The Princeton union., 1900-04-05

pay dollar for any army whatever. The peo-
pie of that island welcomed the American
army, as those who went before them well
coined the Spanish discoverers, with rejoicing
and every expectation and hope; and from the
moment of the landing of that army, commenc-
ing with General Miles proclamation. down
through all the official declarations upon the
subject, they have been promised the rights
and immunities Of American citizens, and our
plain duty has been declared to be to give
them free commercial intercourse with the
United States, with no wall of customs duties
intervening. g. ~"
The bill which passed the senate few days
ago in respect to the government of Hawaii i'm
posed no tariff duties between that island,
which we erected into government, and the
. United States. It, too, is u Semi-trOpical
island. 1t has the same range of agricultural
productions as Porto Rico
If there is any reason whatever to impose a
tariff upon the products of Porto Rico, there
was the same reason for imposing a tariff upon
the products of Hawaii Wherein lies the diff
ference: Wherein on principle-both of them
being outlying possessions of the United
States call them what you Willis the situa-
tion as to Porto Rico different from that of
Hawaii:
Why, Mr. President this whole project and
conception of imposing tariff duties upon the
dependency Of Porto Rico self-generates OBJ
jections wherever it is considered and they
also spring from every point of contemporary
history. hold in my hand the convention en-
tered into between the United States and
Great Britain for u reciprocity treaty between
the British West Indies, six in number, and the
United States, islands lying in the same sea
with Porto Rico, raising the same products and
having in a great degree the same character of
inhabitants.
In this treaty, article after article, in u long
schedule after schedule, as to each treaty, is
put upon the free list so that the English sub
jects of Jamaica, the Barbados and the other
islands can import into the United States the
very article upon which the United States pro-
poses to levy it's duty in the interchange Of
commerce between this country and Porto
Rico.
Mr.. Gallinger-The treaty, has not been rati-
lied.
Mr.. DaviS-My friend, the senator from New
Hampshire remarks that the treaty has not
been ratified. did not say it had been, but
might feel inclined to ask if it is proposed to
reject this treaty in order to int1ict the imposi
ton of this tax upon Porto Rico:
1t was the view of those intrusted primarily
with the duty of negotiating treaties not long
ago that it was fair negotiations and enlight-
ened craftsmanship to put many articles Of
produce of the British West Indies colonies
upon the free list: and in direct and absolute
contradiction of those views it is the view OF
those who are advocating this particular house
bill that course of conduct as to Porto Rico
directly the contrary shall be taken.
Mr.. President. there have been all sorts of
arguments to sustain this. At first it was
charity. That argument has been taken away
by the people-that is, since the measure
passed the house appropriating S2,0OOOOO, the
accommodating of existing conditions up to Jan
nary 1. to the use and benefit of the island of
Porto Rico, that being the present accumula-
ton, and of subsequent accumulations while
that law remains in force.
1t has been said that this may be precedent
US to the Philippines, and that we must intlict
injustice upon the inhabitants of Porto Rico
because, forsooth. at some time, perhaps years
perhaps shorter, when rebellion is crushed
in those islands and the authority of the United
States is established. there may be some diff
ticult questions of that kind in dealing with the
Philippines. Mr.. President, sufficient unto the
day. not only is the evil but the good thereof. I
would not work an injustice upon Porto Rico
by any such contingent remainder of appre-
hension as to the Philippines
1t is said that American labor and American
industry need protection by this method Of
legislation against Porto Rico 1t is too
small to consider. But. Mr.. President, if it is
needed. what protection to American labor or
American industry is Is per cent of the Ding
IN, ,1bo
tive tariff was ever framed: When the ques-
ton of the Philippines comes to be considered,
DO not care by what party in power, the inter-
csts of American labor will be protected SO far
as any apprehension can be ascertained from
that source.
Porto Rico is 700 miles from our coast: the
Philippines 5000 Porto Rico is an actual and
geographical dependency of the American con-
tinent: the Philippines belong to Asia Porto
Rico enter our political system.
In the Philippines. we have laid our hands
upon the wealth and commerce of the orient,
and in twenty-five years. in my Judgment, we
will see a return therefrom upon that great
ocean and upon the western coast of this con-
tinent that will put to confusion and refute
every objection that can be made to that ac-
QUESTION. When that time comes, and the time
cOLlcS 10 ADJUST anu SeCLlc GIc reldClOlS O1 CnlS
county to the Philippines. the rights of Ameri-
can labor will be protected by any party that
may be in power.
Mr. President how inconsistent this whole
subject matter seems in detail when we con-
slider it, understand-and think am relia-
bly, informed-that the provision of the coast
ing laws of the United States are extended to
Porto Rico. SO that all commerce between
this country and that dependency must be done
in vessels enrolled and licensed and owned in
the United States. while we compel produce
from here to be carried there and produce from
there brought here to submit to this proposed
under-tariff imposition. and we still retain and
claim the advantage, and we will not yield il
up, that our coast marine shall have the exclu-
sive privilege of carrying articles from q de
pendency of this country to the states.
It has been said. Mr.. President that it is
very necessary to get decision of the highest
court OF the land upon the question of equality
OF taxation which arises under all the bills
which have been presented on this subject.
agree. I think it is very important that as
early decision shall be had as possible anl
hence in the amendment which I shall at the