The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-22
THE WEEK IN CONGRESS.
Insular Possession. VIII Be- Dis
cussed in the Senate.
HAWAII WILL COME FIRST.
Porto Rican Tariff Question Has Fro
eedsnce Ia the Houss-Debste Begun
ut Teday's Session Pronsss to Re
Long Drawa Out.

Washington, Feb. 20.-Tfe attention
OF the senate this week will be given
largely to the relations of the United
States to its insular possessions. The
Dill providing form of government
for the Hawaiian islands has the right
OF way, and If it should be SO fortunate
as to be finally acted upon before tho
close of the week the Puerto Rican bill
under the agreement made in the re-
publican caucus last week will be i'm
mediately taken up. The probabilities
are that the Hawaiian bill will be de-
Dated at considerable length, and that
many amendments will be offered to it.
On this account. and because it may
be made the basis of more or less gem
eral talk on the question of the policy
TO be pursued toward the new possess
slons, considerable time probably will
be necessary to the final disposal of
the bill.
All admit the urgency OF legislation
giving the Hawaiians a government,
but there are some points on which
there are radical differences of opinion
and these will have to be fought out.
The most important of these is the
question as to whether the commercial
intercourse between the United States
and the islands shall be under tariff
or under the free-trade system allowed
between the states of the union. The
Dill provides for free trade, but several
OF the senators under the leadership
OF Senator Plat of Connecticut are
making an effort to secure radical
amendment in this respect.
Wednesday Senator Lodge will de-
liver prepared speech on the Philip
pine situation, dealing with the whole
insular question to an extent. Senator
kenney also will deliver set speech
On the Philippine question Tuesday.
1t is quite possible that the confer
ence report on the currency bill will
be brought in during the week, and, IL
SO, everything else will be laid aside
Tor It's consideration. A very short de-
bate Is expected over this report when
made. The diplomatic appropriation
bill may be considered during the week
Thursday eulogies will be delivered on
the late Senator Hayward of Nebraska.
The house today entered upon the
consideration of the Porto Rican tariff
bill and the debate upon 1t promises
to be memorable in the history of
this congress. The vital question at
issue in the bill Is whether that
clause OF the constitution providing
for equality Of impost and excise taxes
throughout United States territory ex-
tends over the island of Porto Rico
and In this is involved, perhaps, the
determination of the future status and
government of our new possessions.
The republicans in framing the bill
have proceeded upon the theory that
the constitution and it's immunities
do not extend over Porto Rice. The
democrats are solidly arrayed upon
the other side and in committee they
were Joined by one republican-Mr.
Mccall OF Massachusetts,. Among the
other republicans who take the same
view is Mr.. Littlefield of Maine who
succeeded the late Mr.. Dingley. He
won MS spurs IN the debate upon the
Roberts case and is already considered
one Of the most powerful debaters in
the house.
The support Of these two prominent
republicans has raised some hopes in
the opposition that they may be able
to defeat the bill, although this hardly
seems probable at this writing. Both
sides are preparing for royal strug-
gle. Mr.. Payne, the floor leader of
the majority, will open in support of
the bill He will be followed by Mr..
Richardson. the minority leader. Mr..
Bailey of Texas will close for the mi
nority. The debate will continue
throughout the week and the vote will
be taken ON the following Monday.