The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-21
PROPERTY OR A PART OF Us7
is PORTO RICO our CHATTEL 0W
is IT oUR CHILDt


the Island simply n Piece of Rent
Fstntc-Thrcc Speeches ON the Sub-
ject in the House.
Washington, Feb. 2O.-Again to-day
there were but three speeches in the
House upon The Porto Ricun tariff bill.
Five hours We're consumed in their deliv-
cry.
MIR. Hopkins of Illinois spoke in support
of the bill, and Mir. Newlands of Nevada
and Mr.. Swanson of Virginia in opposi-
ton to It. The speakers devoted them-
selves almost exclusively to the constitu-
tional question involved, and were listen-
cd to with attention.
The Republican leaders are becoming
nervous over the fate OF the bill They
have only majority Of fourteen over tho
opposition, which is solidly opposed to tho
measure. Eight votes from the Republi-
can side would therefore defeat It. and
| there are from twelve. to fifteen RepublI-
can votes in doubt.
A movement for Republican caucus ig
| being agitated, and, although no call had
been issued up to the time of adiourn-
ment tonight, the general understanding
was that one would be held tomorrow
night. The Republicans reported to be ops
posed to the bin are Messrs. Mccall %
Massac chusetts, Littleheld of Maine, Pow
ers of Vermont, Tompkins OF New York.
Bromwel OF Ohio, Lorimor of Illinois.
HeatwOle of Minnesota, Tongue of Ore
gon, Loud of California, Jones and Cusn-
man of Washington and Crumpacker Of
Indiana.
AT the opening Mr. Hepburn OF Iowa at
| tempted to secure an agreement to take
| up the Nicaragua canal bill and asked
| unanimous. consent that il be taken nm
| two weeks from to-day, and later pressed
| for II week hence Mr.. Richardson, OF
| Tennessee, the Democratic leader, had mo-
! objection but Mr.. Cannon of Illinois.
chairman OF the House Appropriation
! Committee dissented.
NewInndS Agninst the BILL
The House then went into COMMITTEES
OF the Whole, and Mr.. Newlands of Ne
vada. member of the Ways and Means
| Committee took the floor
1t was evident. Mir. Newlands said that
| so far as Porto Rico was concerned. what
/ ever present objections there might be
l upon the part Of the dominant party to
establishing freedom OF trade between
| that island and the Union, such trade
| would not long be deferred as apart from
| the Importance of the constitutional dues-
tions raised by a discriminating tariff,
/ NiItfl uphDtltSS NOuld be only temDOTarV.
1t was evident that both of the political
parties Of the country were now on sub
| stantial agreement that Porto Rico should
| become part of the Union.
| Mr. Newlands said, however, that the
/ Republicans were losing sight OF the pos
! sibility that the unrest and dissatisfactiou
| created by inequality Of laws might make
| our problem Of government in Porto Rico
! much more difficult than It now sgeemAd
! whether these islands were to be regard
ed n q don
/ of trade. freedom OF migration and eoual-
| ity OF right and burthen must be estab-
| lished, for otherwise each community dis
! criminated against would regard itself as
| the victim OF prejudice or self-interest
Inc dominant party was desirous of pre-
| venting freedom of migration and free
| trade between this country and the Phil
| ippine Islands. This was the sentimeus
| or the entire country. There was but ons
way TO accomplish this under the constf-
| tuition, and that was to declare that thev
! did not belong TO the United States and
| that the sovereignty Of the United States
would be exercised in these islands only
! for their Daciiicaion and the establish-
ment Of a stable government and the final
establishment of independent self-govern-
ment in the islands. Everything pointed
TO this the correct course Our dutU
was 70 Immediately incorporate Porto Rico
IN the union n territory with all it's
| rights and privileges under the constitu-
tiOn and laws of this country. Equality
Of right and equality of burthen would
render them satisfied with our scheme OF
government and contented with a condi-
| ton Of tutelnge which would ultinatelv
lead TO representation in the federal union.
Not IA Part OF United states
Mr. Hopkins of Illinois, another mem.
Der of the Ways and Means Committee,
then spoke IN support of the bill. The is
sue presented in the measure he said was
whether Porto Rico and the Philippines
under The treaty of peace with Spain be-
| came integral parts Of the United States
| or whether they can be treated as territory
| and separate and distinct customs and in
ternal revenue laws imposed upon them
from what are levied, collected and paid
IN the United States.
IL believe the Constitution of the United
States is broad enough and elastic enough
to enable us to control the inhabitants OF
those islands and give them a larger lib
erty and a higher civilization than they
have heretofore enjoyed without IMPAIR
ing in the least the integrity Of our do
mestic institutions or entaihng upon our
people additional taxation As to what
our relations are with the islands mem
honestly differ. l have given very care
ful thought to the subject and speaking
alone, / am entirely clear that those ISL
ands and Porto Rico under the treaty,
have become the property of the United
| States ana not part of ii, and that Con-
gress has power 10 make such disposition
or thcm as IL may deem Tor the Dest IN
teresls of the people of this country and
| the inhabitants or the islands. This be-
| ing true, we can have separate customs,
revenue and navigation laws for those
| Islands"
Mr. HOPKINS then proceeded to discuss
| the constitutional question involved quot
| Ing literally from The decisions Of the SUI
preme Court, the speeches Of Webster
Benton and Calhoun
Followers of George III.
Mr. Swanson Of Virginia, another mem-
Der OF the Ways and Means Committee,
was the last speaker to-day In opposing
the bill he said that the President i'm
his message had announced that Il was
"our plain duty to abolish all customs
tariffs between the United states and Por-