The Portland daily press., 1900-03-21
Maintains Paris Treaty is Supreme
Law Of Land.
Impossible to Abandon
Island.
Constitution Extends to Them to
Certain Extent.

Washington, March O.-Discussloh oi
the Porto Rico government and tarin
bill was resumed In the Senate today,
Mr.. Morgan of Alabama. presenting
speech Gealiug with some Of the consti-
tutional phases of the measure. de
maintaiu ed that as the treaty OF Paris
was the supreme law of the land. IL was
impcs tie for the United States TO aban-
dou either Porto Rico or the Phillip
pines. he held, also that the consii.u-
ton extended to q certain extent ut least
over the acquired territory and that the
innat itarts of Porto Rico were citizens
of the United States.
When the Senate convened today Mr.
KcCcmas OF Maryland repre- ssntipg o ma
jority Of the committse on privileges and
elections presented a report ON the reso-
luton, declaring Mr.. Scott OF West Viz
ginis, to be entitled to his seat In the
Sepats. The resolution was placed on the
calendar. Mr.. MoComas stated that Mir.
pettus would pre- ant q minority report.
The Senate declined to concur In ire
amcndm ent Of the Hors, to tae resolr'
ton disp osing Of the space In the capitol
formerly oocurisd by the library OF Con-
grets and ssked for q conference. Messrs
Spconer, ElkIns and Cockrell wsre named
as conferees ON the part Of the Senate.
An interesting oolIoquy arose over
question OF Mr.. Pettigrew of South Da-
kota for the printing as document, OF
collection Of sayings ana writings OF
prominent states men OF this country. de
read some of these sayings which he re-
ferred to as political sxiors.
"Wh9ss are these wiss sayings and
aphorismss" inquired MIR. Hale Of Maine.
"I'lI read another of them" responded
Mr., Pettigrew, sand doubtless the SsnH--
tor with his wide knowle dge will recos-
nize the author"
he then read paragraph relating to
the changing of coats by political parties
still Mr. Hale failed to recall the author
and inquired whether this collection oil
W ise sayings was by one person or by
several.
"The one have Just read" said MIR.
Pettisrew, twas written by Mir. Abraham
Lincoln In a letter TO the Republicans OF
Boston in response to request 10 partici-
nate In a oelsbratIo on Of Jefferson birth
day"
"I'm not going to object" said Mr..
Hale, "hut l would like to know who
compiled this valuable collection of say
iDgs."
MIR. Pettigrew replied that he himself
had prepared the collection.
:Ar. Sewall of New Jersey, Insisting
that the matter should be passed upon by
Senate committee, Mr. PsttigreU with
drew his request. declaring that the COM
Mite on printing, to which the document
would have TO 60 was graveyard. y
Bills We then ps ssed as follows;
decreasing the appropriation for pub
Ito building at Seattle to $780, 900; 10 pay
$40 coo to william C. Dodge for oar
fridge loading machine and rights there
on.
Providing for the uss by the United
States Of devices invented by Its naval
oflicsrs, while engaged in Its service and
covered by letters patents; to amend sec
tion 4445 o, title SO If the revised statutes
relating to the Ncensing of officers of
steam vessels.
When, In the consideration of the bills
ON the calendar, the mes suie providing
n form of government and tariff for
Porto Rico was reached, Mr.. Morgan Of
Alabama, announced his desire to speak
upon 1t. The special topic OF his discus.
sion was the question Of the extension of
the constitution over territory acquired
by the United States.
Comparing authority In Cuba and
Porto Rico, Mr.. Morgan declared that re-
sistence to American authority in Cuba
would be as much rebellion as IL was In
the Philippines. The national power
must continue to exist in all Of the &C.
quired islands until congress should
legislate In their regard.
"Ths world" he declared. Unjust be
amused at our diEcussion Of the question
whether the Philippines are part OF the
United States while we are voting
armies, supplies and money to suppress
the insurrection of one of the many tribes
In those Islands"
Mr.. Morgan eaid the question presented
to the United States were four fold.
First-Shall Congress provide a OWL
government for the islands Of Porto
Ricof
4 Sscond-ShaIl we leave the island to its
present form of government
Third-ShAll we abandon 1t and rseog-
nize Its independence
Fourth-Shall We suffer 1t to hoat OF
among nations as dereliot to be picked
up or capturedf
As to the islands acquired from Spain,
Mr.. Morgan maintained that the treaty
Of Paris was the supreme law Of the
land. Referring to Cuba, he said;
SIT. 1T treaty requires ua to occupy the
island. We cannot abandon Cuba with