The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-28

charging he Philippines were retained for
the benefit of the trusts Of the country.
Mr.. Marsh Of Illinois. replying to Mr.
Lentz. said that Mr. Lentz's speech was
filled from beginning to end with com
plants Of his country and the Admins
tration, and fairly earned for the gentle
man. il he had never before borne it. the
soubriQupt CT the great scold." He de-
nounced the speech as a disgrace to the
American Congress. 1t was such a speech
as might have been made by the greatest
defamer Of the country; by the man who
was to be hanged on the gallows for trea-
SON One Of the beautiful things in the
Constitution was the provision that no
man was to be called to account elsewhere
for words uttered in debate here, and so
the gentleman from Ohio would go scot
free.
Regarding the bill itself. Mr.. Marsh
said that Mr Lentz did not propose TO
vote against it. but cOntented himself
with criticising the condition that made
necessary the appropriation Of so large a
sum as the bill carried. He did not think
the gentlemen on the other side OF the
House had any ground for criticism in
that regard They had been as eager for
war as anybody, but now did not want
to carry it on. II the President should
withdraw the forces OF the United States
from the Philippines he would be subject
to impeachment by the House OF Repre-
sentatives. What the Administration was
doing in the Philippines was only its
bounden duty.
Upon the paragraph OF the bill providing
for the Office of the Commanding General
Of the Army. Mr.. Steele Of Indiana said
that General Miles had gone to Porto Rico
and his address to the people had been
largely quoted by the Democrats. And
vet none of them would say that anything
contained in that address proposing TO
commit the United States to any policy
regarding Porto Rico was presumption.
MIR Steele had read letter from Porto
Rico expressing surprise at the hurricane
raised in the United States over the Tariff
bill. People in the island he said. did
not want free trade. which would benefit
baccO trusts.
/. r. Williams Of Illinois-What posi-
tion does the writer hold?
Mr. Steele-That Of a gentleman. who
attends to his own business.
coIloduy followed engaged in by
Messrs Steele. Williams. and Richardson.
over the name Of the writer, which was
ended by Mr. Steele stating that it was
Walter X Landis. a brother Of Repre-
sentative Landis. and that he came origi-
nally from Indiana where all good men
come from
Mr. Williams said that the writer held
a position in Porto Rico. probably that OF
postmaster. and Of course. he was anX-
ious to help the Congressman Of his
State. who were in such distress over
their action upon the Porto Rican tariff
bill.
Mr.. Steele replied that any gentleman
worried over his distress could possess
his soul in peace. He had taken part in
the preparation Of the bill. had voted for
II believing it to be a humane measure
for the benefit OF the people Of Porto
Rico, and had never desired to eyade his
just share OF responsibility.
Conditions in the south.
In the course Of a statement by Mr..
Underwood OF Alabama. regarding the
school fund and State debt referred to
in a report on a school land bill. made By
Mr.. Lacey Of Iowa, Chairman OF the Com
mittee on Public Lands. he was inter
rupted by Mr.. Moody Of Massachusetts
Referring to an interview with Mr.. IN
derwood upon his recent return from Ala
bama. I'm which he was quoted as saying
that the South was enjoying unusual pros
perity under the present tariff law. Mr.
Moody asked if he had said anything like
that
before in the history Of the Southern
states has there been such prosperity as
now exists in the district which l repre-
sent
After some further discussion OF the
Alabama school question. the committee
rose. and the Speaker submitted the mes
sage OF the President, transmitting the
correspondence Of the State Department,
upon the open door" policy in China. Il
was ordered printed and referred to the
Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce, and at $40 o'clock the House
adjourned until today.