The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-03-10
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 2s.--In the
vote upon the Porto Rican tariff bill
in the House this afternean Represent
ative De VTies of California broke
away from the Democrats and voted
with the Republicans. Only two other
straight Democrats stood with Mr..
De Vries in favor of the bill imposing
Is per cent tariff upon Porto Rico.
When Mr.. De Vries cast his vote he
was greeted by applause from the Re-
publican side.
After voting Mr.. De Vries made this
statement to a correspondent:
Il cast my vote in accordance with
what deem to be for the best interest
Of the district have the honor to rep
resent and the best interests of the
State of California"
House Debate.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-The last
day of the struggle over the Porto Ri
can tariff bill in the House opened at
IL o'clock with nearly every member
in his seat and very large attendance
in the galleries. The leaders on both
sides were actively engaged in rally
ing their forces and making computa-
tions upon the final vote, which is to
be taken under the order at o'clock.
Mr.. Underwood OF Alabama, the Dem
ocratic whip" said the result would
be very close and would turn upon the
vote of two or three men on the Demo-
cratic side. Mr.. Tawney, the Republi-
can whip" said the bill would have
five votes to spare. He said the main
danger lay in the motion TO recommit.
Immediately after the reading OF the
journal, the clerk began reading the
bill for amendment, under the five
minute rule.
When section 3 was reached Mr..
Payne, chairman Of the Ways and
Means Committee, offered the follow
ing substitute for that section:
Section 2-That on and after the
passage Of this act all merchandise
coming into the United States from
Porto Rico and coming into Porto Rico
from the United States shall be enter
ed at the several ports of entry upon
the payment Of 10 per cent OF the du-
ties which were required to be levied,
collected and paid upon like articles OF
merchandise imported from foreign
countries and, in addition thereto, upon
articles Of merchandise OF Porto Rican
manufacture coming into the United
States and withdrawn for consumption
or sale, upon payment of a tax equal 20
the internal revenue tax imposed IN
the United States upon the like articles
Of merchandise OF domestic manufac-
ture; such tax to be paid by internal
revenue stamps to be purchased and
provided by the Commissioner OF In
ternal Revenue, and to be procured
from the Collector Of Internal Revenue
at, or most convenient to, the port OF
entry OF said merchandise in the Unit
ed States, and to be affixed IN
der such regulations as the Con mis-
sioner Of Internal Revenue. with the
approval Of the Secretary OF the Treas
ury. shall prescribe: and on all articles
Of merchandise Of United States man
ufacture coming into Porto Rico, ~
addition 10 the duty above provided IN
payment Of a tax equal in rate and
amount to the internal revenue tax
imposed in Porto Rico upon like ar
ticles Of Porto Rican manufacture.
Mr.. Payne explained that the su0sti-
tute did two things-it reduced the
duty from % to 10 per cent, and It also
removed some confusion regarding
double taxation. Mr.. Payne said ne