The National tribune., 1900-03-01

| ing TO absorb the greater part of the Asiatic
and Oriental trade from America Those
ISLANDS became ours. The people approve
the Presidents course and history will
vindicate it. | am entirely clear lhaf those
Islands and Porto Rico under the treaty
nave become the property of the United
States, and not part of it. and that Con-
gresS has the power 10 make such dispos-
| non OF uhem rs IL may deem for the best
| interests OF the people Of this country and
the inhabitants of the islands"
Representative Swanson. another NOM
| ber OF the Ways and Means Committee,
| SAID that if Congress should govern the
| territories ant new possessions without the
constitutional Limitations. il would creat te
Congressional despoti5m precisely similar
ume OF the Revolutionary War: that the
| power claimed 10 enact this bill is precisely
the poWe- that WAS claimed by the British
farllament for The enactment of the stamp
| act. s...--s--. .--~s.---
In tho Snna:c-on Wednesday. considera-
| ton OF the Hawaiian Government bill vas
resumed.
In lieu of an amendment by Mr.. Clark
tNyo.). Mr.. Morgan presented q substitute
| for section 15 of the bill providing that the
Secretary OF the Interior should make an
I4Vestisailoh OF the public land laws of
Hawaii and the Secretary of Aericultrra
should make an examination and renort
the agricultural and forestry conditions.
$1,000 TO he appropriated for each Of the
Investigations. The substitute was agreed
TO.
In the House the Porto Rican tariff
GIsclls5lon was resumed. Mr. Rav. of
New ork- Is thcChairman of the Judiciary
COMMITTEES of the House, and he deyotcd
himself closely to the legal and constitu-
tional phases of the cons!royersy over tba
broad question as TO whether ne,: territory
was part OF the United States in a DO
llhcal sense. Hedcnied that any act of the
PRESIDENT or Congress could extend the
Coasttutioa as q constitution over territory
while it remained territory. The immuni
ties OF the Constitution could be so ex-
tended, but not the Constitution itself The
Constitution only covered the States of the
Union.
Mr.. Bromwell Ohio was the first Repub-
lican to oppose the bill upon the floor
Mr.. Bromwnll said he did moi doubf th4
power Of Congress to enact this legislation,
but he did not agree with its nIstic9 ar
equity. The original bill proposed to estab
lish free trade with Porto Rico aud was in
accordance with the recommendations of
the rresldent Secretary Of War and others
familiar with the conditions and Decessi-
| ties OF the people of the island
he announced that he would SUPPORT the
substitute If II was offered, and if defeated,
| rather than not have any legislation. he
| SHOULD vote for the peadilg measure.
MI; Henry tIeXasl spoke in opposition to
| the bill, which, he said, was more damnable
| than tie laws enacted by the British ParIia
ment against the people who inhab bited the
13 colonies prior to 1776 He asserted
his belief that when the President recon-
mended free trade with Porto Rico he did
so because ne knew the people Of that island
were entitled 10 all the rights under the Con-
9titnn9n e, with which the, people of the
Il T-Nxl ..f.
| did he believe the President had changed
| his mind; He charged that the change of
/ base had occurred TO appcase the sugar
and tobacco interests OF this country, which
| feared the effect of free imports from Pnrto
| Rico. - ~
:ir. Long Kan.). member of the Wavs
and Means Committee, closed the debate
| Tor the day with Il speech in favor of the
| bill. He said he was Il supporter of the Ad-
ministration and tina: he would not know
| Ingly oppose the wishes OF the President.
The WAYS aud Mcz..Ls Committee had
mendation and had framed a bill TO raise
revenue for the island. 1t was a political
question and must be met now.
In the Senate on Thursday Mr.. Foraker
read Washington's Farewell Address in
accordance with custom. Few other mat
tcrs were considered
In the House Mr.. Mcclellan, of New York,
member OF the Ways and Means Com
mittee, talking on the Porto Rican bill
argued at some length, quoting a great
many decisions, TO prove that the position
of the majority was untenable and that
| the irihabitants of Porto Rico are citizens
Of the United States, with all the consti-
tutional rights of citizens.
Dir. McCalI said he regretted greatly
that lie could not agree with his colleagues
rs to the pending bill, but he was com
pcilcd to dissent because it involved moth
ing less than the proposition that Congress-
in dealing with Territories of the United
States, has absolute power unfettered by
anyof the limitations Of the Constitution.
Mr.. Grosyenor said last December the
President recommended free trade with
Porto Rico. How many things have de
vcioped since then regarding Porto Rico?
he asked. These, among others, had de-
yeloped: That Porto Rico must have money
or destruction; that the money must be
raised by cxtraneous means; that the
property of Porto Rico could not bear the
| burdens of taxation, and that internal reve-
nue. taxation would be absolutely destruc-
tive OF every industry that the Porto Ricans;
| hope 10 make anything out of i'll the next
two Years.
Mr.. Grosyenor inquired what better wav
was there to raise money than the one the
committee had recommended? There WAS
| but one other way, and that was to vote
! y V.
| The Democratic party was seeking 10 bring
| thiS scheme into existence.
| a night session was held for the debate.
In the Senate on Friday the Hawaiian
| bill WIS considered. Mr.. Vest addressed
| the Senate. He had been intensely op-
| posed he said, 10 the annexation OF Ha-
waii. but that WAS now dead issue Il
shall vote for tile BILL" said he at is
| above and beyond constitutional objection,
and does not raise any of the issues that
are raised in relation to Porto Rico and
| the Philippines" He thought the thanks
of the people We're due TO the Senators
who had prepared the measure.
In the House the principal speaker was
Mr.. Littleficld, of Maine. The speech was
full of expressions of loyalty to The Re
publican party, but excoriated its leaders
on the floor for change of front.
His frequent witticiSms set his hearers
! TO laughing, and relieved what otherwise
! might have been at times n tedious con-
stitutional argument. His remarks were
much discussed afterward.
Nr. Littlefield discussed the question of
| rpTpulIn; that wore nanIAH II a ,:nid M