The Washington weekly post., 1900-03-20
Wednesdays Proceedings.

II do not believe" said Senator Teller.
Wednesday in the Senate, discussing the
Porto Rican bill. that the Constitution
is In force in any Of our new possessions
Congress. i believe. is supreme so far as
the making of legislation for acquired
territory is concerned. OF course, in en-
acting such legislation, Congress is bound
by certain fundamental principles that
underlie this free government.
After careful examination OF all su-
preme court authorities, | have been able
10 ind only one case that will support
the doctrine that the Constitution goes
of its own vigOr into the acquired terri
tory.
My own belief IS that we can make
the acquired territory a part of the Unit
Cd States or not. as Congress may see fit.
II we do not make il part Of the United
States. l believe We may hold them
as cOlOI1ies-that we have the same power
to hold them as Great Britain has to hold
colonial possessions"
Mr.. Teller did not believe that It was
necessary 10 make the acquired territory
a part of the United States in the sense
that il should be regarded and governed
as incipient States of the Union Porto
Rico might, he thought be held under
Al-t SbNtitAELlN VI t4l' Aililtu states. anu
the people. subject to our dictation. might
make the laws Of the island, and the
United States might determine what the
inhabitants should or should not do He
found no legal difficulty in dealing either
with the acquired possessions or their
inhabitants.
Don't Want Them a Citizens,
'I do not want 10 make Porto Rico and
NH vi !
States and do not want to make their
inhabitants citizens of the United
States" said Mr.. Teller He added that
the relation he would establish between
the United States and the acquired terri
tory was entirely consistent with the his
tory and traditions and principles of this
country II he had time he believed he
could prove that the fathers Of the coun-
try contemplated the acquisition and the
holding Of colonies by the United States.
Mr.. Teller said difficulties might grow
out Of the problem presented, but he knew
that the American people would deal
with the problem with fairness, with
Justice. and with courage"
III ANYBODY" he continued. "can show
n better way out OF the trouble than the
holding OF The possessions We have ac-
quired. am willing 20 consider H.
II would a great deal rather make
Porto Rico and the Philippines colonies or
provinces than 10 make them States.
which bring all their Inhabitants un5er
the flag as citizens Of the United State..
These islands are not part Of the United
States today.
I'VE don't want the Inhabitants OF these
islands To be made citizens of the United
States That Is what this bin does. ana
II there We're nothing else against 1t, thar
H..H. -
Against Representation in Congress.
Mr.. Teller said he desired all possible
and reasonable advantages and privileges
20 De- extended 60 those people. but he
would not have them participate in the
election Of a President Of the United
States. nor would he give them represen-
tatiOn IN Congress.
The tariff question involved IN the
pending measure. Mr.. Teller said, depend
"a for solution wholly upon the relation OF
the inhabitants OF the islands 10 the
United States.
If they were citizens We could not le-
rauy or constltuuOnaliy levy a tariff On
their products; IL they are not citizens.
then this government might DO as II saw
N about leyying a duty on those products
The latter view raised only d question Of
policy.
y Porto Ricans were not citizens Of
;he United States. then they mad no right
90 demand that they be given free tra1e
with u.
II the people Of Porto Rico are citi-
zens % the United States. then We are
doing them "a great injustice II We levy
Il tarifI on their products; II they are nor
citizens. then We have the same right 10
levy tariff on their goods as We have 10
place a taTin on the products OF Great
Britain"
Mr Teller reiterated his own opinion
that the people ~ the insular possessions
are not now citizens Of the United States.
Continuing, Sir. Teller said. Il have no
patience with Senator who holds thal