The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-29
He is For Free Trade and an Internal
Revenue Tax.
LEVY ON ISLANDS, RUM AND TOBACCO
He Ridicules the Argument That IS Per Cen
Tariff Will Protect Our Products and
Labor. Army Appropriation
Bill in The House.
(By The Associated Press.)

Washington. March 2S.-The Senate to-
day agreed to vote on the Porto Rico
Government and Tariff Bill Tuesday after
noon at O'Clock. An important utter
anee was made later in the day on the
bill by Mr. Davis (Minn.). He advocated
free trade between the United States and
Porto Rico, and urged that the necessary
money to be raised by taxation be by an
internal revenue tax upon rum and to-
bacco produced on the island. This
system, in his opinion, would better suit
the people of the United States and those
of Porto Rico than the proposed tariff
and would be just, equitable and cousti-
tutional.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Carter
to the Alaskan Civil Code Bill relating to
mining for gold under the waters of Cape
Nome was agreed to, but no further prog
ress was made with the measure.
y successful effort was made by Mr..
Foraker to fix a time for vote on the
Porto Rican Tariff and Government Bill.
Mr.. Bacon (Ga.) suggested tomorrow.
and Mr.. Proctor Vt) next Tuesday after
noon. The latter was agreed TO.
Consideration of the Porto Rican Bill
was then resumed, the pending question
beiag upon the free silver coinage amend
ment offered by Mr.. Morgan The amend
ment was defeated-15 to 33.
Mr.. Davis then spoke. lie maihtaineq
that a tariff could not be levied as be-
tween Porto Rico and the United States.
although il was perfectly competent for
Congress to provide for the collection of
internal revenue on the island. This. he
said was individually constitutional.
Porto Rican products was -generative
Porto Rican products was self generativo
of objections. he said-objections which
spring from every possible source.
He ridiculed the argument as 10 the
protection the 10 per cent. tariff would
afford to our products and labor. No
protectionists, he said, would contend that
i per cent OF the Dngley rates would
afford adequate protection for anything
Adverting to the Philippines as a factor
in the Porto Rican problem, Mr. Davis
said:
THE Island of Porto Rico is naturally
| a part OF the North American jurisdiction
the Philippines are a part of the domain
of Asia. Against the product and people
of the Philippines when the time comes
the rights Of American labor will be pro-
tected by any party that may be in
power.
Mr.. Davis said it was inconsistent to
extend our laws relating to the coastwise
trade 10 the island and not extend oul
tariff laws AS to the feeling in the
country upon this question, he said the
issue is well understood by the people
and the sentiment speaks out to us week
after week in constantly swelling vol
ume.
They understand we'll too, that upon
distilled spirits and tobacco there is not
an imposition of mill of taxation by
this bill The subjects of taxation upon
which we place heavy burdens go scot
free on the Island of Porto Rico.> And
what do they propose as an exchange fOi
that kind of taxation? Why the imposi-
| tion of a tariff? 1t is so easy to place a
| tax upon these articles that | shall be
| surprised if the proposition TO do sc
does not meet the approval of Congress
| and the people. What are the people go
| ing TO say if this bill passes? They will
| say: Free rum and a tax on the f1oui
| the people eat
The Senate then. at Cos O'Clock p. M
adjourned.