Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-05
TW ELVE PAGES.
WHY TIE PORTO RIcAN BILL
WAS PASSED.

In view of the passage of the Porto
Rican tariff bill by the United States
Senate, statement from an authori-
tative source of the reasons the public
will be asked to accept as justihca-
tlon of that infamous measure will be
OF interest. In the North American
Review for April we find those reasons
set forth. calmly and apart from the
heat Of debate by Senator ]. B. Fo-
raker the champion of the measure on
the floor of the Senate.
The first reason given by Senator
Foraker Is one that was repeatedly
urged In the debate on the bill. that
the Is per cent. duty is necessary as
revenue measure. 1t being alleged that
the full Dingley tariff duties collected
at the ports of the island on all articles
imported from nations other than the
United States and the collection of reg
ular internal revenue duties would fall
S1,0oO,000 short Of meeting the insular
expenses. 1t was to spare the island
ers the burden Of direct taxes, says Mr..
Foraker. that this 10 per cent. tariff
duty is to be collected on their pro-
ducts.
The second reason given by Senator
Foraker Is one that we do not remem-
Der to have seen urged so openly be-
fore, and Is plainly the one which In
yuenced Congress, rather than any de-
sire to spare the Porto Ricans the
burdens OF direct taxation. Mr.. Fo-
raker says that an "open door, having
been given us in China, other nations
will ask like concession in the Phil
ippines. so soon as the war is over.
But IL the Philippines are a part of
the United States, under the Constitu-
ton, goods admitted to Philippine
ports free of duty under the open
door" policy would then be in the
United States, and could be re-shipped
from the Philippines to United States
ports without paying duty. This would
mean the overthrow OF the protective
tariff system. And there you are.
This Is an explicit confession of what
The Virginian- asserted some
weeks ago-that Porto Rico is to be
sacrificed for the sake of a precedent
1t Is TO be made merely the beginning
OF colonial system. the first formal
step toward empire. Justice and
solemn pledges as to Porto Rico are to
be bartered, indirectly, for trade con-
cessions in the Orient This is the first
tangible product of Mr.. Hays magnin-
cent triumph of diplomacy" the
splendid beginning of government by
treaty instead OF under the Constitu-
ton.
The source OF the enormous pressure
brought to bear on Congress- pres
sure strong enough to force this inl-
quitous measure through In spite of
the protests of nne-tenths OF the
American people. is disclosed. 1t was
not alone the Sugar and Tobacco
Trusts, but all the tariff built trusts
and infant industries" that put on the
screws. National honor, good faith.
'plain duty" and all the rest OF II must
go down before the beloved fetch Of
the Dingley tariff. The Philippines
must be held, The protective tariff must
not be jeopardized. Thus was the Re-
publican party caught between Ding
leyism and imperialism, and IL has
sought to escape by the most Toward
ly makeshift' and heartless subterfuge
in the history of legislation. 1t dared
not give up the Philippines. the army
contractors militarists and place hunt
ers would not hear to that. 1t dared
not attempt to govern them under the
Constitution-the protected interests
would not hear to that. Therefore a
way must be found to hold and govern
shem without antagonizing the one or