The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-03-09


territory" replied Mr.. Foraker "rhe sit-
uatlon IN Porto Rico Is analmous. If the
island Is TO have schools, good roads ana
public improvements. it must get them
through taxation, and such taxation as Is
proposed In this BILL
What effect IS a grantuity OF this kind"
inquired Mr.. Davis. "a gratulty which
places the inhabitants in the status OF
mendicants going to have on the people
OF Porto Ricoe II seems TO me direct
appropriations for their needs would be
much to be preferred"
This is a great emergency" repiied
Mr.. Forakere I'VE cannot depend upon
such appropriations as the senator sug-
gests. The people would all be dead %
starvation before the relief could reach
theru."
In response 10 an inquiry Mr Foraker
said II was generally understood that ]
or the sugar and tobacco now on the ISL
and was owned by the sugar and TO-
bacco trusts II this was true, he said,
the imposition OF the tariff proposed
would fall upon those well able to bear
Il and TO contribute at least that much
to the suffering Porto Ricans
BEYOND LAW BOOK STAGE
Mr.. Foraker became involved in a coll
loquy with Mr.. Hoar as to the consti-
tuition right Of congress to levy a duty
on products from territory OF the TN
ited States in which the Ohio senator
declared that the provisions OF the con-
stltutiOn referred to had no app,ica-
tion In the case OF Porto Rico.
Mr.. Hoar continued to press the point
and Mr.. Foraker finally declared that the
question had passed beyond the Jaw
book stage and had become one OF JUS
tice and humanity.
Mr. Hoar-"That is the senator's ans
wer2'
SUPREME COURT MUST ACT.
''No. IL is not" retorted Mr.. r'oraker.
warmly. 81 answered the senator's ques-
tion and the persistency with which the
senator presses Il shows that he does not
want to accept the answer. I might
stand here and quote decisions OF the SUI
preme court until the last Porto Rcan
had starved and II would have no effect
upon senators who differed with me.
This contention has been going on for
two years and II will have 70 be deter
mined ultimately by the supreme coure.
! If we cannot levy a duty on the products
OF Porto Rico, we can't levy q duty on
the products Of the Philippines. II the
Philippines are now part Of the Unit
ed States and IL we cannot levy tariff
on their products we might just as well
dismantle our custom houses and go out
Of the protection business. There can be
no intelligent legislation on this question
until we get commanding view of the
situation that will be afforded us by
decision OF the supreme court"
Mr.. Foraker discussed the propabi.ity
that this government would be asked by
other powers for an open door In the
Philippines and declared IL vas an import-
ant and perhaps imminent continency OF
which account would have TO be taken.
We wanted trade in the orient and af-
ter we demanded an entrance 10 China
we must grant one 10 the PnIAppines.
He thought the Philippines could not be
| dealt with as 1t was proposed to dea,
! with Porto Rico.
"A SUGAR TRUST.
Mr. Tiilman-Then the contention is that
/ we can take Porto Rico under our wing
/ and protect her to the utmost but that
we cannot do the same thing with the
! Philippines?
/ Continuing he asked why the president
/ had originally recommended free trade
with Porto Rico and the house had then
brought in a biz to that end only chang
] ing It's course of policy after hearing
! from Mr. OXnard the sugar king.
CITED TO HANNA.
Replying, Mr.. Foraker referred Mr..
| Tillman TO his colleague, Mr. Hanna
II am not the keeper OF the presidents
| confidence. / have no doubt however,
that the president spoke from his highest
/ conviction and best sentiment. No doubt
! he would prefer free trade with Porto
Rico as I should, but he probably knows
more now than he knew then when he
/ promulgated lndt message dudt KNOW
! ing more, II Is his duty as a man and as
an official TO change his recommenda-
ton"
Mr. Hoar said the thing to do now,
| was to make an appropriation OF a sum of
money sufficient 10 relieve the distress OF
| the Porto Ricans That course would be
! definite and there would be no delay nor
inhumanity in IT,
Mr.. Bacon pointed out what he believed
TO be the inconsistency of providing for
a delegate In congress from Porto Rico
/ who Is not a citizen OF the United States
and who is TO be elected by persons
who are not citizens OF the United
\ States, but who must take an oath to
obey the constitution Of the United
l States.
Mr.. Foraker contended that this was
what had been done in the cases OF
Louisiana, Florida and in many other IN
stances.
The discussions Of the questions Of con-
stitutional law was continued until
| o'clock Mr. Hoar made the closing OBJ
servation In which he took Issue wi
the principles enunciated by Mr.. Fora
ker. He held that the doctrine proposed
to be applied to Porto Rico and the Pm l.
ipplnes would result IN a despotism and
II would be none the less a despotism be-
cause It was TO be carried into effect
by moral men of high civilization
The chair announced the appointment OF
Senators Hanna and Tnlman as members
OF the board Of visitors TO the nava, aca-
denny.
PEKIN MARCH S-The dowager em-
press today received the wives OF the for
eign ministers IN audience. Both the em-
| peror and the new heir apparent 10 the
throne were present The ceremonies
were similar TO those OF last year