The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-31


cnns-Thc Bill Unjust and Unfair
"A Note of Warning Sounded.
Mr. Proctor delivered a speech in the
Senate yesterday on the Porto Rioan bill.
his arguments being in opposition TO the
tariff provision of the bill The speech was
listened to with respect and attention on
both sides of the chamber, ard it left the
impression that the Senator from Vermont
would be found q persistent ''insurgent,
as he characterized himself few days ago.
THE outline of civil government for the
island of Porto Rico he began, con
tanned in the bill reported by the Senator
from Ohio (Mr. Foraker meets my entire
appreciation and witnesses the ability and
care which was exercised in its prepare
ton. But the committee has included in
this bill a provision for a tariff between
the United States and that island on a
basis of IS per centum of the rates OF
duty prescribed in the Dingley act of 1897.
i greatly regret that these two meas
ures. naturally separate and distinct.
should be thus combined and still more
tariff provisions of the bill this unwise
union compels me to vote against the ex-
cellent governmental features which it
contains. My remarks will be directed eX-
ciusively to the tariff portion of the bill.
Let us briefly consider the history of this
tariff proposition. The President, in his
annual message, document always pre-
pared with great care, after much thought
and consultation with his advisers, says:
tariffs between the United States and Por-
to Rico and give her products free access
TO our markets. The people of the United
States know that sentence by heart.
The Secretary of War in his very able
annual report had saic: The highest con-
siderations of justice and good faith de-
mand that We should not disappoint the
confident expectation of sharing in our
prosperity with which the people of Porto
Rico so gladly transferred their allegiance
TO the United States We should treat the
interests of this people as our OWL ! wish
most strongly to urge that the customs du-
ties between Porto Rico and the United
States be removed Note the words of the
President. our plain duty" and of the
Secretary, Justice and good faith demand
Following these recommendations a bill
was introduced in this body by the Sena-
tor from Ohio the chairman of the COM
HilAtte. blNluS fkiCD Tree kTdut. y
like measure was introduced in another
body; but. presto. with little notice or ap-
parent reason bill comes to us levying a
tax upon Porto Rican exports and imports
is il strange that some of US. in lack
of an official statement or apparent reason
for this sudden shift. should be slow to
give up a line of action which We believe
10 be based on principle and justice. which
We believe 10 be the only honest and con-
z So Oh Il,
know with what truth. if any-that this
change was demanded and brought about
by the sugar and tobacco interests. and
also. it is stated by organized labor |.
however. have failed TO see that the rep
resentatives of this latter interest appear
ed before the committee. Ii is practically
admitted that free trade with Porto Rico
does not harm these interests materially
but they claim that il creates precedent
that may harm them If adopted in refer
ence to the Philippines and Cuba. It will
be time to cross those rivers when we come
10 them and. in my opinion. the crossing
viii not be difficult when the proper time
comes for action.
Mr. Proctor at this point read a letter
from former Senator Edmunds. in which
he argued that the Constitution is in force
IN the Territories.
Admitting" he continued. for the sake
VI
Of argument. that Congress has pienary
power under the Constitution. that right
must be interpreted in the fair and gener-
Gus sense which the American people give
10 thar instrument and not given the in
depreciation of absolutism. l claim. Mr.
President that the plain people, the sensi-
BILE. honest American people. who look at
this question from no standpoint of inter-
est, who are not sugar men, nor tobacco
men. nor men who have any commercial or
class interests. which il is claimed must
be placated by cur action, are the best
judges Of what is fair and right and honest.
and that their judgment in the end must
and will prevail
MI Proctor read General Miles proc
lsmation 10 the Porto Ricans. in which he
declared that il was the intention of this
Government TO promote their prosperity
and to bestow upon them the blessings of
our liberal institutions
He also had read letter from President
Schurmsn. late of the Philippine Commits
sion, in which he said he believed that the
United States Is under obligation to ex-
tend its tariff laws to Porto Rico. but that
he could not accept the contention that this
obligation is derived from the Constitution
Referring TO the subject of taxation Mr..
Proctor said:
We impose these taxes upon a people
unused TO assert their rights in the past
and powerless 10 maintain them II they
had. upon people who welcomed our
army when It landed on their island az
their friends, who had come TO free them
from the misrule Of Spain, and who have
conducted themselves in the most peace
able manner; upon a people TO whom We
had promised TO bring the immunities and
blessings of the liberal institutions Of our
Government. and to whom We had said by
the mouths OF our highest officials that to
establish free trade was our plain duty
demanded by the highest considerations
OF justice and good faith
We levy this tribute upon a people who
are in the direst poverty and distress, re-
sulting in a large part from cur very &C
ton in taking possession of their island
and destroying the existing markets for
their products and opening no other. and
TO this is added. by the hand of the Al
mighty, the terrible destruction of the tor
pado. so that they are now in the eX-
IRENE Of poverty and restitution, border
lag on starvation. They can make no re-