Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1900 — The Bill That Caused The Hysterics. [ARTICLE]

The Bill That Caused The Hysterics.

As a matter of political expedi ency there is no longer any question but that the Porto Rico tariff bill was a mistake. As a question of abstract right or wrong, it all depends upon the motives behind the proposition. If as its claim, the tariff was proposed as a measure of protection to any industry or: industries in this country, then it was wholly wrong and unjustifiable, and deserves all that its enemies have said agaiast it. If, on the other hand, the true purpose of the bill was what its advocates claim, first to furnish to Porto Rico a sorely needed revenue in the quickest and easiest way it _oi>uld be raised, and second to establish the principle that outlying possessions could be governed by laws and tariffs which do not apply to the nation generally, then the bill was good in purpose if not expedient in politics. .It is evident that the greet majority of our Republican congressman took these latter views of the bill or they would not have supported it, and the President must have taken the same view or he would not have so urgently requested objecting Republicans to vote for the bill. And the provisions of the bill itself, it seems to us, amply prove this view, namely that the good of the Porto Ricans was aimed at. Every dollar of revenue the bill produces, both on Porto Rico goods sent here, and American goods sent there, is to be given to Porto Rico. Further if protection was aimed at, the tariff would have been made higher. A tariff of only 15 per cent, of the McKinley tariff is practically no protection at all. It is a more radical tariff —sor —revenue —only measure than either “Horizontal Bill’’ Morrison or Wilson Bill Wilson ever even dreamed of. However as we said above, as a matter of political expediency, the bill has proved to be a great mistake. For, either rightly or wrongly, the great majority of the people have accepted the view that the purpose of the bill was principally for protection, and was thus unjust and ungenerous to the Porto Ricans. No on who takes that view of the bill can be blamed for violently opposing it, but we do not for an instant believe that that is the correct views.