The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-30

Mr.. Bacon offered an amendment estab-
fishing the regular tariff rates of duty on
articles imported from fogsign countries
into Porto Rico and providing that no
duties shall be levied on articles imported
into Porto Rico from the United States
or into the United States from Porto
Rico He advocated his amendment as
presenting a clear, square issue.
Mr.. Gallinger submitted some judicial
decisions to prove that Territories are en-
tirely subject TO the legislative authority
Of Congress and that the Constitution
does not apply to them unless Congress
so provides. He argued that. under these
decisions. the proposition was unanswera-
bic that Congress had absolute legislative
control over Porto Rico and the Philip
pine Islands. The bill as II stands. he
said. is infinitely more liberal toward
PORTO Rico than Mr.. BacOns amendment
would be and he hoped that amendment
would be voted down
Mr.. Lindsay expressed the hope that
the amendment would be so amended that
the Senate might come to a vote upon it
without any Senator being constrained to
vote against it because, in any degree. it
undertook to settle the vexed question
Of the power of Congress to legislate with
respect to Porto Rico, and he indicated
such modification as would attain that
result which modification Mr. Bacon ac-
cepted. Mr. Lindsay argued in favor of
free trade between Porto Rico and the
United States as otherwise the pledge
would not be kept which had been given
TO the people OF Porto Rico when they
accepted the authority Of the United
States.
After further discussion the President
pro ten, Mr.. Frye, ruled that the votes
4 Fnu.aH a.
ported by the committee; and under that
ruling the amendment putting a tax Of
five cents per pound on coffee imported
into Porto Rico was agreed to without
objection tsubjcct, however. to further
amendment.
Mr. Pettus moved to strike out that
part OF section 3 OF the original bill which
imposes - per cent OF the present
tariff rates on merchandise between the
United States and Porto Rico The motion
was rejected-yeas 16, nays 30.
The sOte was as follows:
Yeas-B8c5n. Bate Berry Clark Of Montana.
tocTcl tulbefs0n, liauis, Jones OF Arkansas.
kenner, Lindsay. Morgan, rcrtus. Sullivan Tu-
lev Wellington 10.
NIss Allison Baker. Bard. Carter. Chandler.
Clark pt Wyoming, tullOm, Dtb0e Fairbanks.
Foraker Foster, Frye, G3ilinger, Gear, Hale. Han
ns. Hau-hiough. iawey, keaH, Kyle, Lodge No
Bride, Met omas, Mcliliau. PeTziu- Qu5fles Ross
Scott scucll, spOoucr Warren, Wetmore- 81.
During the roll call Mr.. Pettus said that
he was paired with Mr.. Hoar. but with au-
thority 10 vote in favor OF all free trade
propositions. and Mr.. Lodge coincfding
with that statement, said he had paired
his colleague with Mir. McEuery. 1t was
announced that Mr.. Depew was paired with
MIR Simon.
The second and third sections Of ths bill
having been completed by the committee
amendments, Mr.. Bacon's amendment to
strike them out and insert his proposition
for equality of tariff rates between Porto
Rico and other parts Of the United States
became in order, but at his request it
went over till today
Mr.. Foraker in charge Of the bill, moved
to substitute for section Of the House
bill a provision that from and after the
date on which the act goes into effect all
goods, wares, and merchandise previously
imported from Porto Rico for which no
entry has been made, and all goods. wares,
and merchandise previously entered with
out payment OF duty shall be subjected TO |
the duties imposed by the act and to no J
other duties. The substitute was agreed ,
to. after an explanation that under it only !
the Il per cent OF Dingley duties are to
be collected.
status of Porto Ricans
The next contested committee amend |
ment was to insert the provision that the |
inhabitants of Porto Rico shall be deemed |
and held to be citizens of Porto Rico, /
and as such entitled to the protection of
the United States. &"
Mr.. Morgan opposed the amendment as
treating the Constitution of the United
States in a light. frivolous. and improper
way" He said he had never witnessed
such twisting and turning to get the bill
through without recognizing the Constitu-
ion in a Territory" He asked the mean
ng of the word protection" In the phrase
md said it was "a vain and empty decla-