Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-03-31
PUERTO RICAN RELIEF
BILL PASSES SENATE
Conference Report on the Measure
Is Adopted after a Lively
Discussion.
IS PRACTICALLY A PARTY VOTE
Senator Stewart, or Nevada, Lines
Up with the Rcpubiicans---Till-
man Makes Fierce Attack
ON the Bill.

Washington, March 26.-The senate
yesterday adopted the conference re-
port on the Puerto Rican bill by a vote
OF 80 to Is, practically "a strict party
expression. No democrat voted for
the report, but Senator Stewart, of
Nevada, voted with the republicans.
The time of discussion was con
sumed principally by Senator Tillman,
democrat, of South Carolina, who
made a fierce attack upon the meas,
ure as agreed upon in conference and
accused the republican senator's and
republican party of "indirection,
hypocrisy and dirty work" His speech
was quite characteristic and was lis
tened to with interest by his col
leagues ON the floor and the people in
the galleries.
Senator GallinSer, of New Hamp-
shire, replied with "A temperate state
ment for those who not only favored
the report but the passage OF a Puerto
ltican tariff bill.
Senator Spooncr, republican, Of Wis
~sonsin, closed the debate with a force
full statement in opposition To Senator
Tillman's speech, in the course Of
which he took occasion sharply TO
III NDollh Wi olliiN ~
for dragging the measure into poll
tics. His %colloquial tits with Senator
Tillman were immensely enjoyed by
the auditors.
When the senate convened ycster-
day it agreed tu the conference asked
for by the house on the diplomatic
and consular bill.
Senator Pettigrew's resolution COM
ing over from Thursday requesting
the president, if not Incompatible
with public interest, TO send To the
senate an itemized statement Of the
expenses of the Philippine commits
sion, together with the amounts paid
each commissioners, was agreed to.
The conference report ON the Puerto
Rican appropriation bill was then
called up by Senator Allison.
Senator Tillman, Of South Carolina,
who voted for the bill as il passed the
senate and as n member of the com-
mittce on appropriations voted to ia
vorably report il, vigorously opposed
the conference report. He expressed
regret that the senate confcrees had
yielded 10 the contention of the house
conferees, particularly agreeing TO en-
large the purpose of the measure by
providing "for the aid and relief Of
the people" Of Puerto Rico
The debate was participated in by
Senator's Spooner, Gallinger and Till
man. They took q wide range, cover
ing Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the Phil
ippines.
Senator Spooner protested against
the making of political speeches on "A
measure like that now pending. Hay
ing referred to the in which
Tillman had characterized the work
of the republican senator's, he and
Senator Tillman became involved in n
controversy over the terms dsed by
the South Carolina senator, which de-
yeloped considerable heat and ended
by Senator Spooner saying that in
view of statements ju%stifying ballot
box stuning and the employment of
the shotgun policy against the negroes
of the south, he was tired of hearing
all this prattle from senators on the
other side Of the chamber about the
rights of the Puerto Ricans and the
Filipinos. II ought to be understood
that the senator's on this side of the
chamber are as anxious to 10 the
right and just thing as are those on
the other side"
After presenting a brief but cogent
in support Of the confer.
ence report. Senator Spooner said.
that the Is per cen tariff was not in
as a protective duty. 1t had
nothing to do with trusts. The only
proposition, he said, which had in any
favored the trusts was the
amendment offered by Senator Jones,
of Arkansas, TO return the duties TO
those who had paid them.
The conference report was then
adopted by 80 to Is, the vote being
n party one, with the eXccp'
ton of Senator Stewart, Of Nevada.
who voted with the republicans.