The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-02-05


WASHINGTON, FEB. 3,--The report OF
the Porto Rican commission was today
completed The report says
"The questions that gave the committee
most concern were. first. az to whether
or not the constitution should be ex-
tended to Porto Rico; and, in the seconn
place what provision should be made
with respect 10 tart duties and internal
revenue taxes
Attention is called In detail 10 the leg
tslation relating TO territories in the past
to show that there is abundant prece-
dent for not extending the provisions OF
the constitution 10 territory OF the Unit
ed stateffs which congress may be called
upon TO legislate. That Is within the con-
stitutonal power OF congress 20 ether
extend or withhold the constitution in all
such cases, as 10 may deem advisable, Will
appear from the authorities hereinafter
cited In support Of he proposition that
congress has constitutional power TO
lt gislare according 20 the provisions %
this bill with respect 10 important duties
90 which provisions attention IS now cali
ed.
'"rhe bill as introduced provides FOR
free trade betwen the United States and
Porto Rico. This proposition was oh
jected to on various grounds 10 was ar
gued that:
I'll was IN violation Of the policy Of
protection.
"2-H was lrlmical 70 the iaterest OF the
United States with which Porto r co proc
ducts would come into competition.
"2-lt would be n precedent that would
have 10 te followed IN other cases that
might hereafter arise wnere the compe-
tition resulting might be SIN more injur-
ious 20 American interests These were
al least, The principal objections urged be-
fore the committee The committee care
fully considered an OF chem with the re-
suit that they do not regard the object
ions as well taken.
After citing the productions Of Por-
90 Rico the report says:
$50 far as the objection is concerned
that what ls done done with respect 10
Porto Rico will be a precedent that must
be followed ia dealing with the Philip
pines and other islands we may acquire:
the comm ttee thinks il enough 10 say
that such a resuw does not necessarily
follow In the opinion of the committee
each case stands on its own merits and
congress ls not bound In one by what Il
may see f. 10 DO iu another Rs power
IS pleuary, and II may DO as 70 likes"
10 was decided however. 10 impose the
duty on goods entering Porto Rico 80 as
10 provide revenues for tho island
Further. the report says:
"It is within cur discretion 10 make the
Inhabitants OF Porto Rico citizens OF the
United States or not, 50 IL ls within the
power and discretion Of thc congress 20
make the inhabitants OF the Philippine
islands and other islands we may ace
qu,re citizens or withhold that quality
from them 10 q also within the power
OF congress 10 regulate and restrict and
prohibit ~ II thought advisable. ,he pass
lus OF the Inhabitants OF the Philippines
or other Islands from their country into
ours, or 10 prevent the products Of their
labor from coming into unjust compet-
uon with the labor of this country And
with respect 10 this whole matter con-
gress has now, since annexation. and viii
continue 20 have complete and unques-
toned power 20 leglslate as II Iray see
ht and hence continue 20 AFFORD the same
protection heretofore given IN all this
particular " viii simply be- question
of policy hereafter, in each case as n
may arise, a. u II now and has been
With respect % oitizenshp tbe report
says