The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-28


Washington, March 27.-There were
some lively debates in the house to-
day during the consideration of the
army appropriation bin. A little Of it
was pertinent TO the measure. 1t COW
cred wide range of topics. Porto Ri
can tariff, the Boer war and the Phil
ippines.
The charge that the Porto Rican
tariff bill was the result of a deal for
raising a Republican campaign fund
was again referred to today b. Pierce
(Teun.), but Mr.. Hull declared that the
anonymous author OF the charge would
never dare 70 avow himself and be
branded as . faIsifier.
Mr.. Sulzer IN. " made an appeal
for the extension Of official sympathy
TO the Beers in their struggle for indie
pendence. and Mr.. Lentz of Ohio de-
EvereG a scathing denunDiation of mill
taris-n and the war in the Philippines.
His attack aroused the sentiment and
Indignation Of Mr.. March (Ill), who,
in q bitter excoriation Of the Ohio
member, declared that the latter's
speech was a disgrace to the Aneri-
can congress. He declared that he
was responsible for what he had said,
both On and off the floor Of the house.
His heated language did not draw q
rejoinder from Mr.. Lentz.
The house. without preliminary bust
ness, resumed consideration Of the
army appropriation bill. Mr.. Talbert
Is. c., the first speaker, complained
Of the vast extravagance involved in
the bill, and replied to some Of the crit
icis1ns passed upon him for his course
in regard to private pension legislation.
Republican Campaign Fund.
Mr.. Pierce (Tenn.). who stirred up
something Of a hornets nest last Sat
urday by bringing to the attention Of
the house an interview in local paper
with an alleged Republican representa-
tive, charging that the Porto Rican
tariff was the result Of q bargain for
campaign funds, read that newspaper
affirmation Of the accuracy of the in
teTview. He also read Senator Hanna S
oenunciation of the story that the POr-
to Rican tariff bill was framed for the
purpose Of raising a Republican cam
paign fund. and challenged an inveSti-
cation of the charge.
Mr.. Steele (Rep., Ind engaged Mr..
Pierce, and there was a sharp eX-
change. Mr.. Steele said ne would not
believe the anonymous Republican con-
gresham, who is alleged to have told
the story, on oath.
Mr.. Pierce said he did not believe
any man employed on the newspapers
would deliberately mistepresent the
facts, and from surrounding circum-
stances, he Pierce) was inclined to
think the story was true.
Mr.. Steele wanted to know how the
Porto Rican tariff bill could be used
20 raise a campaign fund.
Have Been Other Cases.
Mr.. Pierce replied that he could not
give the exact steps, but that vast
sums of money had been raised by the
Republican party in 1896 from various
quarters could not be denied. The con-
tTibutors in one instance had even
logged the memory Of the secretary of
the treasury, and he had not dared to
resent the insult. Democratic APP
plause.)
Mr.. Hepburn (Rep.Ia.) said that if an
investigation were ordered in all hui
man probability when the editor OF
the paper was asked to furnish the
name of the Republican credited with
the statement he would refuse to give
it If he did, Mr.. Hepburn asked Mr..
Pierce if he and his colleagues would
be willing to punish him for refusing.
'I will cross that bridge when come
to it," replied Mr.. Pierce amid Repub-
lican jeers; But" he added, 4 be-
lieve the paper told the truth"
MIR. williams (Miss.) discussing
Porto Rican tariff questions challenged
the other side to name a single reason
for imposing a tariff on the products OF
the island that existed now which did
not exist when the president said it was
our plain duty and manifest justice
TO give free trade TO the island.
Mr.. Steele Qnd.) accepting the chal-
Ienge, said it had been ascertained that
the British consul, Finley, at San Juan
who was exceedingly anxious for free
trade. was one of the largest sugar pro-
ducers on the Island His interest had
been purely selfish.
Mr.. Williams ridiculed the explana-
tons as absurd.
Mr.. Hull is Interested.
Mr.. Hull 0a-), in charge of the bill
at this point reverted to the charges
raised by Mr.. Pierce earlier in the day
As a member of the Republican cam
paign committee he said he was inter
ested IN the allegations.
He said that no man worthy of belief
would make such charges and with
hold his name from the public. He die
not believe the man would. ever dare K
aVOw himself and he branded him as Z
falsiher. He also expressed his doubi
as TO the propriety Of newspapers
printing such anonymous statements.
of some Of the literature still being
circulated in the Philippines. This lit
erature- described alleged public meet.
ings held in different parts of thC
country in the interest Of the insurgent
cause. At one Of them held in New
York the Democratic party was repre-.
sented as having endorsed AguinaIdo';
cause and the insurgents were appealed
to to hold on until after the presidential
election, when their allies in this cOun-
try would see that the stars and stripe.
were removed from the islands
Mr.. Parker IN. j. discussed the sub
ject Of the army reorganization at some
length and was followed by Mr.. Sui
ger IN. W ranking minority member
of the military affairs committee, whS
CONSUMED his time in denunclation o.
the attitude Of the administration to-
ward the war in South Africa. He call
ed attention 20 the fact that all tn,
resolutions expressing sympathy witt
the Beers. introduced by himself anc
others, still slept in the committe,
rooms