The Portland daily press., 1900-02-05
"PUERTO RICO"
Commission SPELLS IL That Way and
Tells Why.

Washington, Feb. 3.-The report OF
the Puerto Rico commission has been
made public. The majority of the COM
mission argue at length that Congress
has the power to legislate for the island
without extending to its people the priv
ileges they would enjoy rs citizens I'M
der the constitution. As part of this
power of Congress the report claims is
| the right to enact the tariff legislation
EN- bodied in the bill now before Con-
gress.
The report says: "Ths questions tina
gave the committee the most concern
were, first, as to whether or not the con-
stitution should be extended to Puerto
Rioo and in the second place, what pro-
vision should be made with respect to
tarin duties and internal revenue taxes"
Here are Cited acts OF Congress with
relation to the establishment Of territorial
governments In Louisiana, Mississippi
and ether territories, and the report con-
| tinues:
"Thers was no extension Of the Consti-
tuition of che United States or Of the laws
any of these cases and In the case Of Lou
isiana. there was no participation In the
local government allowed to the people Of
the territory. All the officials. including
the legislative authority as well as the
governor and judges, were appointed by
the President.
Attention Is called in detail to this
legislation (relatiug to territories), to
show that there Is abundant precedent
for not extending the provisions Of the
Constitution to the territories OF the
United States for which Congress may
be called upon to lsgislats. That 1t Ia
within the constitutional power Of Con-
gress to either extend or withhold the
Constitution In all cases, 1t may deem
advisable, will appear from the authori-
ties hereinafter cited In support of the
proposition that Congress has oonstitu.
tional power to legislate according to the
provisions Of this bill with respect to I'M
port duties. to which provisions atten-
ton Is now called.
"The bill as introduced provided for
free trade between the United States and
Puerto Rico. This proposition was OBJ
jected. to ON various grounds. 1t was
urged that:
"I-It was In violation of the policy of
the protection.
'2-It was inimical to the interests Of
the United States with which Puerto
RioAn products would come into oomps-
tition.
3 1t would be a precedent that would
have to be followed In other cases that
might hereafter arise where the oompe-
tition resulting might be still more In
jurions to American interests.
"Thsse were ut least the principal OBJ
jsotions urged before the COMMITTEES. The
committee carefully considered all Of
them with the result that they do not re-
gard the objections as we'll taken"
After citing the productions Of Puerto
Rico, the report says: $50 far as the OBJ
jection in concerned that Whist Is done
with respect to Puerto Rico will be pre-
oedsnt that must be followed In dealing
with the Philippines and other islands
we may acquire, the COMMITTEES think 1t
ought to say that such result did not
necessarily follow.
In the opinion Of the oommi ttse each
case stands On It's own merits and Con-
gress IL not bound In one by what 1t may
sec fs to do In another. Its power Is
pelnary and 1t may do as 1t likes"
1t was decided. however, to impose the
duty and provide for duty on goods en-
tering Puerto Rico 80 as to provide rsve.
nues for the island.
Further, the report says:
"Ths COMMITTEES recognizes that In
NOT extending the Constitution and
making 1t apply to Puerto Rico and %.
peoisIly by the provisions they report In
this bill with respect to tariff duties, they
raise important questions es to the CON-
stitutional power Of Congress to enact
such lsgislatson. Notwithstanding all
that has been said to the contrary, q ma
jority OF the eommittes are Of the opinion
that Congress has such power. Il II not
thought necessary to do more In this re-
port than simply indicate the grounds
upon which they hold that opinion.
Speaking for the majority Of the COM
mittee. it 10 no longer open to question
that the Untted States has complete SOY
ereign power to acquire territory; that
1t 10 the political equal In that respect
OF any other government. 10 may ac-
ouire territory by discovery. by conquest,
or by treaty. II 10 acquires territory In
any of these ways. ID follows as nsees-
sary consequence that 1t has right to
gossrn Kuoh tsrrisory and the Inhabitants
Thereof; and 1t also follows that the gov