Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-16

N"t'eu states ne returned 10 tne per-
sons from whom they were collected.
and from and after the passage of this
act no duties shall be collected on ar
ticles coming from Porto Rico"
Mr.. Allison explained that the
amendment proposed had been careful
~ considered by the committee. They
made the bill simply a specific appro-
priation measure, including moneys COL
iected up to January 1, 1900.
MIR. Jones (Arkansas) inquired what
Mr. Allison proposed to do with the
duties collected after January 1, 1900.
MIR. Allison replied that that was q
question for Congress to deal With in
the future.
ILLEGAL COLLECTIONS.
II regard this as most important
measure" said Mr.. Jones. 'I do not
believe there is any law for the col
lection of these revenues, and do hold
that their collection was violativc of
the fundamental principles of our gov
eminent"
Further he expressed his opinion that
the funds collected In duties ought to
be returned not to Porto Rico. but to
the people from whom the duties were
collected.
Mr. Lindsay (Kentucky) suggested
that the amendment offered by Mr..
Jones was proposed settlement OF a
question. which WAS at least open to
doubt.
IF We are to determine the question
now" said Mr. Lindsay. land then la
ter the courts should decided other
wise. we shall be in the position of
having simply made Il donation of ST.
o95,ooo to these people.
Mr.. Mason, OF Illinois, urged that
every hour of debate was adding to the
suffering OF the people for whom the
relief was intended.
REPUBLICAN PLEAS.
MIR. Spooner, of Wisconsin,, said he
hoped no Senator would endenYor to
TfuCu on Tie bill any amendment about
which there would be u division of
opinion. The measure was one of mer-
cy. of humanity, OF generosity. and
had grown out of Il condition entirely
new to the American people. He Wig
by Mr.. Jones. This money. he said,
had been collected largely from the SUI
gar and tobacco people. who were we'll
able to pay it, and he believed that 1t
had been rightfully collected.
Why" said Mr.. Spooner, Should
we anticipate the decision of the courts
in the matter? Suits are now pending
to recover this money. III my judy
ment the duties were levied properly
and cannot be recovered"
Mr.. Turley, OF Tennessee, asked Mr..
Spooner why II would not be we'll for
Congress TO wait until the courts had
passed upon the question before oppro-
priating the money.
Yes" replied Mr. Spooner vehem-
entity. wait. Let the people of Porto
Rico starvc until the courts have de-
termned whether we shall Day back
the money collected as duties to the
sugar and tobacco trusts. L cannot
believe the Senator would stand by
any such proposition as that"
y DENIAL.
MIR. Clay. of Georgia, inquired OF Mr.
Spooner IL it were not true that. in the
midst of their distress we had collected
this hurdcnsome tax from the people
of Porto Rico.
"No. 1t is not" replied the Wisconsin
Senator. "'rhe duties were paid by n
comparatively few people and those are
not the poor people. We were right in
imposing tho tariff and we are right in
making this appropriation"
MIR. Coclircll. of Missouri. said he had
always believed in the great economic
theory that the consumer or an import
cd article pays the tax, and he. there
fore. opposed Mr. Jones substitute.
REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS QUOTED.
I'VE all know" concluded MIR. Cock
rell. that some excitement has been
created throughout the country by this
proposed Porto Rcan legislation The
w
the GovcrnorGcncral OF the island re-
commend free trade between the island
and the United States.
This question was presented and an
other legislative body. which had-tstfe
thority. decided the matter so far as 1t
was concerned. This body, OF q part
of It, has been put in Il dilemma: but
that has little pertinence here and now.
This appropriation ought to be made
anu AT once because the people need II
and because 1t is right"
FOR POLITICAL EFFECT.
Mr.. Bacon took the ground covered
ny MIR. Cockrell. While he favored the
Dill. he did not, he said, by any means,
shut his eyes to the fact that the meas
ure was intended, not as much ns IL
great humanitarian project, as to af-
ford the Republicans an egress from
a serious political dilemma. He said
that after the action of the House had
raised storm throughout the country,
TINS bill had been sprung suddenly in
order to assist the Republican party in
its political manoeuvering.
Mr.. Allen offered an amendment de-
claring that the Paris treaty had the
effect of extending the Constitution
over Porto Rico and its inhabitants.
Air. Foraker said it was purpose still
to press the Governmental bill.
IN a DILEMMA
AIr. Pettigrew announced his oppo-
sition TO the passage of the bill. saying
that its only necessity was political
He thought the bill did not provide any
money for the relief of the suffering
Porto IticanS. He contended that the
only reason for urgency in the passage
Of the measure was 10 allay the polit-
ical clamor Evidently the Republican
party had decided that to hetray Porto
Rico was preferable 10 changing the
eystem of protection.
Mr.. Pcttigrew admitted that the sit
uation was embarrassing. III YOU
don't put n duty on tobacco and fruit"
he said. "the tobacco raisers Of Con-
nccticut and the fruit raiSerS of Call