New-York tribune., 1900-01-30
FRAMING INSULAR POLICY.
HOUSE COMMITTEES CONSIDERING
WHAT UNITED STATES" MEANS.
MAJoR1TIEs NOT LIKELY TO HOLD THAT
THE CONSTITUTION APPLIES TO
NEW POSSESSIONS.
fpY TELEGRAPH TO THE rn1BuNR.l


Washington Jan. 29-The subcommittee of
the Ways and Means Committee to report the
authorities and the law to the meaning of
the term United States" in the constitutional
provision which declares that all duties, i'm
posts and excuses shall be uniform throughout
the United States, whether it includes simply
the actually included within the boundaries
of States or whether it covers also the territory
belonging to the United States" will submit it's
conclusions to the full committee at the regular
meeting on Wednesday 1t is pretty certain
that the conclusions will not be unanimous and
II is equally certain that the majority will hold
that the provision OF the Constitution referred
to does not apply to territory belonging to the
United States until after Congress enacts a
law on the subject. In support of this position
the subcommittee will present formidable
and irresistible array Of judicial and other au-
thorities, including the eighth act OF the Ist
Congress, relating to the Northwest Territory.
There is hardly any reason to doubt that the
majority Of the Insuar Committee of the House
will take similar position and be guided by
the principle in shaping legislation for the
government of Puerto Rico It is probable that
the committee will not report bill on that sub
ject before the Senate Committee shall have
done so-not however, for the reason that 1t
is either unwilling or reluctant to initiate legis-
lation on the subject, or because a majority OF
members favor all the provisions Of the Senate
bill pending. That measure might De
modified however so as to command the ap-
proval of the majority of the House commit
tee and probably of the House also.
LEGISLATION FOR PUERTO RICO.
The leaders OF the majority Of the House
have already been justified in their policy OF
exercising due deliberation and the utmost
care in the consideration of legislative PROPOSE
tions relating to the form of government Tor
Puerto Rico, and also in considering proposed
legislation relating to the public revenues OF
the island. The wisdom OF this policy is even
now apparent TO everybody. Steps have been
taken to obtain a general expression of views
of members on both sides Of the House in re-
gard to the form of government TO be estab-
lished and the kind of tariff and internal reve-
nue. legislation to be enacted. Later this week the
Republican members of the Committee on Ways
and Means following in this respect only, the
example of the minority of the same committee,
which. it is understood. has been made ac-
quainted with the views Of Colonel Bryan on
these subjects will hold a conference to COM
pare consider and discuss the various sugges-
tions that have been and will be offered re-
specting tariff and internal revenue legislation
for Puerto Rico.
The Payne bill TO extend the tariff and internal
revenue laws of the United States over the
island will form the basis of discussion and com
is to modify the bill, so as to provide that
Puerto Rican products shall be admitted into
the United States at 30 per cent of the rates of
duty imposed like products, respectively,
when imported from a foreign country, and also
to provide for sliding scale of reduction at
the rate of - per cent year Puerto Rican
products until the duties shall be eXtinguiShed.
This suggestion not received with much
favor by several members of the committee, to
whose attention it was brought to day.
THE PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE.
AS to the reported change of attitude by the
President on the subject of trade relations be-
tween the United states and Puerto Rico, Chair
man Payne of the Ways and Means Commit
tee in conversation to-day said that the Presi-
dent had assured him recently that he still ad-
hered to the position taken in his annual mes
sage in favor of free trade between the island
and the United States There is no present
ground, however for any belief that any serious
agreement between the Administration anu
Congress will result. Indeed, it is as yet far
from certain what position will be taken in
either the Senate the House respecting this
matter.
There has been consultation among the
members of the majority of the House Com
mittee having jurisdiction Of II, in order TO
compare and consider individual opinions either
of the Republican members of the committee
or of other members of the House; and a like
situation and uncertainty prevail in the Senate.
| In regard to thing, however. the members
of the majority in both branches are virtually
unanimous-which is that measure should
! and will be enacted as early as practcable Tor
! the benefit of the inhabitants of the island.
| The opinion is also generally expressed that
| whatever may be done will not imperil the sys-
| TEN of protection in the United States
THE PHJIADEJPHJ4 CONVENTION.