constitutional Phase Of h Ques-
tion Which Has Recently Proven So
Absorbing q Subject OF Inseres to
the American People
The debate in the house Of repre-
sentatives regarding the bin for the
immediate relief Of the Island OF Porto
Rico. whose people were recently af-
! ficted with a tornado which destroyed
three-quarters of their wealth, and
who have been suffering from the ef-
fleets of war. was marked with a nota-
bic speech by Hon. Richard Cannon of
Illinois, who has for a quarter of a
century been a forceful. patriotic and
sincere leader on the Republican side.
lie bill passed the house with a united
party. the exceptions being few. and
with the support of our members on
the Democratic side. 1t provided. as
amended. for a duty of 10 per cen on
the imports from hat island into the
United States and exports from the
United states into that island, the
money thu raised to be set apart, ap-
propriated and expended entirely for
the benefit and relief Of the Porto
Ricans. The Democrats attacked the
bill because it differed from the presi-
dents recommendation set forth in his
message of Dee. 5, 1899, proposing as
the plain duty OF congress- a free
trade policy between Porto Rico and
the United States. They charged that
some influence had induced the ways
and means committee in the house of
representatives to report a bill levy
ing a tariff duty for the eneit of GER
tain Understanding the trusts.
The Republican position was that
while the bill did not literally conform
to the presidents recommendation in
December, the circumstances were
such as to create IN immediate and
pressing g forcing congress
to provide means for the alleviation of
the distressing conditions of the island.
The bill was limited to two years in
operation and it was expressly under
stood that it was to provide revenue
for the Porto Ricans and not to create
q precedent for the future government
of the island. 1t was in no sense a
protective tariff measure. 1t was
shown in the argument on the subject
thai the sugar and tobacco, which are
the chief exports from this island to
the United States, except coffee. Mkich
is free, had, zinc the presidents mes
sage, accumulated in the hands of the
great tobacco and sugar trusts of
America, which had bought up all the
visible supply at their own prices, ir-
respective of the interests of the Porto
Ricans. n that therefore h 10 per
rent duty would have to be paid, not
by the impoverished people who have
already parted with all their products
but by two great American combina
tons Of capital. With this explana.
ton the following extract from the
remarks of Mr.. Cannon will be read
with clearer insight into the condi
tons and with absorbed interest by
every lover Of his country:
Mr.. Chairman:
1 do not desire to consume unnec
essArily the time of the onSe-ha n
great respect for the legal profession
and a quarter of a century ago and
yer 1 tried to make an honest living
on a country circuit practicing law
and while there was much main
strength and awkwardness in what ]
accomplished. 1 did occasionally win
a verdict. Applause and laughter
Nor does any man within the sound OF
my voice have a greater respect for
the principles enunciated in the con.
s%titution Of the United States than
have.
Mr.. Chairman, the constitution OF
the United States, l think, was made
for b country, for the people of the
country; and the people of the country
were not made for the constitution
applause on the Republican side,
There never has been a day or an
hour, thank God, but what those who
We're charged with the power-legisla
tive, executive. and judicial of the
United States-whether it be under the
administration of Jefferson in maxim:
the Louisiana purchase, or unde,
jackson, or under Monroe. or under
Polk, or under Lincoln. or under tn.
present president of the United States
Mr.. Mckinley, but what with fdelit,
to u civilization, which has beer
eyoluted for two thousand years, will
rapidly increasing population With,
the protection of the constitution. ant
in the presence of a great necessity 70
the promotion of the common good
who did not go ahead and accomplish
was necessary. sometimes tn.
men who Were accomplishing it sayina
1t was unconstitutional. as Mr.. ,Jefer
son did. but said he would throw him
self back on the great common sens.
OF the American people and trust to
them to Justify and to sustain him
and, thank God. they did (Applause
And you. gentlemen. who have ad
dressed the house on the other sid.
and who have commended against tn,
constitutional powers of the govern
ment under certain conditions. I woul.
be glad to know if there is any on.
of o who will undertake to asser,
that Thomas jefferson had no constitu
tional power to make the Louisians
purchase? Any of you gentlemen.
may answer that question on the othes
side who desires to place himself on.
record on that question.
Now, We did have tina war with
Spain At the end of thai war we
acquired territory on the of
5000 600 IN set'lement for the Phil.
A FREE PATTERN