The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-09

ing debate to move to lay the entire SUBJ
stitute of the Senate Committee for thu
House bill on the table.
FORAKER DEFENDS IT.
Mr. Foraker. In charge of the pension
bill, replied to Mr.. Pettus fie was of
the opinion that misunderstanding OF
the measure prevailed both in the Sem
ate and in the country. Instead of be-
ing Liberal" said Mr.. Foraker, the
Gus legislation ever proposed for Ter
ritory of the United States.
He pointed out that down to 1850 the
whole power Of the government of the
Territories of the United States was
placed in the officials appointed by the
President and that, too without any ref
erence to the desire or consent or the
people governed. So far as he had been
informed, no intelligent and apprecia-
tive man in Porto Rico had dissented
from the propositions of the measure
There may have been some criticism on
the part of Porto Ricans, but generally
it was accepted as an excellent bill.
GAS | said a week ago" said Mr.. For
aker, 1.-The mortgage Indebtedness of the
island is $26, 900 900. The United States
Government extended the time for pay
ment of that debt for one year and sub
sequently extended again for six months.
If it had not been for the Uni.al States
the whole of This vast property you'll
have been sold to satisfy creditors. If
necessary the time will bn extended
again until Congress gets done discussing
the constitutional questions and goes TO
the relief of a suffering people.
In round figures the revenues under
the bill which nures to the sole benehi
of Porto Ricans under the bill, would ag
gregate 81 900 900. about 81, 100000 from
customs and $500, 900 from internal rev
enue.
Continuing the Ohio Senator said that
after all means Of raising revenue Fad
been considered it was found necessary
to provide at least 81 ,000, 900 more per
annum. Then it was proposed to levy
a duty of twenty-five per cent Of The
Dingley law on products of the islands
imported into this country and to Turn
the amount so raised back to Porto
Rico.
THE situation in Porto Rico he tx
planned lis anomalous. If the island is
to have schools, good roads and public
improvements it must get them through
taxation and such taxation as is pro-
posed in this bill"
QUESTION FOR SUPREME COURT.
Mr.. Foraker said that as it was gem
orally understood the sugar and tobacco
trusts owned all of the sugar and to-
bacco on the island. the proposed tariff
would fall upon those well able to bear
it. In a colloquy with Mr.. Hoar, Mr..
Foraker finally declared that the question
in point had passed beyond the law
book stage" and had become one of JUS
tice and humanity. Mr.. Foraker finally
replied that the contention will have to
be determined ultimately by the Supreme
Court. The nature of the provisions of
this bill make it inevitable and then we
shall have a settlement of the question
to which we all will bow porto Rico
and the Philippines stand on the same
basis. If we cannot levy a duty on the
products of Porto Rico we can't levy a
duty on the products of the Philippines.
If the Philippines are now a part of the
United States and if we cannot levy a
tariff on their products we might just
as we'll dismantle our custom houses and
go out of the protection business"
Mr., Tillman wanted to know why we
lions in the Philippines in return for an
open door to China
Mr. Foraker replied that this country
was under no obligation except a moral
one. He thought the Philippines could
not be dealt with as it was proposed to
deal with Porto Rico. Mr.. Tillman in
ferred that it was the purpose to hold to
the theory of protection regardless of the
plea of philanthropy and other questions
of that character which Mr. Foraker
promptly denied
DESTINY. DUTY AND DOLLARS.
Mr. Tilman remarked that the legisla-
ton was in the interest of the doctrine
of destiny duty and dollars
Mr.. Hoar urged direct appropriation
to which Mr. Foraker replied that could
not be depended upon Mr. Foraker said
he regarded Porto Rico as a dependency,
not an integral part of the United States
Mr.. Bacon pointed out the alleged in
consistency of providing for a delegate
not a citizen nor elected by citizens, to
take the oath to obey the United States
Constitution. Mr.. Foraker cited Florida,
Louisiana and other presidents.
The Chair announced the appointment
of Senators Hanna (Ohio) and Tillman
fS CO. as members of the Board of Wis
itors to the Naval Academy.
At o'clock the Senate took a recess
until o'clock.
AT tonight's session fifty-nine pages of
Senate adjourned until tomorrow.