Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-30
Committee viii Say It's Not Ter
ritoy Belonging to U, S,
MINORITY WILL DISSENT,
This Definition H. Given 10 Affect
Legislation for leland Pos
sessions,

New York, Jan. 3O.-A special dis
patch to the Tribune from Washington
says:
The subcommittee Of the ways and
means committee to report the author
tiles and the law as to the meaning OF
the term United States" in the con-
stltutlonal provision which declares that
all duties, imports and excuses shall be
uniform throughout the United States.
whether it includes simply the area
actually included within the boundaries
OF States, or whether II covers also the
territory belonging to the United
States" will submit It's conclusions to
the full committee at the regular meet
ing on Wednesday. Il Is pretty GER
tain that the conclusions viii not be
unanimous and 1t Is equally certain
that the majority Will hold that the pro-
vision OF the Constitution referred to
does not apply to territory belonging
to the United States" until after Con-
gress enacts law on the subject. In
support Of this position the sub-com-
mittee will present a formidable and
Irresistible array Of judicial and other
authorities, including the eighth act Of
The iirst Congress relating TO the North
west Territory.
There is hardly any reason 10 doubt
that the majority Of the insular COM
mlttee Of the House will take a similar
position and be guided by the same
principle In shaping legislation for the
government Of Puerto Rico.
Ii is probable that the committee will
not report a bill on that subject before
the Senate committee shall have done
so, Steps have been taken TO obtain a
general expression Of views Of members
on both sides OF the House In regard to
the form Of government TO be estab-
lished and the kind OF tariff and inter-
nal revenue legislation 10 be enacted.
Later this week the Republican men,
bers OF the committee on ways and
means, following, In this respect only,
the example OF the minority 81 the same
committee, which, IL Is understood has
been made acquainted with the views
OF Colonel Bryan on these subjects. will
hold Q conference to compare, consider
and discuss the various suggestions
that have been and will be offered re-
specting the tariff and internal revenue
legislation for Puerto Rico.
The Payne bill 10 extend the tariff
and internal revenue laws Of the United
States over the island will form the
basis Of discussion and comparison.
one Of the suggestions already made
is 10 modify the bill, so as to provide
that Puerto Rlcan products shall be
admitted into the United States at fifty
per cent OF the rates Of duty imposed
on like products, respectively, when i'm
ported from a foreign country and also
TO provide for a sliding scale OF reduc-
tion al the rate OF Is per cent year
on Puerto Rican production until the
duties shall be eXtingulshed. This sug-
gestlon was not received with much
favor by several members OF the COM
mittee TO whose attention II was
brought.
Chairman Payne. Of the ways and
means committee, when interviewed.
said that the President has assured him
recently that he still adhered TO the
position taken in his annual message.
In favor OF free trade between Porto
Rico and the United States. It is as
yet far from certain what position will
be taken In either the Senate or the
House respecting this matter,
In regard 10 one thing, however. the
members Of the majority In both
branches are virtually unanimous
which Is that a measure should and will
be enacted as early as practicable for
the benefit Of the inhabitants OF the
island The opinion Is also generally
expressed that whatever may be done
VIII not imperll the system OF protec-
ton in the United States.