The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-09
Sewlands. the silver member of that com

Newlands. the silver member of that com
mittee.
1t says in part:
THE bill raises two questions which
must be considered and determined.
'F'irst-The right or power under our
written Constitution to enact the meas
IRE.
Second Whether if we have the pow
er should Congress exercise it in the
manner provided in the bill.
The bill is framed upon the idea and
the assumption that Congress enters up
on the government of Porto Rico unre-
strained 10y the provisions of the Consti-
tution.
The report then takes mp the Constr
tutional provision, that all duties. etc.
shall he uniform throughout the United
States and presents the law decisions
that the term 'United States has uni
versal application to territory held. This
branch of the subject has previously been
covered in Il special report.
Proceeding the report says:
IF the position taken by the majority
of the committee in recommending the
passage uf the bin be the correct one and
Congress has the power to governs ter
ritory of the nited States independent
Of the limitations of the Constitution it
must follow that Congress is not restrain
ed by that instrument from passing laws
imposing customs duties ON the minerals
and ores of the Territories of Arizona
and New Mexico, the furs and fish OF
Alaska, the lumber Of Oklahoma. and eff
all other products of these Territories
when imported into any of the States of
the Union and also upon all importatiollS
of products OF every kind into the Ter
ritcries from the States. or amy one OF
them. The power to pass such laws was
never before claimed in our land
PURE IMPERIALISM.
ut is wholly inconsistent with the
theory and form of orr Government. The
exercise of such power is pure and simple
Imperialism. And against it we enter
our most solemn protest. We never have
held and cannot hold territory as a politi-
cal dependency and subject to unequal
taxation. Our union is one of States
with a common interest, and a common
destiny The blessings Of free govern
ment rest alike upon all of our people
whether in the thirteeh original States,
or in the Youngest member of the Union.
or i'm the newest acquired Territory. 1t
does not matter in which form territory
is acquired it is to be held under our Com
stitution with the object of finally beng
admitted into the Union as a State. In
support Of this doctrine the decisions of
the Supreme Court are uniform. and III
, harmony with the doctrine herein enull-
ciated,'
| After calling attention 10 the l'reSl-
dents recent recommendation for tn"
abolition of all customs duties between
Porto Rico to the same effect the report
concludes as follows:
1--WE do not know why these sllddSn
! changes nave occurred. We do NOT be-
lieve the people of this land, ardently at
tached as they are to our free instltu-
tons. can he brought to favor Il policy
which Expresses the inha bitants. of ter
litory. owned by the United States any
where and over which the flag of the
Republic floats. even if such policy
should serve in a degree to enrich some
citizens of the Union. We protest earn
estly against the adoption of a robher
policy. which makes this republic take
the place of the ruthless monarchy. Spain.
in despOling Porto Rico. now portion
of the United States.
1--WE recommend that the pending bill
do not pass.
James ID. Richardson. S. NJ. Robert
son. Gland A. Swanson. George Nj. Me
Clellan, Francis G. Newlands, ;. IL.
Cooper