The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-20
Do8TO RICAN TARIFF BILL.
, REGINs DEBATE ON MOST
hV' rNPoRTANT MEASURE.


80. Mr.. Payne-TariT Needed to
Expenses-Says Congress Has
-, NIGHT to Fix the Islands Form
- Government.
,,r.sbington. Feb 19.-The debate on the
Rican tariff bill, which is to con-
.. throughout the week and possibly
'.ngsr opened in the House to-day.
n, all hands it is agreed that this bill,
.tboueh it applies only to Porto Rico, in
-.,,ins as it does the question of the pow
n Govern our new possessions outside
,hs limitations of the constitution, is the
most important measure which will come
bsfore this Congress.
interest in the bill is intense among the
,sn,bsrs on both sides, and there is urg
.rt demand for lime. The Democrats are
.olid,v arrayed against the measure, and
I bev will have powerful support from the
republican side in Mr.. Mccall of Massa-
,busotts and Mr.. Littlefield of Maine, both
,b4 and forceful debaters. How far the
republican disaffection will extend or
whether it will endanger the bill, it is
mpossible TO say at this time
Mr.. Payne, the floor leader of the ma
h. aiken upon a substitute to be offered
M the minority. This substitute, which
has not yet been framed, will be in sub
| gance the bill originally introduced by
Nr. Payne providing for free trade with
Porto Rico by the extension of the GUS
toms and revenue laws of the United
states over the island.
The debate to-day lacked exciting fea-
lures 1t was in the nature of a long
ange bombardment before the clash of
the contending forces in battle Mr. Payne
opened with general argument in sup
port OF the bill, going largely into the ma
erial side of the situation which the bill
is designed to relieve. Mr.. Richardson,
the Democratic leader, Joined issue upon
the power of Congress to enact the pro-
posed legislation, and Mr.. Dalzell of Penn
sylvana backed up Mr.. Payne with a con-
stitutional and legal argument.
The bill to amend Sections 3SS9-41 of the
Revised Statutes, whose chief object is to
abolish small packages of beer, the one
sixth and one-eighth barrels, was passed,
after debate, in which Mr.. Sulzer, Dem
Ocrat of New York, charged it was a sop
to rich brewers.
Mi Bartlett Democrat, of Georgia said
the humble asking of relief from war tax
es should first be heard; and Mr. Terry
Democrat, of Arkansas said a secret I'M
derstanding with Great Britain made ex-
preston of sympathy for the Beers by
this government impossible.
Debate to Close Saturday.
Mr.. Payne of New York, the floor lead
er Of the majority, then moved the House
10 90 into Committee of the Whole 20 con-
slider the Porto Rican tariff bill.
Pending that motion Mr.. Payne offered
to make an agreement by which general
debate Should close on Saturday next, the
Dill TO be taken up under the five-minute
rule on Monday next and the final vote
TO be taken at 2 O'Clock. Mr.. Mccall of
Massachusetts asked if such an agreement
would preclude a vote on the bill origin
ally introduced by Mr., Payne for free
trade with Porto Rico. Mr.. Payne re-
Piled that was for the House and the COM
mittee to decide
Mr.. Richardson, the minority leader, in
sisted that there should be a definite I'M
derstanding that the minority could offer
a substitute. To this Mr.. Payne declined
to agree.
AS a matter of privilege Mr.. Hit of
Illinois reported back from the Commit
Ice on Foreign Affairs the Wheeler reso-
luton calling on the state department for
Information as to the truth of the charges
OF Mt. Macrum, eX-conSul at Pretoria,
concerning the opening of his mail by the
British authorities, and it was adopted
Without debate
The House then went into the Commit
tee of the Whole, with all questions re-
hn oil Of doh
said 1t Was Not "a Precedent.
Mr.. Payne, in charge of the BILL in OPEN
Ing the debate, received marked attention.
Ihis bill, by its terms" he explained,
relates only to the Island of Porto Rico
II cannot be taken as a precedent of any
legislative action in reference to the Phil
lppne Islands when the present insurrec-
uon shall have been overcome, except in
so Tar as we assert in it our view of our
power under the American constitution.
The original bin introduced on the 18th
gay OF January last, provided that the
customs laws of the United States and the
Internal revenue laws be extended to Por-
10 RICO. The idea was to give the pro-
queer of sugar the free entrance of this
staple into the United States, saving
au'y of over $50 a ton. Under that bill
.ne duty saved upon tobacco would be
80 cents per pound for the main portion
VI the crop, and for the wrappers $1.S5
per pound
After consultation with Gen. Davis. the
present military governor, it was found
mat this action would not produce suffi-
Gent revenue to meet the expenses of the
government. He estimated that not more
'Hdn $l,0OO,OOO could be collected from both
customs duties and internal revenue tax
me substitute was then brought forward
"hlch imposes duty equal to our own
larlr upon all articles imported from
abroad, other than those of the United
o'ajes into Porto Rico and duty equal
70 . per centum of The rates of our own
1aflH laws on all articles imported into
rofio Rico from the United States or from
totto Rico into the United States. The
uest estimates that can be obtained show
mat this will produce a revenue OF
gH,9O'0O from customs duties, which, ad-
uel 10 the internal revenues of the ISL
ana viii produce $500, 900, a sum sufficient
20 pay all the expenses of the govern
m.Cht' including the postal service, and also
S'-oVW Tor the public schools. The total
eSumates of Gen. Davis for the expendi-
sures Is $l,950,000. The original bill, there
'ore 1t would seem. means a bankrupt
N'dsury, the substitute, a surplus of $780,