The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-11-28
OF Tremendous Importance.
Tariff Decision May End the
Philippine Question.

man of the house committee on judiciary
who was one cf the leaders 10 tee hsh'
fos the Porto Rican tariff bill, said
yesterday ct she Fifth Avenue Hotel
that uniil the test case brought %
Determine .ae coos,ituticc ca!isy OF the
po.,o R;caa :ar;G was decided by tie
Uoi,ed States supreme court there
would be pc legislation by congress for
the Philippines
That decision" he said, ".il! show
Us where we stand aud we cao then
proceed in,el!igens;y. Il TIE court
sostaias the republican, coDteotion that
Porto Rico IS pos part Of the Uoited
States, bcs territory belonging 70 the
United States, aod that. therefore, the
constitutional provisions for uniform
taxation throughout the Ucitse States
does not apply to Porto Rico, of course
the sane will bold good with regard &c
,ne P0ilippicts We CAP then frame a
tariff bill 70. the Philippines waica sill
p7ovide the necessary revenue fer the
sovernm meat of the Philippines GA
progressive lines. aud also afford the
necessary protection to cur own uaau-
fac.u7e1s and labor I"
.'Wba: ii the decision Of .be court
sheald De ths. toe Porto RIcan tariff Is
Unconstitutional sod that Porto Rico is
a pars of the United States 20
If sach should be the decisioo Of
the court it might necessitase our bav-
ing to give up the Philippines. We
ere bound to the cpeo door IL the
Philippines. That ueaOs that the
products of all oatioas eau come into
the Philippines ou the sane basis as
oar own. If we cacnot raise tariff
against Philippine products coming into
the United States. then cur abcr
would be brought into competition With
the cheap labor Of the Orient. If that
condition should come about We might
feel that our interests would demand
our wi.hdraual frou the Philippines
''For myself I have no doubt as to
what the decision of the Supreme Court
will be. en- confident that the court
will sustain the contention that the
constitution does Get 60 into Porto Rico
and the Philippines OF its OVID force,
aud that they can be held as territory
belonging to the United States II the
decision should be agalus, Us feel
,ertain it will be by divided court"
"Do you think the result OF the
.ecsnt election will have any Influence
N the court 10 its determination OF the
'ase 2"
"Well. there ;s always sesdency to
upport The popular csnssltaslo0-'bat
5 humso nature But, OF course. the
our. will cot allow itself to be swayed
y the popular verdict in favor of keep
;g the Philippines It is fcr the
ours TO pass upon the csnss'tutoDal''y
Jaws passed by copgsess, and tie |
oSr. Ca0 bUC CeleRo'e tI'
he people. If it did che people might !
ayerse their verdict ct the Eczs election |
nd toe court would bave to change
,i.b them. pyocesdiog which. IT fol
wed often. would not add to the gen.
raj respect for the court as ;ud'cal
:ibunal.
..Is vas the Ph;iipplee problem
,hich ne eaw looming up 10 the future
.tieh led US to fraue sbe Porto hi:o
srig. If we had not taken the pest
oa We Gid w,:h regard TO our oe~
cssessions when we ssd. sc wooza
ave bad &c nnase the sane fgas wheo-
yer We started to lesislats for 'ns
'hiiippiues. Nou, if 'he Supreme
;ocrs sus,ains the Porto Rioao 'aFh
,e will kuow just where We stand vito
egard 10 the Philippines aad caO ac'