The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-03

| terday at 2 O'Clock and brief discussion
of its principal provisions ensued.
The House bill and the Senate substi-
| tute having been read in full, an enquir!
was made by Mr.. Teller as TO whether cop
| les of the existing laws of Porto Rice
| (Which il is proposed to repeal were TO be
| obtained He was told by Mr. Foraker. in
charge of the bill, that a translation Of
the laws was in the committee room of this
Rico. He said that it was in TWO volumes
and that he had hesitated 10 ask for its
being printed,
Mr.. Tc1ier's Argument.
Mr.. Teller briefly discussed the bill. He
said that he was not frightened by having
Porto Rico called a colony or province
He saw no reason why il should not be
| called either He agreed, however. that
the American Republic was bound 10 eY
tend to its province or colony the great
principles underlying free government
and to maintain liberty. The party in
power. he said had reached point where
1t must take a. position as to whether
Porto Rico was a part and parcel of the
United States or not.
He was not going to vote for bill that
did not give to the people of the island
the control of their own local affairs. He
offered an amendment to the bill, adding
section declaring that il is the intention,
by the act. to establish temporary gov
ernment in Porto Rico for the purpose of
enabling its people to establish 4 perma :
nent government, republican in form: that
the legislative assembly shall provide for
constitutional convention to prepare and
submit to the people constitution. which
is afterward to be submitted 20 the Presi-
dent for his approval. But the adoption Of
such constitution by the people of Porto
Rico. and its approval by the President.
shall not make the inhabitants of Porto
Rico citizens of the United States: shall
not impose any obligation on the United
States to admit Porto Rico as State and
shall not interfere with the sovereignty Of
the United States over the island and its
inhabitants.
A question was raised by Mr. Stewart as
to provision in the bill establishing a
United States court in Porto Rico. which
he criticised. Ii was defended by Mr..
Foraker. who said that there was already
established there a United States court
with United States jurisdiction pure and
simple, and that 1t was the most popular
court on the island.
Citizens. Subjects, or Aliens
As to the term "citizens" which the bill
applied to the people of Porto Rico. Mr..
Foraker said that the committee had con-
sidered carefully what status should be
given to them. They had to be either citi-
zens. subjects, or aliens The committee
did not want to treat them as aliens 1t
did not propose to have any subjects. And
therefore II had to adopt the term .tciti-
zens." That did not mean. however. that
those people had any rights which the
American people did not wish them to
have. Citizens" he said. is word that
indicates allegiance on the one hand and
protection on the other. Ii carries with it
no political rights.
Mr. Teller said he did not complain of
the inhabitants of Porto Rico being made
citizens; but he contended that. being citi-
zens, they should not be treated as for
eigners
Mr. Foraker remarked that under the
Treaty with Spain Congress had complete
control of the subject and might legislate
as 1t saw fit with reference to taxes and
all other subjects.
Mr.. Teller admitted that Porto Rico
might be taken into the United States or
might be kept out, but he wanted to know
which was to be done
Mr.. Foraker said that tke effect Of the
treaty with Spain was to put the United
States into possession of Porto Rico but
that made the island neither a State nor
Territory, but dependency. and Congress
had the right to legislate for it as it saw
fit. AS to the proposition to make tariff
of Is per cent on goods imported from the
United States into Porto Rico, and from
Porto Rico into the United States he
called attention TO the fact that the reye
nue. to be thus derived was to be given to
the island. The legislation proposed. he
said not only met the requirements of
the situation but raised questions which
would have TO be settled by the Supreme
Court of the United States and, in his
mind that was the most important feature
He said he did not know what the future
had in store in reference to the Philip
pine Islands, but 1t had been suggested
and contended for that there should be an
open door there. II that policy should be
finally adopted and II all the nations of
the world were to be allowed TO ship mer-
chandise into the Philippines on the same
terms with the United States. he declared
that the entire tariff policy and system of
the United States would be overfowed. and
that i would not be possible TO put up the
bar against the islands, although all the
world should send its products there and
they should be shipped thence into the
United States.
Mr.. Foraker Explains.
Mr. Foraker then stated the difference
between the House hill and the Senate sub
stitute. The House bill. he said, was a
revenue measure pure and simple, while the
Senate substitute provided for a civil gov
eminent in Porto Rico; for the substitution
of American coins for Porto Rican coins.
and for the continuance in force of the
laws and ordinances now in operation
there until Congress or the local Legisla-
ture may see fit TO change them. The bill
also continued the courts, with which the
people of the island were familiar. until
the commission shall report and changes
are effected.
I'VE have he said Undertaken TO give
to this people local elf-gove.nment. re-
publican in form, and to confer on them as
much participation in that government as
we thought it was advisable 10 give to
them In carrying out that plan We have
provided for executive, judicial. and legis-
lative departments"
He went on TO speak OF the legislative
department, and said it was to consist OF
two houses-one elective and the other
1.-THE executive counciib TO De appointed by
the President. This council was TO consist
of the Governor, five bureau officers, and
Ave members who might be chosen by the
President from natives OF the island. There
was also to be one Delegate in Congress
from Porto Rico as from other Territories.
Mr. Stewart gave notice OF an amend
ment providing for the importation OF
products OF Porto Rico free of duty.
After some further discussion the bill
went over without action.
Acted in Self-Defencc.
col IrMRIA e March -rua m nnt Is