The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-28

either before or after the appointment of
Governor Barnes. was agreed to.
F. The conference report on the pension ap-
preparation bill was agreed to.
WILL NOT BE SEPARATED.
Prior to a resumption of consideration of
the Porto Rican bill Mr.. Foraker, in charge
OF the measure, announced that he had
concluded not TO ask a separation of the
tariff and civil government bill, but had de-
cided to proceed with the unfinished bust
ness as it was now before the Senate. He
then yielded the floor to Mr.. Stewart.
Mr.. Stewart maintained that we had MOTH
ing to fear either from the people of the
islands or from the possession of the
islands. The treaty of Paris, he said, ex-
pressly placed the question Of the citizen
ship of the inhabitants of the islands in
Congress. THE attempt" said he Ito
alarm the laborers of this country lest
there be an influx of low-priced or contract
labor is the purest demagogy. In his
opinion the spirit of criticism and denun-
citation would soon pass away. as had been
the case of similar waves of criticism as
10 the acquisition of other territory AS
had been true in the past, the people. he
said, would, in time, wonder why any oppo-
SltlOn had been made to the acquisition OF
Porto Rico and the Philippines. In conclu-
sion Mr.. Stewart advocated the enactment
of the Spooner bill. which confers author
ity upon the President TO govern the Phil
ippines until Congress shall provide other
wise, urging that Porto Rico be included
I'm the measure.
The amendment of the bill was resumed
at the co1clusion of Mr.. Stewards speech.
The pending amendment was one relating
to the granting of franchises in Porto Rico.
The paragraph to franchises was so
amended as.to read as follows:
provided, however, that all grants of
franchises, rights and privileges conces-
siOns of public or quasi-public nature
shall be made by the executive council.
with the approval of the governor, and all
franchises granted in Porto Rico shall be
reported to Congress, which hereby re-
serves the power to annul or modify the
same"
FREE COINAGE PROPOSED
Mr.. Morgan offered an amendment to
Section of the bill providing for the free
coinage of silver in the United States. Mr..
Morgan having said he found no provisions
in the bill for the establishment Of national
banks on the island. Mr.. Foraker inter-
rupted to say: There is provision of this
bill which extends all of the laws of the
United States to Porto Rico which are not
locally inapplicable.'
Does the senator think national banks
may be established there?" inquired Mr..
Morgan.
within the limitations named in the bill
/ should say yes responded Mr.. Foraker
Then" retorted Mr.. Morgan, Porto
Rico is not a foreign country. There Is
no question about the logic of that propo-
sition."
At the conclusion of an extended speech
by Mr.. Morgan dealing with the general
question of the free coinage of silver Mr.
Foraker explained that the provision in the
bill relating to coinage was simply one for
the exchange of the Porto Rican silver coin
into American silver coin. The general
question of the free coinage of silver did
not enter into the matter.
Mr.. Morgan declared that the pending bill
proposed to take from the Porto Ricans the
peso. which was practically a dollar, and
pay them 60 cents for it.
To this statement Mr.. Foraker took ISSUE
The Porto Rican peso, he said, was now
worth about As cents in our money in Porto
Rico. and the bill proposed to pay 60 cents
in money of the United States for it, pro-
vided the Porto Rican desired to make the
change.
Mr.. Clay-Is it not a fact that the Porto
Rican peso contains an ounce of silver. and
that when coined into American money IL
will be worth 100 cents?
| Well responded Mr.. Foraker, II don't
know what will be done with it, but / do
know that we are proposing to pay the
Porto Risans 60 cents for what we could
get at a less price anywhere else. And, L
may add, that the Porto Ricdns are much
pleased at the prospect"
The Senate, at 4:5O p m, adjourned.