The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-03-01
'Tng PUERTO RICAN BILL /
Passes the National House by q
Decisive Majority.
SWEEPING REPUBLICAN VICTORY

Six Republicans Voted with the Op.
position Against the Bill and Four
Democrats Helped the Republicans
to Pass the Measure.
Washington, March 1.-The battle
over the Puerto Rlcan bill ended yes
terday in a sweeping victory for the
Republicans. The bill, amended as
agreed upon at the conference of Re-
publicans on Monday night so as to
reduce the tariff from 25 to Is per cent
of the American tariff, and limiting its
life to two years, was passed by vote
Of 172 yeas to 161 nays. Six Republic
cans-Messrs. Crumpacker of Indiana,
Fletcher Of Minnesota, Heatwole Of
Minnesota, Littlefield of Maine, Lori
mer Of Illinois and Mccall of Nassa-
chusetts-voted with the opposition
against the bill, and four Democrats
Messrs. Davey and Meyer of Louisiana,
Devries of California and Sibley of
Pennsylvania-voted with the Republic
cans for the bill. In addition, Mr.
Warner (Rep., Ills.) was paired against
the bill with Mr.. Boutelle REP, Me-,
for it. Two other Republicans-Mr
Lane Of Iowa and Mr. Faris Of Indi-
ana--were absent and impaired. They
were understood to be against the bill.
Four Democrats who were against the
bill-Messrs. Fleming (Ga.), Small IN.
CO., Smith (Ky) and Stalings tAla.)-
were absent and impaired. Other pairs
were Gibson (Tenn.), Reeves Qllso,
Boutelle Mel, Harmer (Pa), Bailey
(Kan.), Sheldon (Mich.) and Wads-
worth IN. W, all Republicans, for the
bill, with Tate (Ga.), Sparkman (Flao,
Fox (Miss), Bellamy IN. CD, Cox
(Tenn.) and Epes (Va), Democrats, all
against the bill.
The herculean efforts made to get
out the full vote led to some remark
able incidents. Six men were brought
from beds of sickness, two of them
from hospitals. Mr.. Brownlow, Of
Tennessee, was brought in carriage,
accompanied by his wife and physician.
He sat bundled up near the entrance
until his vote was given and then
withdrew. 1t was felt that the strain
would be severe on him. but when Mr..
Tawney, the Republican whip, urged
that the bill might be lost by this one
vote Mr.. Brownlow said II would
rather lose my life than see this bill
defeated"
Mr.. Tawney and three assistants
were out in carriages until Tuesday
midnight accounting for every vote,
and Mr.. Underwood, the Democratic
whip, was similarly exerting every
means to get out his votes. Three
Democrats were brought from sick
beds.
The first test yesterday was on a
substitute offered by Mr.. Mccall on
behalf of the opposition. 1t was the
original Payne bill for free trade with
Puerto Rico, and was defeated by 100
to ia. Only five Republicans voted
for the substitute. Mr.Fletcher (Minn.),
who subsequently voted to recommit
and against the bill, voted against the
substitute A motion to recommit it,
which followed it, shared similar
fate, being lost by 100 to 172.
There was great excitement through
out the roll calls, which were followed
with eager interest by thousands of
spectators in the galleries. The Re-
publicans indulged in a demonstration
Of wild jubilation when the final re-
suit was announced.
Notwithstanding the agreement made
by the senate to vote on the Hawaiian
government bill at yesterdays session
the final vote on the measure was post
poned until 4 o'clock today. Practical
Iy no progress was made on the bill
yesterday, although 1t was under con-
sideration nearly four hours. One Of
The features of the session was the
speech of Mr. McLaurin (Dem.) on the
Philippine question. He is the first
Democrat in the senate to declare him
self for expansion.