The Portland daily press., 1900-04-02
PORTO RICO.
senator Fairbanks' Speeches For the
Tariff BiIl.

washington, March sl.-So far - the
committee In charge Of the m sasure ID
concerned, the Porto Rico bill was COM
plsted today with the exception Of two
amendments which Senators had request
ed should lie over until Monday. The
final two days debate on the bill will be-
gin at alsvsn O'Clock Monday. AZ four
O'Clock Tuesday afternoon the votes will
be taken on the pending amendments
and the bill.
The feature OF today's session was an
exhaustive discussion OF thel pending
measure BY Mr.. Bairbanksiof Indiana.
Particular interest was manifested BY
Senators on both sides Of the chamber in
the spssch, In view of the attitude Of Mr..
Fairbanks's colleague Mr.. Bsveridse.
Several Of the Indiana members OF the
House listened to the speech and a cordial
hearing was given Mr.. Fairbanks by
Senators OF all parties. He supported
vigorously and unequivocally the pending
measure, making an argument which,
some Of his colleagues said wonld attract
wide attention.
AuC PcuoAhk 0acoehoa W." VA eA4N
amendment offered BY Mr.. Allen Of Ne
brasks providing that the bill should de-
iiSnnts Porto Rico as territory Of the
United States. MT. Allen read brief
prepared by Herman y. Randolph,
member Of the New YORK bar on the con-
stitutional status OF our island posses
sions. few minutes earlier Mr.. Allen
- IN. ha Nho
brief printed ss public document, Mr..
McComss oh citing. After Mr. Allen
had read about one OF the 81 pages of the
brief he was given permission to print 1t
as part Of his smarks.
Mr.. McComss had then read . state
ment of Mr.. Hsvsmeyer, president of the
Amerioan Sugar Refining company, In
which he argued in favor of the free ad-
mission to the United States Of sugar
from Porto Rloo. Mr.. MoComAs advert
ed sarcastically TO the agreement on the
Porto Rico bill which, he said. Mr.. Have
meyer and Mr.. Allen were In.
When that section of the bill relating
to the legislative assembly OF Porto Rico
was read, Mr.. Pettus Of Alabama offered
buib 4oas ono AS6A2AooaFo
assembly of Porto Rico shall have no
power or authority to enact q law in
conflict with the constitution Of the
United States" The amendment was lost
10 TO 181.
MIR. Fairbanks then addressed the Sen
ate In support Of the pending measure.
Senator Fairbanks said In parts
a
which lie at the very foundation OF the
pending bill. One IL question Of Con-
gressionAl power and the other question
Of national policy. So much attention has
been dsv oted to the constitutional Quss-
ton that scant consideration has been
given to the question of policy and the
urgency Of the situation as respects relief
for the Porto Ricans has been very large
Iy overlooked"
Mr.. Fairbanks presented some general
isstions with respect to she power OF
Congress over Porto Rico based upon
what he regarded as 'the overwhelming
weight of authority and sound reasop."
Some of these generalizations were; at
has been invariably recognized that one
right to acquire and govern territory ae
the result of war. The constitution of
the United States clearly vests in the fed
eral government the exclusive function OF
declaring war and of making treaties.
AS an indispensable incident OF the power
the government is authorized TO acquire
territory. Whether the constitution ex
tends automatically to territory acquired
has been a much debated question. I'm
I'll the Supreme Court shall interpret ana
define the power Is Of Congress under
the constitutions, Congress should reserve
to itself the widest possible liberty, the
am plsst discrs ticn in dealing with the
problems and conditions which are now
facing US.
"Another danger which hesets us Ia
that our course With respect TO the people
I or whom We must provide government
may be controlled by purely artisan con-
The responsibility Of admin
istsring for the present the Islands oom
mitted to our keeping rests upon the
party in power. / regret 30 see disposi-
ton on the part Of those In oppositlon, In
the hope Of winning some possible politi-
cal advantage, to assume al attitude of
welfare Of the people Of the islands. We
should not be misled by their hysterical
assault upon the politics which they op- |
pose"
Mr. Fai rbAnks then presented in detail |
Information regarding Porto Rico. He |
III wed that the estimated revenue from |
the fifteen per cent duty on the basis Of |
last years com msroe would be s307, 756. |
Discussing the proposed tariff he said: