The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-02-09
PORTO RICAN TARIFF
Two Reports Are Submitted By
House Committee.

Washington, Feb. S.-The reports on
the bill framed by the ways and means
committee imposing duties equivalent
to p per cent Of the American tariff on
goods imported into Porto Rico from
the United States and vice versa, were
submitted to the house today. The Re
publicans of the committee. except
Mr.. Mccall (Mass.), agreed to report in
support Of the bill, devOtiBg a cOnsid-
cradle portion Of their argument to
sustaining the contention that the
CLAUSE of the constitution declaring
that "all duties, impOsts and excuses
shall be uniform throughout the United
States" is not applicable to our new
possessions, which, they say. are not
United States territory within the
meaning of that declaration.
The Democrats, together with Mr.
Newiandsl New, took the contrary
view. Mr.. Mccall. dissenting Republic
an. practically holds with them. He
made a separate report, saying he can
not support the bill because it does
not follow the rule OF uniformity pre-
scribed by the constitution rule
which, in my opinion, governs congress
in legislation for the territories of the
United States" Mr. Mccall Isl Unspar-
ing in his denunciation of the policy
to which the bill viii commit the gov
eminent.
The majority report was submitted
/ by Chairman Payne
Contention of Republicans.
After citing many cases in support Of
! its contention. the report concludes;
/ 'First-That upon reason and author
: ity the term United States as used in
! the constitution, has reference only to
/ the states that constitute the federal
union and does not include territories
} SeCoEd-That the power Of congress-
with respect to legislation for the ter
/ Titories in plenaTy.
''Third-That under that power con-
/ gress may prescribe different rates for
duty for Porto Rico from those pre-
/ scribed for the United States"
, Representative Mccall (Mass), the
/ only Republican member of the COM
mittee to dissent from his colleagues
or the Porto Rican bill, concluded his
/ report as follows.
ExtoFtion and Robbery.
Il recognize our full duty to do our
/ utmost to secure the welfare and hap
! piness of the people of our new posses
sions But I regard it as a most in
suspicious omen that our first legislat-
/ i've act should be framed on the theory
/ that freedom does not follow the flag.
J Is II not GEAR lAelL at the outset you
/ are paving the way for more hideOUs
extortion and robbery than ever dis
/ graced Indian
The minority report is signed by all
/ the Democratic members of the ways
I and means committee and Representa-
. tive Newlends. the silver member.
After calling attention to the pTesi-
+ dents recent recommendation for the
( adjustment of all customs duties be-
I tween Porto Rico and the United
I States and the report Of the secretary
Of war TO the same effect. the report
/ concludes as follows:
we do not know why these sudden
/ changes have occurred. We cannot be
lieve that the president has been con-
verted from the opinion he so lately ex-
/ pressed or that he now admits the I'M
wisdom Of the solemn advice he so re
/ Gently gave to congress. We are not
( advised that his opinion was hastily
/ formed and that he had not matuTely
! considered the subject upon which he
was advising US
Despoliation of Porto Rice.
we do not believe the people Of this
! land ardently attached as they are TO
our free institutions, can be brought TO
/ favor a policy which Expresses the in
habitaDts of the territory owned by the
United States anywhere, and over
I which the flag of the republic floats,
| even if such policy should serve in a
/ degree to enrich some citizens of the
United States. We protest earnestly
! against the adoption of a rObber policy
which makes this republic take the
/ place Of ruthless monarchy, Spain.
in desp0iling Porto Rico, now a portion
/ of the United States.
We recommend that the pending bill
does not pass"
Arguments In Molipsux Case.