The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-03

ate concurrence In the House action Is no
longer concealed. The President is now
openly urging the Republican senators to
stand by the administration and the party
and carry through the administration pro-
gramme. first given form and shape by the
House ways and means committee. The
administration senators are declaring in
favor of the bill and giving inquirers to
understand they are for anything the Pres
ident wants
will make a speech on the bill in a few
days. He does not indicate what its pur-
port and spirit will be, but those who are
close to him have little doubt he will give
loyal backing to the administrator posi-
ton. Until he makes his speech. in which
he will define his views fully. Senator Fair
banks declines to be interviewed for the
newspapers
Senator Beveridge is understood to have
given the President assurances to-day that
he would vote for the bill. although to the
interviewers he preserves his usual reti-
cence, declining to say what he will do.
OvERSTREETS STATEMENT.
Representative Overstreet is one of the
members who feels hurt that his position
should be misunderstood by his neighbors
and that his sagacity should be questioned.
He declares that under the Constitution he
could have pursued no other course, and
that he has no apology to offer for his
vote. He says in statement telegraphed
to the indianapolis Press to-day:
Two questions are involved in the Porto
Rican bill recently passed by the House
first, the power of Congress to legislate for
our newly acquired possessions; second,
immediate relief of the unfortunate condi-
ton OF Porto Rico created by storm and
war. If the Constitution by its terms
clothes the inhabitants of our island pos
sessions with the same rights and priyi-
leges now enjoyed by citizens of Oklahoma
and New Mexico then the attitude of our
government toward the islands, and es-
pecially the Philippines. both as to their
retention and control, involves most serious
consequences. If Congress possesses power
to legislate for the islands outside of the
Constitution such legislation must, of
course, follow along lines of right and JUS
tice. but with proper regard to the effect
1t may have upon the labor of this country.
This constitutional question will be de-
termined within a very short time by the
supreme Court. The bill as passed in
wolves this great question, which is most
important in view of much legislation
which will Of necessity follow relative to
the islands Under the bill all revenue COL
lected shall be used for the relief and bene-
ly approves this legislation and by his
message of to-day clearly sets forth the
policy OF treatment Of these people.
THE great amount of tobacco and sugar
to-day held in Porto Rican warehouses as
the property not of oPrto Ricans, but of
American capital, completely refutes the
slander that the bill was supported by
American trusts. We only seek to obtain
from such revenue some means of aiding
a people entitled to our wise consideration
and just action. I believe a close study of
the law governing the question will result
in Endorsement of the conclusion reached
by the House, which will very greatly
facilitate future legislation. AS the Porto
Ricans receive the full benefit of every dol
lar raised by the tariff, the present emer-
gency will be met and this temporary pro-
vision can be easily displaced by full free
dom OF trade when changed conditions find
the people of the island better able to meet
their expenses by direct taxation"
WHAT MR.. lands SAID.
All the Indiana representatives who are
in the city stand by their votes with cour-
age. Representative c. B. Lands. of Del
phi, said to an indianapolis Press corre-
spondent to-day:
"Time and experience will justly the
Porto Rican tariff bill. Had we mortgaged
the island. the Democrats would have split
the sky with their yells of mock indigna-
tion. Had We proposed to pay all this
money out of the United States treasury,
they would have bewailed the expense
which the alleged imperialistic policy Of
the administration had forced on the peo-
pie. Had a direct tax been levied it would
tave fallen on the poor people of the
island. The bill. as passed, will affect
the the Porto % Eican .,, capitalist and. and Amer, s,
the sugar and tobacco on the island
and waiting for chance to dump it
here in the States free of duty. These
gentlemen will have to settle with the GUS
fcr off nd ha oa1l Of fbai
profits thus collected will go back to Porto
Rico for the benefit OF the island and
people.
Every dollar collected on goods going into
Porto Rico and goods coming out of Porto
Rico goes back to Porto Rico. Will some
one explain where there is any robbery
about that? This bill will not run over
two years. In the meantime we can study
the needs of all these islands and the best
way TO govern them.
I'VE have spent several hundred million
dollars in kicking Spain out of the Philip
pines Cuba and Porto Rico. This repre-
ssnts sentiment and our devotion to JUS
tice. 1t strikes me that 1t is about time to
arrange for some of these people to con-
tribute to their own support, and thus sea-
son the sentiment and humanity proposi-
ton with a delicate flavor of business. The
Porto Ricans were poor when l was down
there, and yet II you offered one of the
ragged gentry less than dollar to row
you a mile TO your ship he would laugh at
you. The time has come to intimate to
them that we cannot make a charity hos
pital out of their island The greatest In
jury we could do them would be to treat
them as mendicants. The tariff levied is
so light that the Porto Ricans would not
know they were paying 1t were 1t not for
the noise made here in the States. AS long
as every dollar collected goes to Porto
Rico the American people cannot make a
well-grounded objection, and they will not
when they understand the statement to be
true. i have been much annoyed by the
report published in one of the indianapolis
papers that ! had stated on my return
from Indiana that the people out there
were not interested in the Porto Rican
tariff bill. i not only never made such a
statement on my return here. but took oc-
casion to impress upon the leaders of the
party the fact that the people of Indiana
were talking about little else. 1 cannot
understand why any one would send out
such a report
Judge Crumpacker frowns on the attempt
to boom him for Governor OF Indiana on
bill. IT regret that a movement to run me
for Governor has been started he said.
II have no desire to be Governor OF Indi-
ana. / very greatly prefer TO remain in
the House. 1 marked out my course on
the questions involved in the Porto Rican
bill in a speech made in the House a year
ago. and my vote on the bill was no sur
prise to my constituents. 1t is easier for
ne to move straight ahead after / get my
bearings than it is to turn around and go
back. This is all care to say"
NICHOLAS.