The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-20


Der will be recorded in its favor. Ali
will stand by the Union and the consts-$
5tution.,'
Mr.. ,Dalzel. OF Pennsylvania, second
rankin. majority member of the Ways
and Means Comm! ttee, made close le-
gal and constitutional argument IN sup
port of .heS contention OF the majority.
that the constitution did not extend over
our new possessions
Mr.. Dalzell expressed his opposition
to free trade with Porto Rico at this
time. No one could tell what her indus
tries were going to be. nor how they
would affect orr people. II we must nave
free trade with Porto Rico, xe nusr With
the Philippines. The result might be She
planting IT immense areas OF sugar ana
tobacco. Tic low wages paid NGuId be
menace to labor in this country.
A1r. palzell asserted that III a Tepresen-
tatfve Republic the right to govern did
not depend on the consent OF the gov
erned.
The methods of government prescribed
by the principles OF the Angelic liberty.
as practiced in the United States. would
be grotesque in the Philippine Islands.
The guarantees of liberty he canclud-.
co. do not exist alone in the Federal
heritage of humanity"
The House then recessed vct1l even
ing, to consider private pension leslsla-
ton, and then adjourned.
III the Senate.
WASHINGTON, Feb ia simple
resolution of inquiry, introduced in the
Senate to-day by Mr. Hale, of Maine.
precipated a constitutional debate, which
was prolonged for more than an hour
and was participated in by some of the.
ablest constitutional lawyers i'll the body.
The discussion finally turned on the
authority of Congress, at its leisure, to-
withhold the Constitution to territories
acquired by the United States.
The bill providing u government for
the territory of Hawaii was under con-
sderation most of the afternoon. Mr.
Cullom, in charge OF the measure. eX-
planning in detail its provisions.
A bill was passed for the relief Ct
claimants having cases pending against
the United States in the Circuit and
District Court, affected by an act OF
1898.
Mr.. Hale offered a resolution calling
upon the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia for information as TO why
the law of Congress relating to tele-
phone charges had not been enforced
and practically was imperative.
Mr.. Hale said no law could be palmer
than that passed by Congress. yet the
vitality of the measure had been stricken
| out by some judge.
Mr.. Foraker had read the decision
! and said it was based on the broad
| ground tina. the law amounted to the
| taking of property without due process
| ton.
That was out of the power of Con-
| sress
| 4 LIVELY TILT.
| A lively tilt occurred between Mr.. THU
! man. OF South Carolina. and Mr. Foraker;
| the former inquired how the Constitution
I extended over the District of Columbia.
| if. as had been maintained, Congress had
! ,plenary power in the District
( Mr.. Foraker replied that the Constitu-
| ton extended over the District when it
| was a part of Virginia and Maryland
| and was never withdrawn. He maintain
! ed that Congress had ample authority tc
| extend or withhold the Cons titution al
| will over acquired territory. Once cN-
! tended over territory Congress was bound
| by its limita lions.
| The discussion Of the constitutional
! question involved took a wide range. Mr.
| Lindsey, of Kentucky. was inclined TO the
| opinion. he said. that the Constitution
| could be extended withheld from ac-
| uuired territory. He argued that life. lib,
l
| by the Constitution We're pre-eXistinG
| rights. and depended upon no constitu-
! ton. State or Federal
| After further discussion. the resolution
| offered by Mr.. Hale was adCiHted.
! The Hawaiian bill was then taken up.
| Mr. Cullom of Illinois, in charge of the
| measure explained its provision, section
by section.
! AIr Tilman was disposed to crticise
\ the bill, as indicated by his Interruptions
/ of Mr. Cullom. because property and edu
| cation qualifications for voters and office
| holders were required. inaSmuch as OBJ
| jections We're raised in this country tc
| Southern States demanding similar quail
I fcatonS of their voters.
| NO DISCRIMINATION.
| Mr.. Cullom said that as a means Of
I protecting the interests of the island AM
! FITS citizens from disorder and confus
| ion. THE restricted suffrage qualification
| had been adopted. No discrimination was
shown against any race or class of people
| IN Hawaii.
| Mr.. Cullom explained as a particular
| reason from early legislation upon the
! pending hill that the bubonic plague haC
| created Il serious situation in Honolulu
! Thirty acres of the city Were burned by
| the health authorities to prevent the
! spread of the disease. Eight Thousand
| people homeless and nearly naked. vert
| in quarantine and We're being supported
| by the other citizens of Honolulu. The
| Hawaiian people had made 4 strong APP.
| peal for the enactment of legislation thar
| would give them the authority of per.
| manent government. and he hoped the
| measure might be given speedy, but tho
! rough consideration.
| A sharp discussion arose over the RICH
| oe Congress to establish i'll territory
| constitutional COURT of the United States
| No conclusion WIS reached before the
| Senate ait 5:15 p M held an executive SEES
| son, and 1T 5:2J p. NJ adjourned