The evening times., 1900-02-24

Probably it is quite within bounds to say
that if the Payne Porto Rican tariff ini-
guilty ever had a chance in the House of
Representatives. it was destroyed yeste--
day in the splendid constitutional arg
ment presented by Mr.. Littlefeld Of
Maine. in opposition to the measure. 1t
is interesting to remember that the Re
publican champion of the Constitution and
Justice is the successor in the House or
the late Nelson Dingley, the author of the
tariff law which the trust mOnopolies are
new trying to apply TO American ter
ritory.
The speech of Mr. Littlefeld has not
failed to exert the effect upon wayering
Republicans that might be expected. and,
although there will be mad effort to
whip enough members into line to secure
a majority for the Payne bill, it is gen
orally believed that it Will not succeed A
motion to recommit. which the party man
ayers would now antagonize. they may
welcome on Monday. Once back in the
committee. the infamy could be consigned
TO the silent grave Of dusty pigeonhole.
Whether the measure be withdrawn or
defeated. we may be sure that in either
case its miscarriage will cause deep re-
sentiment at the joint Republican and
trust headquarters, and this may take the
form of refusal to permit any legislation
for Porto Rico at the present session Of
Congress. Such non-action would result
in the eXaction of full Dingley rates from
the suffering people of the island for what
ever time il may take to secure a final
definition of the territory's political stat
US from the Supreme Court. In ordinary
circumstances we are certain that MIR
Mckinley would see that the cases now
in the inferior courts were expedited As
far as that might properly be done by the
Department Of Justice. But the conditions
this year are unusual and il is to be feared
that there will be obstruction rather than
help on the part of the Administration. II
has dawned at last upon cur friends. the
Republican magnates. that they viii havs
to amend the Constitution materially be-
fore they can treat our insular possess
ion as foreign parts. and that on the day
the Supreme Court decides that Porto Rico
is an integral part of the common country,
as il most surely will. the Philippines also
viii be opened TO free trade with the re-
mainder of the United States.
Beyond doubt tardy realization OF this
interesting fact is a red terror to Mr..
Hanna and his associates in the party
management. Already there is disappoint-
ment and rage among the infant industries
OF the oil. sugar. tobacco, and rum men.
Their craft is in danger. and il may be
that they Will begin now 10 practice a
strict economy in the matter Of campaign
contributions. The logic Of the situation
as it affects the Republican machine is
very plain and simple. The only thing the
managers can do is to convince the trusts,
il that be possible that the Supreme Court
Will ignore both the letter and the spirit
of the Constitution. and decide that cur
new possessions are foreign ia relation 10
the customs tariff and only domestic for
purposes Of oppression. Then. Of course,
il the trusts can be made to believe that
sort of thing. and judicial settlement Of
the question can be STAYED of until after
the Presidential election. no great harm
might come. The difficulty is that the
trusts are able 10 and DO employ hrst-class
lawyers who know something about the
Constitution. These astute specialists viii
not be slow to tell their masters that the
best they can hope is that while unqLali-
fed free trade between the Ameri san main
land and the American islands OF The NJ
lantic and Pacific Oceans is in
evitable. il may be postponed for
perhaps few months On the
whole. ii is very deep water the lc-
publicans have fallen into. and We feel
compelled to say that they seem to be do
ing more iounderng than swimming