The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-02-23
THE PUERTO RICAN BILL
DISTURBS REPUBLICAN
SERENITY.
Unless Constitution Can be
Twisted to Favor Colonial
Scheme the Philippines
May be Abandoned.


for many years. The argument
on the Puerto Rican Tariff bill
will take up the entire week and
extend into the next week. Both
sides are equally confident of sue.
cess, but admit that the majority
either way will not be large.
While the question of free
trade with Puerto Rico is very
important to the inhabitants of
that island and certain industries
in this country, the mere matter
of tariff rates is entirely over.
Swallowed and almost completely
lost in that of the right of Con.
gress to legislate without consti.
tutional restriction for territory
of the United States. Beyond
the Puerto Rican bill looms up
the shadow of the question of gov.
eminent for the Philippines,
which is the question which will
practically be considered and seU-
tied by the House in this debate.
The Republican party has been
brought face to face with a crisis
on the satisfactory solution of
which may depend their success
in the next election. This is ad-
mitted by the leaders of the
House, who are the most active
in pressing the bill. Their prime
object is to secure a decision from
the Supreme Court on the consti.
tutionality of the bill. This de-
cisiOn would determine once for
all just how far Congress can
proceed in legislating for the new
possessions and on it rests the flu
ture fate of the Philippines.
WHAT ADVERSE DECISION
MEANS.
"Should the Supreme Court de.
eide the action of Congress in
this matter unconstitutional, pre-.
Stunning of course, the bill is
passed." said one of the leading
Republican members on Insular
affairs, "there will be no question
as to our future action on the
Philippines. We will drop them
like a hot brick, for no one con-
templates extending to those is
lands the laws and Constitution
of the United States"
Another member of the same
committee, who like the first, is
prominent enough in the House
to have had a boom for the
Speakership, approved the words
OF his colleague, and said:
"There is no doubt on the re.
tention of the Philippines de-
ponds on the constitutiOnality of
this bill. If it is found to be un.
constitutional we must give up
the Philippines"
There will be more or less Op-
position in the Republican party
20 the bill, but the leaders de-
clare that when the vote is taken
I'll but one or two will fall into
inc. They claim that the dis
enters will be unable to stand |
he consequences of deserving the
'arty at a moment SO fraught
Nth danger to it's interests, and
ay most of those who oppose the
ill on the grounds of its uncon-
nationality will take refuge in
be theory that if free trade can.
OF be obtained for Puerto Rico
reduction of rs per cent. will
better than nothing and vote
r the bill on that ground. This
the attitude of the President at
Ie present time.
MIR. MCKINLEY's ATTITUDE.
When Representatives Gros-
NOR, Payne and Dalzell called
/ Mr.. Mckinley several days
20 and represented to him that
IS attitude toward the bill had
suited in stirring up considera-
Q opposition to it among the
members of the
ouse and stitfened the back
mes of those who were cOntem.
ating deserving the party on
10 vote Mr.. Mckinley substanti-
ly told them that he was in
vor of free trade between the
nited States and Puerto Rico,
nd his opinion has been I'M
hanged since his message, but
Ither than see the party put in
hole because of his attitude, he
ould acquiesce in the 20 per
.nt. provision. He would sign
hatever bill was brought to him.
With this statement the opposi-
on have been approached and
.asoned with and urged by all
onsideration, personal, party and
nd political, to vote for the bill.
n some cases these arguments
ere successful, but in others
ley failed.
Judge Crumpacker, of Indiana,
as a member of the sub. commit.
se on Insular Affairs, which ex.
mined the constitutional prece.
ents for this contemplated &C.
ion of the House. He made a I
eport that the bill was unconsti-
ltional and expects to speak in
Il A A L. - a