The evening times., 1900-03-28


Since Mr.. Foraker, yesterday, introduced
his amended measure for the imposition
OF unconstitutional burdens upon the do
mestic commerce of Porto Rico, the free
trade Republican Senators have had time
10 think il over, and have come to the con-
clusion that it is quite as vicious, illogical,
and Illegal as the original Payne PROPOSE
tion. They will antagonize it, but prob
ably not as vigorously as they would were
il not for their conviction that the House
viii destroy il utterly on its appearance
before that body, and pass a free trade
bill which public sentiment will force the
Senate TO accept.
Mr.. Foraker's latest trust production is
highly interesting exposition of present
Administration hypocrisy. The old bill re
tsined a trace OF the original constitu-
tional views of President Mckinley. Sec
retary Root, and Representative Payne,
in that it described the Porto Ricans as
citizens of the United States The new
measure deprives them Of that distinction.
and calls them citizens Of Porto Rico"
Comment on this point would be super
fiuous. In the debate yesterday Senator
Morgan asked Mr.. Foraker if national
banks could be established in Porto Rico
under the proposed Law. The latter an
sNered that all laws of the
United States not locally inapplicable
were extended TO the island by the bill.
Then, replied Senator Morgan, Porto
Rico is not foreign country. There is no
question about the logic of that PROPOSE
lion"
Il seems a pity that the trust element in
the Senate. in its attempt to override and
Gefy the Constitution. is not better able to
conceal its game and its obvious con-
seriousness that it is an unfair and a swind-
ling game. The people of this country are
not Ounces. and are quite competent to
draw correct conclusions from the admis-
sion Of a leader like Mr.. Foraker, that the
laws Of the United States, except to the
extent that Congress may suspend them.
extend to Porto Rico ex proprio yigore
The people Will ask themselves: If the
laws OF the Union so extend themselves.
how is it that the Constitution upon which
they are necessarily based does note And
the masses will not have to resort to any
long and complicated mental process to
find the answer.
The senator in charge of the iniquity is
quoted as expressing entire confidence that
he has enough Votes pledged to accomplish
IL whenever he can secure final action.
Just when that will be it is not yet easy to
ssy. II the Republican constitutonalists
in the Senate think that delay will serve
10 further fortify House Republicans in a
desire 10 show their repentance for the
Payne crime. they may pursue a course
calculated TO cause delay. But delay. On
The other hand, might give the trusts and
the Administration an opportunity to deal
in their customary manner with recalci-
Jrsnt Representatives, and possibly TO in
duce" or whip sufficient number into line
10 carry cut their purpose. The consensus
OF opinion in political circles this morning
seemed TO be that vote might be reached
some time next week; but the situation
is such shifting one that any positive
prediction is liable to be wrong. in view
Of possible intervening circumstances.
In the meantime the country is closely
studying and taking to heart the object
lesson presented to it, and is daily realiz-
ing. more and more. what plain duty
and every consideration of justice and
humanity" win render right and mandate
ry on the 9th of November next.