The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-03
PORTO RICAN BILL DEBATED.
TELLER OFFERED sELF-GOV-
ERNMENT AMENDMENT.

terfere With United States SOver-
eignty-Mr. Foraker Called At
tentiOn to the Fact That Philip
pines Lie BeyOnd-Stewart Wanted
TO Leave on the Duty.
Washington, March 2-Interest in the
Porto Rico tariff measure now has been
transferred from the House to the Senate
Consideration OF the bill, ernbodying sub
stantialiy the provisions of the House bill.
and in addition providing for temporary
form of civil government for the Island
of Porto Rico, was begun in the Senate
to-day.
Mr. Teller of Colorado Immediately pro-
posed an amendment, establishing a tenn
porary government in Porto Rico for the
purpose of enabling the people of the ISL
and later to establish a permanent re-
publican self-government the adoption Of
a constitution and the establishment of
a permanent government, not interfering
with the sovereignty of the United States
over the island or its inhabitants.
This amendment was followed by an
other by Mr.. Stewart Of Nevada, striking
odt the provision levying duty on Por
to Rican goods and providing that they
should be admitted free into the United
States.
A spirited debate was participated in by
Mr.. Foraker, Mr.. Teller, Mr.. Stewart. Mr.
Allen and others.
The chair laid before the Senate the
Presidents Porto Rican message. 1t was
referred to the Committee ON Appropria-
tions.
Mr.. TelIer's Amendment.
The Porto Rican tariff and government
bill was then taken up Mr.. Teller of
Colorado denounced it. He offered the
following amendment:
'It is hereby declared that it is the in-
tention by this act TO establish a tempor-
ary government in Porto Rico for the pur-
pose of enabling the people thereof TO es-
. tabish a permanent government. repuhli-
can in form, in which there shall be ac-
corded to the people the right of self-gov-
ernnent; and TO that end they are au-
thorized TO adopt constitution consistent
with the principles Of a free government
and which shall recognize the sovereign
ty of the United States over Porto Rico
and the inhabitants thereof as recognz-
ed by treaty between Spain and the
United States. The legislative assembly
or second session provide for a constitu-
tional convention to prepare and submit to
the people for their approval or disspprOv
al a constitution in accordance with the
principles herein declared and the cCnsti-
tutional convention shall provide the nec-
essary rule and regulations to submit the
constitution to the people and if ii shall
be approved by them to submit the same
to the President of the United States for
his approval The inhabitants of Porto
Rico are hereby declared to be citizens
thereof and their rights as citizens shall
not be denied or abridged except by con-
victions in a court of justice.
whenever the people of Porto Rico
shall submit to the President of the
United States a constitution, republican
in form and consistent with the provisions
thereof he shall approve of the same and
such constitution shall thereof be the
constitution of Porto Rico.
''Tha adoption by the people and the ap-
proval by the President of the United
States of such constitution shall secure
to the people of Porto Rico the benefits
Of all the provisions of the constitution
of the United States for the protection
and maintenance of civil and religious lib
erty and the protection of the person and
property rights of the people.
"I'he adoption of the cons stitution by the
inhabitants of Porto Rico and the appro-
val thereof by the President of the Unit
ed States as herein provided, shall not
make the habitants citizens of the Unit
ed States, nor shall it Gre
ate any obligation on the Unit
ed states 10 aylmtt Porto Rico as a state;
nor shall the establishment and mainte-
uance of a government under such consti-
tuition interfere with the sovereignty of
the United States over Porto Rico and
the inhabitants thereof
Mr. FOraker's Reply.
In replying to Mr. Teller Mr.. Foraker
becamei involved in a general discussion
with other senators on some of the con-
siitutional questions raised by The bill.
The committee, said Mr. Foraker, adopt
ed the term citizen rather than to treat
them as either aliens or subjects, but It
implies only allegiance and protection.
Mr. Foraker said that the law in all
newly acquired I. .rriiory would be che
legislation which Congress might enact
for the territory and that legislation might
include the constitution, all or in part
A message was received from the House
transmitting the Porto Rican appropria-
ton bill passed to-day. II was 7efefred
to the Committee on Pacific Islands and
Porto Rico.
Mr. Foraker. resuming, said that the
inl1abitanfs as well as the island, of
Porto Rico had come to us by treaty and
in that treaty Congress had been author
lied TO determine all the civil and oolti-
cal rights of the Inhabitants Congress
was given plenary power to deal with the
whole matter in its discretion. He an
nounced the island was a dependency;
there was no intention 20 make Porto Rico
state, or in the accepted sense, a terri
tory.
Concluding. he called attention to the
important fact that this bill raises a ques-
tion which can be determined only by the
United States Supreme Court and an ear
ly determination was highly important
beyond Porto Rico" he said, 'lie the
Philippines If We open them to the world $
trade we will have the worlds products
poured into the United States and our
whole protective tariff system will fall to
the ground"
Mr. Stewart gave notice of his free
trade amendment and the Senate at 5:15
o. m adjourned
BIG FIRE IN JACKSONVILLE.
rrI..a. Were IpfurPd nv m