The National tribune., 1900-04-26

III u laTlH Dli providing LOT 10 per Cent
or % per cent" replied Gen. GroSvenor,
| "the President recognized the right and
power of this House 10 originate that tariff
bill. Up to the very last moment of the
passage of that Porto Rican bill gentle
men on the other side insisted that the
President was still in favor of free trade
in Porto Rico, and newspapers from one
end of this continent to the other claimed
that we on this side of the House We're in
| a contest with the President; that the Presi-
dent never had changed his mind; that he
was still in favor of free trade.
But | call the gentleman'S attention to
the fact that in the message of the Presl-
dent he gave no sign or indication of when
he desired that free trade measure should
go into effect. We, by our vote, put it so
that within the next 60 days, 80 days,
four months. any time after the organiza-
ton of the Civil Government, the people Of
Porto Rico can have free trade. The
President has signed it and thereby given
his approval to it,"
"The gentleman says the President bows
to the will of Congress" inteIposed Mr.
Wheeler. "In the debate on the Porto
pealed to his colleagues TO support the
pending bill, he charged it to be true that
the President of the United States was then
in accord with him."
Gen. Grosvenor. l say so now.
Mr.. Wheeler. He changed his opinion
Gen. Grosvenor. Isay he did not change
his opinion in any material respect; he
simply changed from the original idea of
free trade to what was almost the con-
dition of free trade that we appended to
the measure. The country understands it.
Congressman after Congressman who
stood here in defense of the bill has gone
to his constituents, just when the Demo
cratic noise was the loudest, and has been
sent back here with a unanimity almost
unparalleled in the nomination of Con
gressmen. And the great body at Phila-
delphia, the Manufacturers Association,
on yesterday approved of the Porto Rican
bill-the very body that few weeks ago
was quoted on the floor as opposed to it.
applause on the Republican side.) And
from one end of this country to the other
the people of this country are taking care
of it. The Republican party will not lose
any votes in the coming election because
of its action on the Porto Rican bill.
I'VE are not holding back by the coattailS
of the world and holering whoa daughter
on the Republican side; we have got some
thing 10 show for our opinions. Witness
the splendid organization of the Govern
ment of Hawaiian territory. Look at
the liberal, generous, Christian laws that
we have bestowed upon the people of Porto
Rico. Look at the fact that but for the
Intervention OF IL few men on this side
of the water we should have extended the
same benefits of the Constitution, the
same liberty of American citizenship. III
embryo at least, TO the people Of the Philip
pine Islands. But we would not consent
that YOU should drive us TO admit that the
people of Porto Rico and the people Of
the Philippine Islands We're upon an equal
footing with the people in the United States.
applause on the Republican side)
I've would not consent that millions and
millions of Malays and all those people
might come over here and march into our
labor markets, and We will make it warm
for you before the campaign is over.
daughter and applause on the Republican
side) You voted that the Constitution
and the Chinese of the Philippine Islands,
and that is your position to-day. 1t is
your complaint that we would not let you
do it, but in due time, under the wisdom
of the Republican party and under the
blessings of God, we will send liberty
and equal rights, as rapidly as they can
comprehend them, to the people OF Porto
Rico and to the people Of the Philippine
Islands" applause on the Republican
side.)
In the Senate on April 10 Senator Gal
linger, Chairman of the Senate Committee
on Pensions, introduced a bill granting
a pension of $50 month to Gen. Long
street. The bill gives the Generals service
as that of Major in the Sth u. S. during the
Mexican war, and makes no reference to
his connection with the Confederacy.
The Senate passed joint resolution
providing for the administration of civil
affairs in Porto Rico pending the appoint
ment of permanent officials under the
recently passed Porto Rico law. no tenn
porary appointment to extend in tenure
beyond Aug. 1, 1900
Favorable action on the resolution was
preceded by some discussion. Mr. Bacon
irDItira1 trbathar ITnitaI St1tac 4
officers were in receipt of salaries as civil
officials in addition to their pay as Army
officers. Mr.. Foraker replied that the
army officers were prohibited by law from
accepting such additional pay.
Mr.. Bacon said while he had no definite
on the subject, ne had under
stood that some army officers were re-
ceiving large salaries in addition to their
regular pay. Mr.. Chandler thought this
statement was very important. If it We're
true Congress ought to know it. He,
therefore, suggested that Mr. Bacon offer
a resolution Of inquiry as 10 the subject.
In the House the Naval bill was discussed,
the Naval Academy appropriations being
fought over. Practically the entire day was
in the fight about turning over
10 the Navy the survey and charting Of the
waters Of Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philip
pines. The bill carried an appropriation
Of 100000 for this purpose. Mr. Cannon
argued that such surveying OF these waters
as should be made should be performed
by the Coast and Geodetic Survey, which.
he said, could do the work cheaper and
better. III the end, his amendment. TO
only the regular $4,000 for
ocean surveys, was carried.
The Chairman of the Committee of the 4
Whole, Mr.. Payne, overruled the point of
order against the appropriation for the
new Naval Academy, but an amendment
offered by Mr.. Cannon was adopted, pro-
viding that before the money appropriated
by the bill for the Academy be expended
plans for the whole improvement, not to
exceed S6,000,000, be submitted and APP
proved by the Secretaryof the Navy.
In the Senate on April 20 Mr.. Cullom
called up the conference on the Hawaiian
bill. In his explanation of the
measure, Mr.. Cullom summarized the ad-
vantages to this country Of the annex
alton of Hawaii. He presented a general
review Of the resources of the Hawaiian
Islands, and showed that since they came
under the Stars and Stripes they had
the greatest material pros
perity. He thought no citizen of the
United States need ever feel any doubt as
to the Intellectual, moral, or financial
of the Hawaiian islanders. "These
people have brought with them a splendid
educational system" he sai,i, "and pros
porous agricultural establishment, and all
classes of rice, sugar, and coffee planters
are engaged now in business profitable to
4