The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-11
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Two more judicial decisions have oeeii
added TO the score wherein the Federal
courts have held that the islands ceded
by Spain became territory OF the United
states the moment the treaty OF peace
was ratified, and that merchandise Inn
ported from the new possessions imme-
diately became invested with the charac-
ter OF domestic products and ceased TO
be dutiable.
''In the cases referred TO Judge Ray, OF
the United states circuit court directed
the collector at New York 10 refund du-
ties collected in two cargoes of sugar
which arrived from Puerto Rico and Pa
nay, respectively, after ratification ana
before exceptional tarif laws had been
framed against our new possessions. The
theory OF the decisions is that the con
sttution, including the uniformity claims
whereby free trade Ia established wlthih
the domains OF the United states. auto
matically extended Itself TO ceded terri
tory
How can a constitutional ordinance be
deprived OF It's vitality by an act OF con-
gress and suspended with respect 10 GER
tain parts OF the American dominions af-
ter having once been automatically ex-
tended thereto? The judicial reasoning
whereby II Is attempted TO explain this
paradox is a defiance OF logic. ."-Philadel-
phia Record.
THE terms Of the agreement between
the British government and Mr. Morgan's
shipping combine coming after the news
OF the exceptionally favorable alliance
made by the government with the Cunard
line, will dispel any ideas that may re-
main that Mr.. Morgan's international
coup was a great American victory. Hav-
ing. by It's agreement with the British
company. given the combines rival every
possible aid to enable II 20 make sue
cessful fight against the Morgan compe-
tition. the British government takes ad-
vantage OF Morgan's necessities TO tie
him hand and foot. ."-Pittsburg Dispatch.
Certain facts concerning the epidemic
OF lynching are incontrovertible. One is
that the spread OF the mania Is of nation
al and not merely OF local concern An
other il that no means have thus far been
found to insure the punishment OF the
lynchers through the regular agencies OF
the law in the disgraced communities. -
Chicago Record Herald
"Out OF the multitude OF reasons as
signed for the shrinkage in security
values the one fact standing out clearly
II that some financial interests undertook
10 float enterprises on the tidal wave OF
last year: the attempts failed. and after
forced 10 lquldate. There is nothing in
the necessities Of promoters and specua-
tors to justify the sacrifice OF securities
by bona hde investors. "-Pittsburg Ca
zette.
There Is n prospect that the Panama
canal treaty may be hung up for some
time. II is reported that the outlook is
that the Colombian congress will amend
the treaty and ratify II. To most Ameri-
cans this would be more unsa atisfactory
than rejection OF the treaty. for the rea-
son that most Americans prefer that the
canal should be bnilt on the Nicaragua
route.
III the treaty were rejected by Colombia
President Roosevelt. under the authority
given 10 him by congress In this matter
could resume negotiations with Nicara-
qua and Costa Rica at once. and there
would be little delay IN arranging a salts
factory treaty with those countries But
n Colombia ratines the treaty In an
amended form II will have To go 10 the
United states senate again for considera-
tion. md there Is no telling when that
body will dispose OF IT,
'It is 10 be hoped that n the treaty Is
returned 20 the senate II will act quickly
and will reject the amendments. unless
they are OF an unimportant character
Then we could go ahead and build the
canal on the Nicaragua route. ."-Rochee-
ter Union and Advertiser