The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-02-02
SUPREME COURT
ON DEPENDENCIES
If They are Ours We Cannot
Tariff Them,
The World, Work Tor February

The Worlds Work for February.
Several cases are before the Supreme
Court TO test constitutionality OF the
Porto Rican tariff. The question in.
yolVed is whether the Constitution
follows the hag-in other words, whether
the laws OF the United States apply also
to our dependent islands. Can the
United States government lawfully hold
dependeRcies2 The attorney genera
presented strong argument that oui
government has such right under the
Constitution, and able constitutional
lawyers have presented contrary argu'
ments.
IL is diilicult TO see any great practical
difference, whatever the decision OF tht
court. II il is unconstitutional TO hold
dependencies, and Porto Rico, Hawaii,
and the Philippine Islands are integral
parts OF the United States, they must
still be held as territories, and the
problem Of ruling them will not be
essentially different. II the court
sustains the governments constitution
that we may hold dependent territories
and populations, OF course the present
status will continue.
The most important practical result Of
a decision by the Count which shall
mean that Porto Rico and the Philip.
pines are an integral part of the United
States, II il should hand down such a
decision, would be the abolition of i'm.
port duties. II these islands are virtually
territories Of the United States no
duties can be levied on imports or ex-
ports between them and the United
States. The great sugar aud tobacco
interests in particular would csret such
a decision. But il hard TO see any very
great practical effects other than these |
commercial ones,
Looking somewhat farther forward.
such a decision would mean that these
islands must be kept ia territorial
status or be admitted as states; but
there is no gIayer danger perhaps. NJ
their admission into statehood from the
status Of territories than ilom the status
OF dependencies.
The case before the supreme Court
exclIes, after all. then, chiefly throret.
zeal interest. The anti lmperialists who
seem 10 fancy that the United States
government has entered upon a career
OF foreign conquest aui Is likely to con
qner aud annex foreign land in every
possible part Of the world, would be /,
grallhed by decision that should dis.
courage such plan. But mo- such plan
ever eNistedeXcept la their imaginatiaps.
No dec'son Of the Court can practically
help MS solve the yexing and aeari.oms Z
problem Of the Philippines. The unior. G
tnnste fact viii sIill confront Ms. tbstl d
oar duty Is 20 bring peace and order
there.
kH' President Harrison, who is one NJ
ihe connsel against the government IN o
'ne OF the cases, delivered an address a
n Ann Arhor, Mich, on December IA N
% which he expressed, with degree oi a
'mo'ion uncommon 90 him. bis opipior -
hat We cannot hold dependencies lie
aid, ,- "
There Is NO doub, thar ANY ipter,,. /.
lonal tribunal would atirm our ptls h, 10
ne Philippines The question which ls
foaoivs us s their status. Are tba.. an
'eoP'e citizens or subjects, vhi,hy "a
" our '''le BE- clear, Ne cannot r1It1
afse''es o. responsibility; AMI sbstb.r ti'
'''se leople arc cillIsus Or sab..,ts uo
hey most sabnit a. the United $50 20 oo
o'e'nment and keep the peace. Iau