The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-03-14

Puerto Rican B;il a Target for
Hot Shot From Both S.des.

Washington. March S-A member
of the cabinet tonight gave out tie
following authoritative statement ::
There has been wide misap2re
neusion of the Puerto Rlcaa tariff
bill, of the attitude Of the president.
OF the action of congrass and of their
relations to each other. The critl
cism aud the concern which have
come from some well meaning quar-.
ters are due almost entirely to q
misunderstanding of the real facts.
1.-The attempt to represent that
there has been disagreement be
tween the president aud congress is
wholly unfounded There has been
no essential differences between
them Both have sought the same
object The recommendation of the
president and the house bill. in their
purpose and their effects, come to the
same thing As consequence, each
rightly SuStalnS tue Otuef
"The president in his annual mes
sage of December urged that the
custom duties trade between
Puerto Rico and the United States be
removed. Imports from Puerto Rico
to the United States have been scd
are now paying the Diugley rates.
They have 40 preference over goods
from any foreign country The
president felt that Pueto Rico should
be relieved Of this burden. He
urged that it should be removed, not
as matter OF legal right, but Of
liberal and humane public policy.
"What be proposed was that the
United States should offer the largest
and most generous measure of help
to the distressed and suffering island,
and he has never wavered single
instant ic the object he sought. Had
his suggestion been accepted and
followed by all in his spirit and as he
meant it, with the limitations he
intended, ali would have been we'll
There would have been no harm IN
any direction But when the time
came for action in congress two
tendencies were seen Ga the one
hand, there were good men aad some
business and agricultural interests
that, while not objecting or little
objec.iug to free trade with Puerto
Rico alone. feared that free trade
with Puerto Rico would be made 8
precedent for free trade with the
Philippines They fel: that there
shcald be distinct assertion and
exercise of the power TO impose
duties, however small, as an assur.
ance that this power was reserved fer
other cases.
.'On the other hand what the
president proposed as worthy act
of national generosity and liberal
policy was seized by political oppon
ents and claimed as a necessity and
inevitable measures Of inherent con
stitutionaI right of its own
force extends to Puerto Rico
and all the new island pos
sessions and spreads ali its pro-
visions over them, including uniform
tsxation. They were eager to ccm
NIT a Republican congress to the
adootion Of free trade with Puerto
Rico. not as measure of generous
ezpediency, but because they couid
then Claim ,ast ii had riveted hard
and f2s. principal which you'd tie
the hands Of the government every
where, in the Philippines as we'll as
in Puerto Rico
s'It was canning game ou: it did
sot succeed Tie apprehension Of
,be honest objectors VINO feared taat
the concession Of fol fee ;raae 20
Puerto Rico would lead 10 miscoa
s.ruc;ion and tie designs Of the
crafty par.isans wbo meant that il
should, were both net AID frustrated
by the bill which passed the house
aud which ievies Is per cent or less
.aaa one sixth OF the Dingley rates
Safa Burglars Working she