The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-29
TO TAKE THE VOTE TUESDAY
en- THE PORTO RICAN TARIFF AND
GOVERNMENT BILL.

Senator Davis Advocated Free Trade
with the Island, and Urged That
the Necessary Funds he Raised by
Internal Revenue-Tax, He said,
Should He Levied IN Rum and To-
bacco-Present Bill Means Free
Rum and a Tax on -Four"
Washington, March 2S.-The Senate to-
day agreed to vote on the Porto Rcan
government and tariff bill Tuesday after
noon at 4 O'clock.
An important utterance was made later
in the day on the bill by Mr.. Davis of
Minnesota. He advocated free trade be-
tween the United States and Porto Rico,
and urged that the necessary money to
be raised by taxation be by an internal
revenue tax, levied upon rum and tobacco
produced on the island. This system in
his opinion, would better suit the people
of the United States and those of Porto
Rico than the proposed tariff, and would
be just. equitable and constitutional.
A successful effort was made by Mr.
Foraker to fix a time for vote on the
Porto Rtcan bill.
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia, suggested to-
morrow and Mr.. Proctor of Vermont, said
Tuesday afternoon. The latter was agreed
to.
Consideration of the Porto Rican bill
was resumed, the pending question being
upon the free silver coinage amendment
offered by Mr.. Morgan. The amendment
was defeated 10 to SO.
Wants an Internal Revenue.
Mr.. Davis then spoke. He said he
thought 1t unnecessary, in view of elabor-
ate arguments already made to discuss
the constitutional features. The question,
he said should be non-partisan. He re-
piled TO the antagonistic feeling the meas
ure had aroused throughout the country.
righteous indignation from every walk
of life.
He maintained that a tariff could not be
levied as between Porto Rico and the
United States although 1t was perfectly
competent for Congress to provide for the
collection of internal revenue on the is
land. This, he said was indubitably con-
stitutionaI
"Why insist" he asked, upon a tariff
upon the products of the island by bill
which is so ephemeral as to expire in a
year and a day? Why, indeed, insist upon
the provisions of this measure when 1t
would be far better to let existing condi-
tionS continueH'
The whole project of Ievying tariff on
Porto Rican products was self-generative
of objections. he said-objecItions which
spring from every possible source
He ridiculed the argument as to the
protection the Is per cent tariff would
afford to our products and labor. No pro-
tectionst, he said, would contend that is
per cent. of the Dingley rates would af-
ford adequate protection for anything.
The Philippines Come Later.
Adyerting 20 the Philippines as a factor
in the Porto Rican problem, Mr.. Davis
said:
when we come to deal with the Phil
ippine question we will take care of It,
Sufficient unto the day is the evil and
good thereof. Porto Rico is little more
than 700 miles from our coast; the Philip
pines are 5000. The Island of Porto Rico
is naturally a part Of the North American
jurisdiction; the Philippines are a part
of the domain of Asia Against the prod
uet and people of the Philippines, when
the time comes, the rights of American
labor will be protected by any party that
may be in power"
Mr.. Davis said 1t was inconsistent to
extend our laws relating to the coastwise
trade to the island and not extend our
tariff laws. AS TO the feeling in the
country upon this question, he said the
issue is well understood by the people
ana lne sentiment speaks out TO us week
after week in constantly swelling vol-
ume.
''They understand well, too, thai upon
distilled spirits and tobacco there is not
an imposition of a mill of taxation by this
bill. The subjects of taxation upon which
We place heavy burdens go scot free on
the Island of Porto Rico. And what do
they propose as an exchange for that
kind of taxation? Why the imposition of
a tariff? 1t is so easy to place an internal
revenue upon these articles that | shall
be surprised II the proposition to do so
does not meet the approval Of Congress
and the people. What are the people going
to say IL this bill passes? They will say:
Free rum and tax on the -four the peo-
pie eat "
Mr.. Davis said that no man could tell
how much the tariff would YIELD, and as
no man could say that the export tax
was constitutional, II seemed to him there
ought to be no hesitation as to the course
to be pursued. the pathway of plain duty.
The Senate then at 4:50 p. M, adjourned