The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-31

II Note Of warning sounded.
Nr. Proctor delivered a speech in the
Senate yesterday OF the Porto Rioau bill
his arguments being In oup0s tion TO the
tariff provision OF the bill The speech was
listened to with respect and attention on
both sides OF the chamber. and 81 left the
impression that the Senator from Vermont
would be found 8 persistent 'iusurgent Do
as he characterized himself few days ago.
THE outline Of civil government for the
island OF Porto Rico he began. con
tanned in the bin reported by the Senator
from Ohio (Mr. Foraker meets my entire
appreciation and witnesses the ability and
care which was exercised in its prepara-
ton. But the committee has included in
this bill a provision for a tariff between
the United States and that island on a
basis Of Is per Centum of the rates Of
duty prescribed in the Diugley act OF 1897.
Il greatly regret that these two meas
ures. naturally separate and distinct
should be thus combined. and still more
regret that in declining to support the
tariff provisions Of the bin this unwise
union compels me to vote AGAINST the eX-
Cellent governmental features which &c
contains. My remarks viii be directed eX-
Clusively TO the tariff portion Of the bill.
Let US briefly consider the history Of this
tariff proposition. The President in his
annual message. a document always pre-
pared with great care. after much thought
and consultation with his advisers SAYS
Our plain duty is to abolish the customs
tariffs between the United States and Por-
TO Rico and give her products free access
TO our markets. The people Of the United
States know that sentence by heart.
The Secretary Of War in his very able
annual report had sait The highest con
siderations Of justice and good faith de-
mand that We should not disappoint the
confident expectation Of sharing in QUE
prosperity with which the people OF Porto
Rico So gladly transferred their allegiance
10 the United States We should treat the
interests OF this people as our own J wish
most strongly 10 urge that the customs du-
ties between Porto Rico and the United
States be removed. Note the words Of the
President. our plain duty" and Of the
Secretary Justice and good faith demand
Following these recommendations a bill
was introduced In this body by the Sena-
tor from Ohio the chairman OF the COM
mittee. giving Porto Rico free trade. A
like measure was introduced IN another
body, but presto. with little notice or ap-
parent reason a bin comes &c MS levying q
tax upon Porto Rican exports and imports
us it strange thar some Of u.s. in lack
Of an official statement or apparent reason
for this sudden shift should be slow 10
give up a line uf action which we believe
TO be based on principle and Justice which
we believe 10 be the only honest and con
sisteu- course Do IS charged do NOT
know with what truth. ii any-that this
change was demanded and brought about
by the sugar and tobacco interests. aud
also. u Is stated by organized labor J.
however. have failed 10 see that the rep
resentarives Of this latter interest appear
I'd before the committee. II is practically
admitted hat free trade with Porto Rico
does not harm these interests materially.
but they claim that it creates a precedent
hat may harm them il adopted ca refer
ence to TIRE Philippines and Cuba. 70 will
be time 10 cross those rivers when we come
to them and, ia my opinion. the crossing
VIII not be difficult when the proper time
comes for action.
Mr. Proctor az this point read a letter
from former Senator Edmunds in which
he argued that the Constitution Is ia force
IN the Terri ories.
Admitting he continued for the sake
PIenar, Power of Congress.
OF argument. that Congress has pieu8ry
power under the Constitution. thar right
must De interpreted IN the fair and gener-
Gus sense which the American people give
to thai instrument and not given the in
depreciation OF absolutsm. / claim Mr.
President. that the plain people the sensi-
bic honest American people who look az
his question from no standpoint of inter
est. who are not sugar men. nor tobacco
men. nor men who have any commercial OF
class interests. which il is claimed must
be plaosted by our action are the best
judges Of what is fair and RICH; and honest.
and thar their judgment in The end must
and viii prevail
Nj Proctor read General Miles proc
lamstion TO the Porto Ricsus in which he
declared that il was the intention Of this
Government 70 promote their prosperity
and TO bestOW upon them he blessings on
cur liberal Institutions
He also had read a letter from President
Schurman. late Of the Philippine Commits
sion. in which he said he believed that the
United States Is under obligation 10 eE-
tend its tariff laws to Porto Rico but thai
be could moi accept the contention thar this
obligation is derived from the Constitution
Referring 10 the subject Of taxation Mr..
Proctor said
We impose these taxes upon a people
unused TO assert their rights in the past
and powerless 10 maintain them IL they
had. upon q people who welcomed our
army when it landed on their island a.
their friends who had come 10 free them
from The misrule OF Spain. and who have
conducted themselves 81 the most peace
able manner; upon a people To whom We
had promised 10 bring the immunities and
blessings Of the liberal institutions OF our
Government. and 10 whom We had said by
he mouths Of our highest officials that TO
establish free trade WAS our plain duty
demanded by the highest considerations
OF Justice and good faith
We levy This tribute upon a people who
are in the direst poverty aud distress. re-
sulJiug ir a large part from cur very aC-
-iou IL taking possession Of their island
and destroy ing the existing markets for
their products and opening 10 other and
TO this Is added. hy the hand OF the AL
mighty the terrible destruction of the tor
ra5o. SO THAI they are now in the eX-
IRENE q poverty and restitution border
ing OF starvation. They can make 10 re-
y =