The age-herald., 1900-03-17
SENATE PASSES
 PORTO RICO BILL
fcontInued From Psge one.)

just what the object of the pending bill was, MT. Jones said he would content him self by offering the following amendment
 Prom and after the passage of this act no duty shall be collected on articles com- ing into Porto Rico from other parts of the United States"
 MT. PettuS, of Alabama, declared his op- position to the bill. holding such approrria- tions were dangerous precedents and ought to be abandoned.
 Mr. Wolcott inquired If the appropria- tions made for the relief of the Mississippi river sufferers at various times were not in terms more liberal than the present meas ure
 MT. Pettus replied that this was not true. We relieved many sufferers by ap- propriat tions, he satd. but in every instance a specific appropriation was made for a specific purpose.
 He declared that not dollar of any re- lief appropriation heretofore made could be used for any purpose other than that specifically defined in the legislation.
 ''The proposition now before us," said he, lis bad policy, and it is dangerous policy"
 The End of the Rope
 MT. Tillman said there was evidently so much division among the republicans that it appeared doubtful whether they would be able to enact any Porto Rican legislation at all. It looked as if the republican party had reached the end of its rope, and that the last hope now was to contend that con- gress was without limitations in the gov ernment of, or in legislating for, acquired territory.
 He was going to vote for the pending bill, he said because the enactment of the meas ure into law was the only way to restore to the people of Porto Rico taxes taken from them wrongfully and unconstitutdon- ally.
 ''Ihe United States has not given the peo- ,,1A r,r Hoo md iG hicyh time," said he, ''that we give back to them the money We have stolen from them"
 Mir. Tfllman declared that the government established noiw in Porto Rico was worse than that forced upon the people by Spain, particularly to the islands fiscal affairs, as under Spanish rue the Porto Ricans had at least free market in Spain for their goods. He thought the way to Gelp the people of Porto Rico to get on their feet was to give them a market through the means of free trade waJl the United States. If a public soup house was starr , men who might earn their living hoe or an axe would sit down and ,.lI for the soup to be banded around.
 MT. Tiilman Lavored a civil government for the iSiand and criticised ile eXpendi- lures under :sA present military system.
 ''There is no sense, no justice and no honesty he satd, Tin having those poor people ror.r1ed simply because they have come under our dominion
 Republicans in d Dilemma
 He thought the republican party was in a dilemma but thought it would soon come out all right.
 You are the best organized party I ever saw he said. and matter how you talk I've no doubt you'n all round up on the vote.
 MT. Tillman referred to what he said would be monumental salaries of the officers in the insular possessions, particu- larly noting the members of the Philip pine commission.
 MT. E1oraker informed Mr. Tilman that he had been told that the highest salary of any member of the commission would be $l0,000 year. That may be disappointing to the senator" suggested Mir. Foraker.
 ''No," replied MT. Tillman. "Pm grati- fled. It will go to the trust William Me- Kinley, but it is his partner l am afraid of. He is patriot and nobleman, although just now he may be carried off his feet by the dream of appearing in history along side of Jefferson and others who addei largely to our territory In conclusion he 5esought congress to take its hands from the throat of the Porto Ricans, and give them chance to govern themselves.
 At Mr TillmanS suggestion, MT. Jones withdrew his amendment in order to faci- itate a vote on the bill, but MT. Pettus in- sisted upon a vote on his amendments, which in effect were the making of direct appropriation for the relief of the Porto Ricans, without any reference to the tariff or customs duties collected. They were de- feated
 The bill as reported by the senate com mittee was then passed without division. After an executive session at 4:40, the sem ate adjourned until Monday.