The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-03
DISCUSSED IN THE Senate
The Substitute for The House Porto
Rican Bill Taken Up.
Mr. Teller Spcnks on the STATUS Of
the IsIandI-He Declares the Party
in Power Must Take "a Position Re
-nrdinG the Relation of the
Territory to the United states.

Inc senate s. -Slltule lot lHt 1Ouoe oli
to provide government for the island OF
Porto Rico was taken up in the Senate yes
terday at O'Clock and brief discussion
of its principal provisions eRsued.
The House bin and the Senate substi-
tute having been read in full an enquiry
was made by Mr.. Teller as to whether cop
les of the existing laws of Porto Rico
(which il is proposed to repeal were TO be
obtained. He was told by Mr.. Foraker. in
charge of the bill that a translation OF
the laws was in the committee room of the
Committee on Pacific Islands and Porto
Rico. He said that it was in two volumes
and that he had hesitated TO ash for its
being printed
Mr.. TelIer'S Argument.
MIR, Teller briefly discussed the bill. He
said that he was not frightened by having
Porto Rico called colony Or a province.
He saw no reason why it should not be
called either. He agreed, however, that
the American Republic was bound 10 ex-
tend to its province or colony the great
! principles underlying a free government
| and to maintain liberty. The party in
power, he said, had reached point where
it must take a position as to whether
| Porto Rico was a part and parcel of the
United States or not.
He was not going to vote for bill that
! did not give TO the people of the island
! the control of their own local affairs. He
! offered an amendment to the bill adding
! a section declaring that it is the intention.
! by the act. TO establish a temporary gov
ernment in Porto Rico for the purpose of
enabling its people to establish a perma-
nent government, republican in form: that
! the legislative assembly shall provide for
! constitutional convention TO prepare and
I submit to the people a constitution. which
| is afterward to be submitted 20 the Presi-
| dent for his approval. But the adoption of
/ such constitution by the people of Porto
! Rico. and its approval by the President
| shall not make the inhabitants of Porto
| Rico citizens of the United States: shall
| not impose any obligation on the United
States to admit Porto Rico as a State. and
shall not interfere with the sovereignty Of
the United States over the island and its
inhabitants.
A question was raised by Mr.. Stewart as
to a provision in the bill establishing a
United States court in Porto Rico which
he criticised. It was defended by Mr.
Foraker. who said that there was already
established there a United States court
with United States jurisdiction pure and
simple. and that 1t was the most popular
court on the island.
Citizens, subjects, or Aliens.
As to the term citizens" which the bill
applied to the people Of Porto Rico. Mr..
Foraker said that the committee had con-
sidered carefully what status should be
given to them. They had to be either citi-
a1f.
did not want to treat them as aliens 1t
did not propose to have any subjects. And
therefore Il had to adopt the term ''citi-
zens." That did not mean however. that
those people had any rights which the
American people did not wish them to
have Citizens he said is a word that
indicates allegiance on the one hand and
protection on the other. 1t carries with it
no political rights.
Mr.. Teller said he did not complain of
the Inhabitants of Porto Rico being made
citizens; but he contended that. being citi-
zens, they should not be treated as for
eigners.
Mr. Foraker remarked that under the
Treaty with Spain Congress had complete
control of the subject and might legislats
as It saw fit with reference to taxes and
all other subjects.
Mr.. Teller admitted that Porto Rico
might be taken into the United States or
might be kept out but he wanted to know
which was to be done
Mr.. Foraker said that TIE effect OF the
treaty with Spain was to put the United
States into possession of Porto Rico. but
that made the island neither State nor a
Territory but a dependency, and Congress
had the right to legislate for it as it saw
fit. As to the proposition to make tariff
of Is per cent on goods imported from the
United States into Porto Rico, and from
Porto Rico into the United States, he
called attention TO the fact that the reve-
nue. to be thus derived was to be given to
the island. The legislation proposed, ne
said not only met the requirements OF
the situation. but raised questions which
would have to be settled by the Supreme
Court of the United States and in his
mind, that was the most important feature
He said he did not know what the future
had in store in reference to the Philip
pine Islands, but it had been suggested
and contended for that there should be an
open door there. II that policy should be
finally adopted and If ali the nations of
the world were to be allowed TO ship mer-
chandise into the Philippines on the same
terms with the United States he declared /
that the entire tariff policy and system Of I
the United States would be overfiowed and !
that il would not be possible TO put up the /
bar against the islands. although all the /
world should send its products there aud |
they should be shipped thence into the |
United States
Mr. Foraker Explains.
Mr. Foraker then stated the difference
between the House bill and the Senate sub .
stitute. The House bill, he said, was
revenue measure pure and simple, while the /
Senate substitute provided for a civil gov
ernment in Porto Rico; for the substitution |
of American coins for Porto Rican coins. (
and for the continuance in force of the .
laws and ordinances now in operation
there until Congress or the local Legisla-
ture may see fit 10 change them. The bill
also continued the courts. with which the
people of the island were familiar. until /
the commission shall repor, and changes
are effected.
we have he said. undertaken TO give
to this people a local seif-gove.nment. re-
publican in form. and to confer on them as
much participation in that government as
We thought il was advisable TO give 10
them In carrying out that plan we have
provided for executive, judicial, and legis-
lative departments"
He went on to speak OF the legislative
department. and said il was to consist OF
two houses-one elective and the other
fthe executive CounciD to be appointed by
the President. This council was TO consist
Of the Governor, five bureau officers, and
Ave members who might be chosen by the
President from natives of the island There
was also to be one Delegate in Congress
from Porto Rico as from other Territories
cfauart paVp uOticp of ampnd-