The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-21
THE PORTO RICAN TARIFF
Passage of the Bill Vigorously Op-
posed in The House.
Representative NewInnds' Position
Regarding the Insular Policy of
the Covcrnment-Mr. Hopkins sup
ports the Proposed Measure
Mr.. Swanson Quotes the President.

Debate on the Porto Rican Tariff bill
was continued in the House yesterday
Speeches were made by Messrs. Newlands
of Nevada, Hopkins of Illinois. and Swan
son of Virginia, members OF the Ways and
Means Committee. Messrs. Newlands and
Hopkins spoke for two hours. while MIR.
Swanson talked but an hour. Meszrs.
Newlands and Swanson opposed the bill
and MIR. Hopkins advocated its passage.
In beginning his remarks Mr.. NeT4ands
said that as a result OF a humanitarian
war TO free Cuba from the oppression of
Spain. the United States found itse-f in the
qualified possession of Cuba, the unquali-
fled possession of Porto Rico, and in the
disputed possession of the Philippines. To-
day, he said, all OF these islands are un-
der the military control of the United
States. Congress was now called upon TO
act, and the questions were:
First, what duty and good morals re-
quired OF Congress regarding these is.a-ds:
second, what self-interest prompted Con-
gress TO do. and. third. what the constitu
tional power of Congress was regarding
those islands. Every phase of OBJ igation.
duty, and right which could be presented
by any conquest or cession OF territory
was thus presented in the three classes
oi acquisitions thus secured
Porto Rico's status.
Concerning Porto Rico there existed no
complications, Mr.. Newlands said. unless
they were created by the maladministra-
tion of Congress. The Industrial competi-
tion that might come from the people of
Porto Rico. he said, would not be serious,
even though they were taken inside the
tariff wall He suggested that 1t was the
purpose of the Administration to establish
a territorial form of government and ex-
tend the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, but for the fear that to do
so would be to establish a precedent and
thus control the action Of Congress re-
garding the Philippines later on.
Both political PARTIES ne said were now
substantially agreed that Porto Rico must
sooner or later become part of the United
States. whether the island was to be re-
garded as dependency or Territory, free
dom Of trade, freedom of migration. and
equality of rights must be established
The Porto Rica question and the Philip
pine question, Mr.. Newlands said. were
linked together. The fact was that the
United States had destroyed the Spanish
government, and had also destroyed the
Philippine government. The only govern
ment existing in the Philippines today was
the military government of the United
States.
1t was. said Mr. Newlands. the duty Of
the United States to pacify those islands,
as it was to pacify Cuba. In this pacifca-
tion. he said. the organization of a stable
government was necessarily involved. This
could be accomplished. he said only by the
recognition .f the sovereignty of the United
StsSes Tor that purpose. Back of all gov
ernEeut lay force. and the only govern
meni Ehat existed 10 the islands today vas
TIE r0TSr1inebt Of The United States. and
it, power mrst ae recognized and obeyed.
cor,mercinl ;ateresfs.
Meanwhile he said. the friendship OF
the people being assured, CONNER
oisi interests of the United States
could be rapidly developed th1re.
ind a commercial hold OH the ISL
ands would be secured TO an extent Inn
possible now SO long as the Fiifrinos
maintained their present hostile attitude.
Naval stations and coaling stations could
he secured during the process OF the es-
tablishment OF the new scheme of gov
ernmeut. process necessarily of long
duration. Currents of trade with this
country would be established which could
not be DETECTED. This process meant the
expansion OF trade without the expansion
OF territory; involved the abandonment
of the perilous undertaking of changing
our theory OF government, abandoning our
traditions and expanding our territory
without applying our Constitution, laws,
aad Institutions to it'
- Philippine Islands. he contended
:" occupy o the United States
the territory gained
Mexico. and Russia.
fruiH tulr rfrr5tary the majority of the
States " tne Nuion had been created, and
the small balance remaining was certain
OF admissiau into the Union as States No
such contingency as the admission Of the
Philippines into the Union as States is
possible. he added.
In the course of his argument Mr.. New
lands said that unless Congress declared
its intention to hold the Philippines in
trust for their own people until stable
government could he established the pre-
sumption would be that the islands were
territory belonging to the United States.
and that the laws OF the United States
would extend TO The islands. He said the
claim that any part Of the territory OF the
tHited StdltS cDtuu De governed Dy 0oD-
gress outside of the Constitution was
without foundation. The only way TO
avoid this. he said, was for Congress TO
declare that the Islands did not belong
TO the United States and that the sover-
eighty OF the United States weuid only
be exercised until government had been
established.
Mr.. Hopkins, Argument.
Mr.. Hopkins was the next speaker He
read lengthy speech 10 support of the
bill. He reeited the cases of the war with
Spain and commented on the work O! the
Peace Commission. which, he said. had
met the approval OF the country. He op-
posed he said, the cession of the Phil
ippine Islands. He said he was tired OF
the cry of imperialism.
He believed the question Of the Philip
pines could be solved without cndanger-
ing our domestic institutions or without
impsiring those great principles of lib
erty and free government that are the
heritage OF every American citizen.
II believe said he, "the Constitution
of the United States is broad enough and
elastic enough TO enable us TO control the
Inhabitants OF those islands and give
them larger liberty and higher civil
ization than they have heretofore en-
joyed without impairing in the least one
domestic institution or entailing upon our
people additional taxation
Turning TO the legal questions involved,
MIR Hopkins asserted that the acquisition
Of the islands was entirely constitutional
and within the power OF the Government
Under the terms Of the treaty Of peace
Congress was empowered 10 make such
disposition OF the islands as Il thought
best Tor the interests OF the people of
the Jnited States and for the welfare OF