Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-05
A GREATER AMERICA
MIR. Boutell's Dream of This Coun-
try's Future.
TO INCLUDE CANADA AND WEST INDIES
Sovereignty to Extend to the
Nicaragua Canal.
THE PHILIPPINE TARIFF

Representative Bouten of Chicago. who
IS in Washington paints a glowing picture
If this country's territorial progress. In
discussing the relations with Cuba and the
attitude of the administration he said to
star reporter today:
I'm my opinion there is only one logical
conclusion regarding the ultimate course
If events in the Island of Cuba The time
will come. and il will not be long, be-
fore Cuba viii be part OF the United States.
The wisest minds of the past have been
predicting such an outcome, holding thai:
IL will eventually be necessary for this
country To absorb the island, and / must
say that l fully concur in that opinion.
indeed / go a little farther. l think that
in time the whole of the West India is
lands Will become ours and that within
fifty years the United States will be exer-
risng its sovereignty over every acre of
territory down to the Nicaraguan canal,
which waterway will have been completed
by then Upon the north l include Canada.
This combination is bound to come, | be-
'ieve. and the United States will have
expanded in q commercial and industrial
S'nse by that time that the absorption of
81 much territory will be a justifiable pol
icy.
Il think that the President has adopted
a judicOus course in returning the work
If the Cuban convention. That convention
must adopt the Platt amendment in toto
IT not at all. There can be no other out
come"
Effect of Civil Government.
Mr.. Boutell believes that If civil govern
ment is established in the Philippines on
July /. as is now cont emplated. without a
call for an extra session of Congress to en-
net some measure prescribing a specific
schedule OF tariff rates all duties collected
N1al
tween the first of next month and the date
upon which Congress finally passes such an
act must be refunded.
L see no other way out of the dilemma"
said Mr. BOutell to a Star reporter this
afternoon. unless the President is salts
lied that all goods coming into the country
from the islands during that period shall
Inter free of duty. No other Inference
than that can be drawn from the recent
Porto RiCan decision. In my opinion it
viii he held that if civil government is
tIblished in the Islands without specify
IsI.; any particular rates of duty goods from
there will not be held to have come from
i foreign country, just as the goods COM
ing from Porto Rico under the Dingley law
rated, otherwise the nation will lose all the
act as soon as civil government Is inaugu-
rated. otherwise the nation will lose all the
money collected upon imports from the
Philippines from the time such government
is established up to the time when the
necessary law is passed Upon reassem-
bling in December the Sep tie and House
will doubt Immediately get to work
upon measure prescribing tariff rates for
the islands. This will settle the whole sub
jeCt.
The Powers of Congress-.
There is one feature of this whole mat
ter which has, in my Judgment. thus far
escaped general attention by those who are
inclined to criticise the recent decision of
the Supreme Court. Mr. Bryan and his fol-
lowers. l perceive, are claiming that Con-
gress has been given the power to legislate
for our new possessions regardless of the
provisions of the Constitution as applied to
the states Mr.. Bryan. however. loses sight
If the fact that there is no Injunction upon
Congress To legislate contrary to the pro-
visions Of that Constitution. While the Con-
stitUtion does not neceSSI rily follow the
flag. the decision does not hold that It de-
wolves upon Congress to ignore that in
StrUment and while within it's discretion it
may, If 1t chooses. legislate without full di-
rcCtion from the Constitution, there is
nothing obligatory resting upon the nation
al legislature to force it to brush the Con-
stituti0n aside and legislate arbitrarily. On
tn contrary. believe that when Congress
passes law establishing a permanent gov
eminent for the Philippines. 1t will be
guided largely by the Constitution. and
that although there remains the decision
that ii may enact any law it chooses in the
premises. it will be actuated by truly phil
anthrOpiC and charitable motives and frame
a law creating a government as closely as
possible along the lines of our own. The
Supreme Court decision does not compel
Congress to ignore the Constitution there
fore IL simply gives that body. the direct
representative of the people. the power to
exercise its discretion. The result of it's
work will without doubt rebound to the
benefit of all concerned If it is seen that
the provisions Of our Constitution can
eGuitably fit the Philippine situation then
Congress will not be restrained from ap-
plying them On the other hand II the in
teTests of both peoples demand a different
shade Of legislation. then Congress, out of
pure philanthropy can legislate according
to the circumstances.
4 Case In Point.
For instance, take our war revenue tax
law a measure which is still effective in this
country. Can you imagine any action more
grotesque-if il were not serious question
than the imposition Of those taxes upon
tho people of Porto Rico-the inhabitants
"I an island for the purpose of whose &C
question the law was enacted in this coun-
try congress. | repeat may not apply our
institution 10 the Philippines. but it is not
pr hibitei from doing SO IL 1t sees fit"