New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-03

the same and such constitution shall thereafter
be the constitution of Puerto Rico.
The adoption by the people and the approval
by the President of the United States Of such
constitution shall secure to the people Of Puerto
Rico the benefits of all those provisions of the
Constitution of the United States for the pro-
lection and maintenance of civil and religious
liberty and the protection of the person and
property rights of the people.
The adoption 'of- the constitution by the in
habitantS of Puerto Rico and the approval
thereof by the President Of the United States
herein provided. shall not make the inhab-
itants citizens of the United States. nor shall
it create any obligation on the United States to
admit Puerto Rico State. nor shall the es
adjustment and maintenance of a government
under such constitution interfere with the SOW
ereignty of the United States over Puerto Rico
and the inhabitants thereof.
MR. FORAKER DEFENDS HIS BILL.
In making what he announced would be
brief reply to the statement of Mr.. Teller. Mr..
Foraker became involved in a general discus
sion with other Senators some of the consti-
tutional questions raised by the bill. He said
there was nothing remarkable about the BILL as
Mr.. Teller saw it, except that the inhabitants
of the island were treated in the bill as citizens
Of the United States.
The committee" said Mr.. Foraker consid-
cred the status of the people carefully, and con-
Guided that the inhabitants of the island Of
Puerto Rico must be citizens, subjects or aliens
We did not want to treat our own as aliens;
we should not hold them as subjects, ana we
therefore adopted the term citizens 1t was
the desire of the committee to give the inhabi-
tants of Puerto Rico all the rights the people
Of this country thought they ought to have"
Mr. Foraker said the word "citizen' not only
did not imply the right of vote, but in its bald
sense implied nothing more than owing allegi-
ance to the Government. In response to an In
quiry. Mr. Foraker said the Constitution
not Immediately extended the Territory
of Louisiana when ii acquired, but to it
WAS given the most autocratic government
possible-a one man government" He main
tanned that the Constitution could be extended
over acquired territory only by act of Con-
gress.
In answer To inquiry by Mr. Allen. Mr..
Foraker said that the law in all newly ac-
quired territory would be the legislation which
Congress might enact for the territory and
that legislation might include the Constitution,
all or in part.
The discussion was suspended while a mes
sage was received from the House transmit
ting the bill passed to-day in accordance with
the message Of the President. 1t was referred
TO the Committee on Pacific Islands and Puerto
Rico. Earlier in the session the message Of the
President concerning the revenue collected on
Puerto Rican products had been received and
referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
PUERTO RICO A DEPENDENCY
Mr.. Foraker. continuing. said there was no
intention to make the island of Puerto Rico a
state, or. in the accepted sense. Territory.
The island was dependency I'VE do not pro-
pose to deal with the people of Puerto Rico
inequitably," said Mr. Foraker 1T is true that
we have put a duty of II per cent Of the duty
levied under the Dingley law on products i'm
ported into this country from the island but it
is also true that we have given every dollar
9pk n hon for ,ba;r
take dollar from them We impose the duty
because it is needed for revenue. All of the in
dustrieS on the island are paralyzed. Storm and
consequent famine have crippled everything If.
in accordance with a suggestion that has been
made, We turn them loose. the inhabitants would
have no means TO organize a government They
must nave revenues. and they cannot get them
by direct taxation. We viii give back TO them
the duties received on their products. and mill
ions besides"
Mr. Foraker said that in his mind the fact that
this bill raises question which could be deter
mined only by the Supreme Court of the United
States was more important than the levying of
a tariff on Puerto Rican products Beyond
Puerto Rico lie the Philippines Ii has been
suggested that in our Eastern possessions we
shall have the open door If open the
Philippines TO the trade of all the world we
shall have the products of the world poured
into the United States. and our whole protective
tariff system will fall TO the ground. This raises
a question on which il is entirely unlikely SEN
ators IN debate VIII ever get together It will
have to be- determined by the courts, and it is
highly important that the determination should
be reached soon"
MR.. STEWART FOR FREE TRADE
After Mr.. Foraker had made brief explana-
ton of the provisions of the bill. Nlr. Stewart
gave notice Of an amendment striking out the
provision levying a duty Of - per cent of the
Dingley tariff on Puerto Rican products
The proposition in the bill" said Mr. Stew
are, is in opposition to all Republican plat
forms. The President dead in line with his
party when he sent message advocating
free trade with the island Of Puerto Rico. He
did not favor free trade with foreign countries
but he recognized Puerto Rico part Of the
United States II frank and honest rec
concentration If his annual message had been
adhered 10, 1t would have been better for all
concerned. The President right, and this
bill IS wrong | don't want any territory in
which the Constitution does not follow the flag
We cannot discriminate against any section OF
our own country. If our principles OF free gov
eminent are not broad enough 20 cover any ter
ritory under the flag, then would better
bring back the flag"
The Senate at 5:15 o'clock adjourned until to-
morrow.
hDNFh