New-York tribune., 1900-04-01
PUERTO RICAN DEBATE.
CONTINUED from nrst paEeJ

,,en,,e for the tariff provisions are still to De
a;snosed Of Several speeches are also billed
,o,b for and against the bill. including those or
senator's Depew and Spooner in favor and Sen
..ors Mason and Chiffon in opposition, OF which
,ot,ce has been given. Senator Foraker is OF
,,e oninion that the final vote will be reached
~ Tuesday, according TO the programme and
s,cb is the general expectation
THE DEBATE IN DETAIL.
A. the beginning of the session Mr.. Foster Of
,,-ah,,o-on offered and had passed resolution
s,oc,,ne the Secretary OF the Navy TO report what
,-revs have been made in the islands recently ac-
o,,-ed by the United States
s~o,s,aeratton OF the Puerto Rcan bill being re-
sumed. Mr. Bacon. OF Georgia. MADE statement
concerning the substitute he offered yesterday for
- nending unfinished business. He desired, he
.,6 70 arrogate TO himself no credit for the sub
s,,+,-e as 1; was the measure originally prepared
hv Mr. Foraker amended slightly. He could not
oat for all members his side OF the chamber,
-. he knew that as he had introduced the meas
,,re in the utmost good faith. some Democrats at
last would support II. II presented he thought.
be best proposition yet made 10 Puerto Rico. as
I, nroyided d free. Territorial government OF the
United States.
Nv Foraker said he was not insensible to the
cornpirnent paid him by Mr.. Bacon in adopting his
.,-4e4nal draft Of the Puerto Rican measure and
u,es inclined 10 congratulate him upon having
.oached the point where he was two months ago.
Tho bill as he regarded II. was entirely In
adequate although at the time he drafted 1T he
deemed II an excellent measure. 1t did not, how
- n-ovide for many particulars covered by the
lending bill and he declared II WAS utterly made
ouate for the purposes intended.
The pending question was on the amendment
offered bv Mr.. Allen, of Nebraska, providing that
the bill should designate Puerto Rico as Territory
NJ the United States.
Mr. Allen read a brief prepared by Harman F.
Randolph member OF the New-York bar, the
constitutional status of island possessions. few
minutes earlier Mr. Allen had not been able to OBJ
tain permission have the brief printed public
document Mr.. McComas objecting. After Mr
Allen had read about one Of the ffty-four pages
n. the brief he received permission to print It
part Of his remarks
Mr. McConas then had read recent statement
q. Mr Havemeyer, president of the American Sugar
Refining Company, in which he argued In favor Of
the free admission TO the United States OF sugar
from Puerto Rico and expressed tho belief that the
time would come when IL would be admitted
free Mr. McComas alluded sarcastically to the
agreement on he Puerto Rican question which, he
said Mr Havemeyer and Mr.. Allen were in.
When that section OF the bill relating TO the
legislative Assembly Of Puerto Rico was reached
Mr. Pettus Of Alabama, offered this amendment
That the Legislative Assembly OF Puerto Rico
shall have power or authority TO enact any law
States
The amendment was lost-15 to 81.
Mr.. FAIRBANKS ADVOCATES A TARIFF
Mr. Fairbanks, OF Indiana, then addressed the
Senate in support Of the pending measure. He
spoke in part as follows:
Mr. President. there principal questions
which lie at the very foundation of the pending
the other question of National policy. go much
attention has been deTeea to the bsa &
10 the question Of policy, and the urgency of the
situation as respects relief for the Puerto Ricans
The Federal Government possesses in the most
10 the sovereignty Of nations It been invaria-
biz recognized that one OF the attributes of SOW
tor the result of war va The of the
United States clearly vests in the Federal Govern;
ot making treaties. AS an indispensable incident
d this pG hf 6 Is axtsnS to aS
automatically 10 a territory acquired has been a
mrch debated question. Divergent views have
sr5ject Such differences of opinion will continue
the country. Until it shall interpret and define the
gress should reserve to itself the widest possible
liberty the ampest discretion in dealing with the
We are Charged with the responsibiity Of pro-
peoples We are only partially Informed as to
their necessities and capacities There is no thought
nate these people, to impose upon them any arbi-
trsry or unjust rule or to withhold from them for
all Of the opportunities which shall make for their
greatest social and commercial progress.
DANGER IN UNDUE HASTE.
The greatest danger in dealing with the, new
inconsiderate action. There will be no difficulty In
solving them We Will be content 10 act only upon
Another danger Which besets US is that our
course with respect TO the people for whom we
must provide government may be controlled by
purely partisan considerations. The questions are
OF high should
iree from craftsmanship They should not be deter
football Of purely partisan contention.
According TO the best estimates thus far made, 1t
stration Of Puerto Rico for the current year. The
necessity for the construction of schoolhouses the
inauguration Of a comprehensive system OF educa-
ton and the construction and Improvement of pub
Of @s rs all appeal strongly fS5 % o the Sa d
ciously spent The committee thought IL wise and
taxing system that some @ should be pro-
VI Ntaee 9 for supplying the Island with some portion On
y that one method Of providing part Of the reve-
nue. was through the customs office. It recon-.
% per cent The committee did not regard this as
The amount to % be colieofed 1 H at This rate is to be
turned turned over 10 the Puerto Rican treasury for the
sIrppoTt OF the insuar government.
M 0E .3 sTe the required for the support Of
ousy in one Of fogr WaTs + First by direct ap-
foprlaton from the Treasury of the United States;
Island; fourth by the imposition of tariff duties.
rs me first method proposed. the people of the
from oea states nave already literally contributed
pone thelr treasury for the benefit of the Puerto
leans i They have done il with generous hand,
-. - IN working out the Puerto Rican problem IL
~ nus not be understood that the Puerto Ricans
f,I Pe treated as mendicants They must bear their
ceTtding 10 their capacity
second method Of supplying the insular treas
49,: naihe4y, by A loan. cannot be made effective
Island 'iiiiieii' Is eie1'eu "p'ii 'i''
- Inlfo plan which has been proposed is i'm
H. SS.cape Tot the reasons heretofore indicated.
tbe IMPOSITION OF additional direct taxes would, in
70 confscation '
Ebtcb ieurth plan which has been proposed is that
rns, lV more than a century has been the
acceptable In he a