The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-15
SENATOR'S FIGHT
PORTO RlC ] ] Ri !! !:
Teller and Turner Oppose il in
Debate.
NOT WANTED AS CITIZENS IS.
Roth Avcrse TO Tho Admission OF the
Ncw Insuiar Possessions as
states or Inhabitants as
Citizcns.
NOT WANTED AS CITIZENS.

WASHINGTON, March 1.-Two thrGu-s
ments were presented TO the Senate to-
day In which almost nntipodical posi-
lions were taken by the TWO Senators.
nar. Teller. OF Colorado. in a brief speech,
maintained that the constitution could
not extend over territory acquired by me
United States. while Mr.. Turner. OF
Washington. deliberately commended that
the constitution embraced the. acquired
territory the very moment the United
States took permanent possession OF IL.
Mr.. Teller held that this government could
make the outlying territory into States,
or could hold it as colonies, as 1t sa"
s1t: while Mr.. Turner maintained that the
United States could not hold colonies or
dependencies. Aside from the conshtu-
,ional questions, the two Senators were
in pplitical agreement. Both were OF
posed to the pending Porto Rico OH, ana
both objected TO any of the ,nsuiar .eri'7-
tory becoming a part of the United STATES
or any of its inhabitants citizens oil the
United Suites.
Mr.. Teller, who expected to leave LOT
Cuba tonight, took the floor first In d
general way he announced he had no
doubt of the power Of the government %
govern the possessions it lad ACQUIRED.
aJe declared he could find ample aulnoli-
tx Tor legislation relating Il. our 1nsu'ar
sessions-authority not derived from
the constitution.
CONGRESS IS SUPREME.
-.And do not believe. said Ant. eiiei,
..tnat the constitution Is IN force ~ any
:, onr now possessions Congress, ] be-
lieye. is supreme. SO far as the making OF
legislation for acquired territory g con-
earned OF course. in enactinE such leg
,s,at,on. Congress Is bound ~ certain 1un-
da1nental principles that underlie IN
free government. -
OPTIONAL. WFnH CONGRESS.
s 10 helaeyed that 1naling the acquired ter
yi:ories a part of the United states was
optional with iConGIess and Una! we nav nav,
tie same power as Great b11taiIl W ioiu
cnlorrial possessions. He did not believe.
however. that such territory should pc
regarded and governed as incipent states
of the Union Porto Rico might. ne
t,,o,Isg,t be held under the sovereignty
Of the limited States and the people. SUD
3ect to our iictation. might make the laws
of the island and the United States. might
determine what tlle inhabitans shouio OF
should not do. He found legal di1ilculees
IN dealing either with Inc accu w Us
sessions or their inhabitants. Il dc not
want to make Porto Rico and inc
Hohilippincs a part or the United StaIs
md i do not want to nlaloe their 1nnan-
atants citizens Of the United StaleS'
said NJ Teller II would great deaA
sathor make Porto Rico and the thlnp-
pines colonies or provinces than NO nane
them states which would bring AL lte't
,nhatttants under the flag as citizens Oh
the limited States. These Islands are liol
N mart of the United States to-day. we
Mont want the inhabitants OF these 1slanas
N he made citizens of the United States.
THAT is what this bill does and NJ there
were nothing else against II unhi a,oiie
yyould induce me to vote against IL.
MIR. Teller said he desired all posslnie
and reasonable advantages ana litsn
eyes to he extended to those people, Du
he would not have them participate III
the election OF a president OF the ohi.eu
States, nor would he give 'he'ii ieii
sentation In Congress ..,
.1f the people of Porto Rico are citl-
zens of the United States then we are
doin. them great injustice II we levy
n tarirr on their products; II they are
not citizens then we have the same
,.rht TO levy u tariff on their soods Us
we ihaye to place a tariff on Inc pro-
ducts of Great Britain. Inc questioii
of the treatment of Porto Rico anu tiie
treatment OF the Philippines are en-
Question is how can we do justice 10
The inhabitants Of those islands ana oo
3ustice 10 ourselves at the same time.
Fad as this bill IS. 1t is better thah
anything the people of Porto Rico ever
lnd before.
- TURNER, TAKES A HAND.
Mr.. Turner then resumed his discussioli
of the pending measure. citing more
constitutional authorities in support OF
the contention that the Constitution 1oi-
lowed the flag into all territories ac-
o,,ired by the United States with the
idea of being held permanently ne
challenged any Senator TO produce a de-
c,sio., OF the Supreme Court hoiaine
s, to be necessary that the Constitu-
tion should be extended by act OF Con-:
rress over acquired territory. In con-
clus,on he contcnded that the pending
mn was unconstitutional. 1t was nn-
Denocratic, and he warned the powers
in the majority: =,
..I,eware unless you hetray the hopes
az the future in the exigencics Of the
present.