The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-12
MONDAY. FEBRUARY u, 1870
The Porto Ricnn Tariff.

perpetuate Dingleyism in that portion OF
the United States included within the ISL
and of Porto Rico viii be called up in the
House of Representatives on Thursday of
this week Ii is supported by a majority
report from the committee, from which
one Republican member dissents on con-
stitutional grounds, and is assailed in a
minority report, signed by all the Demo-
cratic members and Representative New
lands of Nevada.
1t would be difficult 10 conceive OF a
more insincere or legally indefensible po-
stion than the Administration Ways and
Means Committeeman take in advocacy of
the proposition TO treat American as for
eign territory by the imposition OF GUS
toms duties against its products, and by
compelling It to pay duties upon its i'm
ports from other portions of the United
States. The stretching process to which
they attempt 10 subject the Constitution.
covering their determination to placate
the ultra protecticnists and the Sugar and
Oil Trusts in a Presidential year, is
subterfuge unworthy of national legisla-
tors. and would not be resorted TO except
in view Of what they consider a party
necessity related to the elections next
November.
II does not modify the assault upon
equity. the rights Of men under the Amer
lean flag and UPON the Constitution itself.
that Chairman Payne and his majority
colleagues propose TO sugar the Porto
R;ca2 hill by providing that all the du-
ties collected on Porto Rican goods on the
mainland. and all collected in Porto Rico
on goods from the mainland. shall be used
and expended for the exclusive benefit of
the island. The contention that the in
Fiction of customs tariff upon Porto
Rico is necessary in order to provide reve-
nue. for the support of the local govern
ment is, of course, useless to discuss. If
the provision of the Federal Constitution.
that all duties, imposts, and excuses
shall be uniform throughout the United
States" applies to Porto Rico it is OBJ
yious that no question of necessity for
revenue could be met by legislation in vio
lsiion of it.
To avoid this impassc the Republican
leaders in Congress have discovered an
entirely new and startling Interpretation
OF the Constitution. and one which. it is
but due TO their intelligence 10 say. they
know viii be exploded the very first time
II is presented to the Supreme Court
However. as the main object OF the present
effort is to please the trusts and protected
monopolies, and tide over the Presidential
election without making them surly and
flibersl. this prospect does not worry the
party managers.
Their amazing discovery is that. while
the United States. as a geographical ex-
pressiCa, includes all the territory under
It's sovereignty and government. in q
political sense the term only covers the
area within the boundaries of the COM
pnnent States of the Urion. Hence. they
argue that anything outside those con-
fines is not United States" but territory
belonging 10 the United States" at large;
that such possessions are subject to the
control of Congress. unlimited by consti-
tutor.al provision or restriction, and that
the inhabitants of the same are totally
without civil or political rights resulting
from American residence and allegiance,
put can have and enjoy only those which
Congress may choose TO confer This view,
according TO the majority report OF the
House Ways and Means Committee is
borne out by the constant practice of the
Government ever since the Louisiana Pur-
chase.
II We could assume tine truth of SO
ridiculous an assertion. II would be in or
der to enquire why the press, the people.
and the courts OF the country have been
completely unconscious Of the rule and of
Its application during the greater part of
a century? il is 10 be distinctly remem-
bered that the Republican position on the
question of the territorial status OF Porto
Rico. and our other new possessions,
Jumps them with the District OF Columbia,
Alaska Arizona, New Mexico, and Okla
homa So that under the Constitution Of
the United States. as expounded by the
party Of Hanna. Mckinley. and Rockefel-
Ter a denizen OF the District. or OF Ari-
IONA. IS on all fours with native OF
I-uzon or Guam. except as be may have
been more or less clothed with rights OF
liberty or property by Affirmative acts OF
mercy passed By Congress.
Thus. under the definitive logic OF the
Payne report on the Porto Rican bill, It
Is and always has been within the power
and constitutional authority of Congress
10 impose a tariff upon goods imported isto
the District of Columbia from Maryland
and Virginia. or to compel Missouri TO
pay duty on imports Of Oklahoma lumber.
In other words, according to the latest at
titude OF the Administration and its Con-
gressional supporters, our Territories are
not integral portions OF the United States.
and these people are not citizens or
Americans within the meaning OF the Con-
stituiion.
Even TO state badly and without COM
ment the proposition of these fin de steele
Constitution thinkers is 10 apply the re-
ductio ad absurdum TO their argument,
which Is false. vicious, and contemplate
on its face. They claim that Territories
are not a part OF the United States, yet
on the contrary theory, Delegates from the
Territories sit in Congress. II will 10.
do 10 say that because these Delegates do
not vote that fact makes any difference.
Congress recognizes them. and the courts
recognize them as public ofncers of the
United States representing American con-
stituencies- II it were otherwise. those
constituencies would be treated not as en-
ttied 10 seats and hearing In the Ma