The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-25
PORTO RICO TO BE RELIEVED.
BILL FINALLY PASSED AND SIGNED
BY THE PRESIDENT.

1t Was Practically the Measure Ask
ed for by President Mckinley and
Gives Him Over $2,OOO,OOO to He
Used for the Benefit of the Porto
Ricans-SeveraI Democrats Voted
for It-Other Matters Before the
House.
Washington, March 24.-The Porto Rican
appropriation bill was signed by the Pres
ident at 4:20 p m., to-day. Controller
Dawes was the only person present when
the President attached his signature.
Washington, March 24.-After a brief
and spirited debate the House to-day took
The last congressional step in completing
the Porto Rican relief bill, agreeing to the
conference report by vote of 1876 to 81.
The bill turns over to the President,
for the use of Porto Rico, about 5000, 900
of customs receipts, collected on Porto
Rican goods up to Jan. l, last and such
amounts as may hereafter accrue until
otherwise provided by law. The debate
lasted but an hour, but in this time the
whole range of Porto Rican legislation
was discussed.
Messrs. McRae of Arkansas, a member
Of the Conference Committee, severely
criticised the general course of recent
legisla ton towards Porto Rico, and
Messrs. Pierce of Tennessee. Wilson of
South Carolina, Cochran of Missouri, Cox
of Tennessee, Williams of Illinois, Ridgely
of Kansas, Levy of New York, and Finley
of South Carolina, also opposed the re-
port.
Several of the speakers made references
to a published report that the Porto
Rican tariff bill was designed to secure
a campaign fund.
Mr.. Payne of New York, chairman of
the Ways and Means Committee, spoke
briefly in support of the report, and of
the general course of Porto Rican legis-
lation. He repudiated and denied the re-
ports that any campaign fund was in
volved in the question.
Mr. Cannon of Illinois closed the de-
bate in support of the conference re-
port.
At / o'clock a yea and nay vote was
taken on the report and 1t was agreed to,
yeas 1876, nays 81; present and not vot-
ing, 20.
This completes the measure and 1t now
goes to the President
Democrats who Favored 1t.
The vote was on party lines, except
that a number of Democrats and inde-
pendents voted with the Republicans for
the report, viz: Bell of Colorado, Chan
Ter of New York, Cochran of Missouri,
Cummings of New York, Davenport of
Pennsyvania, Davey of Louisiana, De-
vries of California, Meekison of Ohio,
Newlands of Nevada, Scudder of New
York. Shafroth of Colorado, Thayer of
Massachusetts, Wilson of Idaho and Will
son of South Carolina.
Saturday, April IA, was ordered set aside
for the reception of the statue of Gov.
Oliver P. Morton of Indiana.
A bill was passed appropriating $4,000
for designs for a suitable memorial in
Washington to Ulysses S. Grant this be-
ing the first step in a movement to secure
an arch similar to the arch of Triumph
in Paris COMMUNICATING the illustrious
soldier-sta tesman.
A resolution was passed asking the Sec
retary of State for information on the
open door, negotiations concerning
China.
The House then devoted itself to eulo-
Fies to the late Representative Eppes of
Virginia. Those who spoke were Messrs.
Hay, Swanson, Otey and Lamb of Vir-
einia; Jenkins of Wisconsin, Rhea and
Wheeler of Kentucky; Williams of Mis-
sissippi, Clayton of Alabama, DeArmond
of Missouri, Berry of Kentucky, McCail
of Massachusetts, and Ball of Texas
Resolutions of respect and eulogy on
the deceased were passed and then, at
805 p m, as further mark of respect
the House adjourned.