The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-17

proposes to continue the commercial sit
uation as between ourselves and Porto
Rico for any considerable time, and will
hasten the consideration of that question.
But il is manifest that We cannot now
deal with the whole Porto Rican ques-
tion on this bill which is for immediate
relief. They cannot very well wait until
we can deal with the whole question"
MIR. Jones asked MIR. Allison to state
the objects for whica the money was TO
be used. Those objects were stated by
Mr.. Fairbanks as public works, sanitation,
and schools.
Mr.. Jones said that that statement made
him the less inclined to vote for the bill.
as he had supposed the object to be the
relief of desttution on the island.
MIR. Sewell made an explanation in re-
ply TO Mr.. Jones' remarks.
Mr.. Foraker then spoke of the relief
being given by the military authorities in
Porto Rico out of the war emergency fund.
Another Amendment offered.
Mr.. Jones remarked that it seemed i'm
possible 20 find out the purpose of the ap-
propriation and he would content himself
with Offering the following amendment:
from and sfter the passage of this act duty
shall br collected on articles coming into Porto
Rico nom other parts uf thp nited States, or
good c0niHg fIom Porto Rico into other parts
ci the nited States
Mr. Fettus criticised the bill as some
thing contrary to the practice of the Gov
ernment, and objected TO il as being too
general in its terms. He was reminded
by Mr.. Wolcott of the various former oc-
casions when appropriations were made
for the relief of sufferers in the Missis
sippi Valley, in Chicago. in Ireland, and
in India. and was asked whether those
gtf1 ~al fhafr
provisions than the pending bill.
No, sir" Mr. Pettus replied, they were
not. They were specific appropriations for
a specific purpose This bih will not do.
1t is bad policy; it is dangerous policy"
He proposed to strike out of the bill
everything as to where the money comes
from. That would not make "a row of pins
difference" to the validity of the bill. And
he would then support the bill as an honor
able. Just. and wise measure. Why en-
cumber the bill. he asked. by referring to
the source of money which he and many
other Senators believed had been unlaw
fully collected
Mr. Tiilman criticised Mr.. Allison. whom
he spoke of as 'an encyclopedia of leg1s
lative information and said that he had
been laundering about and unable TO an
swer the questions asked by Mr.. Jones.
The Chairman of the Pacific Islands and
Porto Rico Committee. Mr.. Foraker. had
also. Mr. Tillman said. been unwilling or
unable 10 give light.
Mr. Foraker objected to the statement
regarding him. and said he had heard no
question asked which he was not willing
and ready to aanswer.
"Oh" said Mr. Tillman, do not suppose
that 1 am casting reflections upon any
body for ignorance on the subject of this
bill I acknowledge my own ignorance. l
intended nothing but little amusement"
VERY we'll" Mr.. Foraker remarked
pleasantly. Il will not interfere with the
amusement"
Mr.. TiIimnn's Views.
Mr. Tillman went on with his remarks. |
He said he would vote Tor the bill because |
it would restore to the people of Porto Rico !
taxes which had been taken from them un- |
constitutionally and in contravention of the |
law of the land. He foresaw the possibility |
OF "carpetbaggeTs' seizing all the valua- |
bic real estate CT Porto Rico, and said that |
that was not a far-fetched thought, al
though he saw some of his Republican
friends smiling at IL.
"A little visionary" Mr.. Gallinger inter-
posed.
In the course of further remarks Mr..
Tillman said that Spain had never imposed
customs duties on Porto Rican products.
and was corrected by Nj. Gallinger. who
said that Spain had collected customs du-
ties from the coffee of Porto Rico, which |
four fifths in value Of its prod |
uets.
i am glad" Mr.. Tillman exclaimed, ''to :
find somebody who knows something about
the fiscal affairs OF the island. He is the
first one | have found"
Further on, speaking of schools, he said:
Let us manage this bill like honest
white men; let Us have no hypocrisy and
namby -pamby philanthropy about it. That
is all / am attempting to get Senators TO
agree to. The question as to what shall be
done with Porto Rico hereafter and
the taIiff shall continue will be
adjusted either by the Senate and Congress
Or by the people Of the United States next
November"
Starting of on another tack, he warned
against establishing a Freed
mans Bureau in Porto Rico. If you do"
said he, "your effort TO rehabilitate that
island and put 1t on its feet will be unsuc
cessful. IL you're going to spend million
dollars in building roads tas somebody pro-
poses) you will take from the farmer TIE
very labor he needs to cut the trees off his
coffee plantation and to rehabilitate his
farm"
Mr.. Gallinger remarked that the trouble
was not to cut down the trees, as the hur-
ricane had uprooted them all.
Let the Senator from New Hampshire
Mr.. Tillmau calculated. talk about med
icine. and l will yield to him. but when he
comes TO agriculture he is all wrong.
He recalled remark he had made when |
rations were being served after the |
Charleston earthquake. II was. so long |
as that ration lasts you cannot get any
body to pick cotton
Mr.. MckfnIey's Partners.
Mr.. Foraker said he had been informed |
that the President had said to one of the |
commissioners appointed TO serve on the |
commission, and who had accepted, that
the salaries to be allowed would not in
any event exceed SO. 600.
Well" said Mr.. Tillman, "that is bet
ter than | hoped for"
You are disappointed" Mr.. Foraker
suggested.
No said Mr.. Tillman. 81 am graft
fed / am alw ays willing 10 trust William |
Mckinley. II is his bad and wicked part !
ners that am afraid Of. Let us pass this |
bill and then fight out the tariff question |
On the bill Tor the government Of Porto |
Rico
Mr.. Jones then withdrew his amend |
ment. Mr.. Pettus amendment was voted |
down, and the bill was passed without the |
yeas and nays.
a COMPROMISE IMPROBABLE.