The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-03
TO THE PORTO RICO BILL REMAIN TO
BE ACTED ON BY THE SENATE.
THE VOTE TO BE TAKEN TUESDAY
On These Amendments and on the Bill.
The Free Trade Proposition Urged by
Lobby OF Porto Rico Sugar Pro-
ducers The Senate to Take Up the
Quay Case Wednesday House Passes
the Fortifications Bill-Governmelt
to Manufacture Its Own Big Guns.
SENATE.


Washington, March 1.-So far as the |
committee in charge of the measure |
is concerned, the Porto Rican bill was
completed today, with the exception
OF two amendments, which senators
had requested should lie over until
Monday. The final two days debate
on the bill will begin at IL o'clock
Monday. At o'clock Tuesday after
noon the vote will be taken on the
pending amendments and the bill.
The feature of today's session was
an exhaustive discussion Of the pend
ing measure by Senator Fairbanks, of
Indiana. Particular interest was man
the chamber in the speech. in view Of
the attitude of Senator Fairbanks COL
league, Mr.. Beveridge.
He supported vigorously and unequiv-
ocally the pending measure, making
an argument which some Of his col
leagues said would attract widespread
attention. He said that it had not es-
capped public attention that a lobby
from Porto Rico had been maintained
there during the consideration of the
pending bill; that it was headed by a
British subject who had been insist
ent for free trade between Porto Rico
and the United States and who was
one or the largest producers of sugar
in the island, having over 100000 in
vested in his sugar enterprises.
Consideration of the Porto Rican bill
being resumed, Senator Bacon, of
Georgia, made statement concerning
the substitute he offered yesterday for
the pending unfinished business. He
desired, he said, to arrogate to himself
no credit for the substitute as it was
the measure originally prepared by
Senator Foraker, amended slightly. He
could not speak for all members on
his side of the chamber, but he knew
that as he had introduced the meas
democrats. at least, would support it.
1t presented, he thought, the best
proposi Jon yet made as to Porto Rico
inasmuch as it provided a free terri
tor1al government Of the United States.
The pending question was on the
amendment offered by Senator Allen,
of Nebraska, providing that the bill
should designate Porto Rico as a ter
ritory of the United States.
Senator McCOmas read a statement
Of Mr.. Havemeyer, president Of the
American Sugar Refining Company, in
WulCH lie IN IdVOr OF the Tree
admission to the United States Of
sugar from Porto Rico and expressed
the belief that the time would come
soon when it would be admitted free
1t was provided by an amendment Of
fered by Senator Allen and accepted
by Senator Foraker that mo public in
debtedness Of Porto Rico or Of any
municipality thereof shall be authoriz-
ed or allowed in excess Of per cent
of the aggregate tax valuation of it's
property" The committee had fixed
the limit at 10 per cent. Of the tax val
uation.
The committee amendments, with the
exception of two-the one relating to
the question of citizenship Of Porto
Rico and the other fixing the qualifi-
cations Of a delegate to the house of
representatives Of the United States
were agreed to.
Senator Chandler, chairman of the
committee on elections, gave notice
that he would defer asking the senate
to begin the consideration Of the case
Of former Senator Quay on Tuesday
| next in accordance with the unani-
nous consent agreement, but that he
| would ask the senate to proceed with
| the case on Wednesday next, either
under the order of the senate or as a
subject Of the highest possible privi-
lege.
| A bill was passed granting lands to
the state of Alabama for the education
| Of cOlored students at Montgomery
and Troy, Ala
After a brief executive session the
senate at 4:10 O'Clock p. m. adjourned
until II o'clock a. m. Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
The house today finished up a hard
weeks work in the passing of the for
tification appropriation bill. Not a
single amendment was offered and the
bill passed as it came from the COM
mittee. A three hours political de-
bate was precipitated, many members
on both sides being drawn into it.
Mr. Hemenway, of Indiana, ir
charge of the bill, explained that the
measure carried $7,09a. .4ss. being $4,s95,-
$50 less than the estimates. He SAID
the reduction in the estimates ha6
been made because it had been dem
onstrated that the government could
than 1t could buy them, and the appro.
priations would be sufficient to keef
our gun factories at work eight hours
a day for the ensuing year. The gov.
ernment, he said, manufactured L.
inch guns cheaper by $4,000 than they
could be purchased and 10-inch guns
81, 500 cheaper.
Mr.. Shattuc of Ohio, under the latf
tude allowed in general debate, follow
ed with an hours speech on genera
political topics, the tariff, expansion
and southern election laws.
In the course Of his remarks, Mr.
Shattuc denounced the inconsistency
of southern statesmen in demanding
that the natives in our insular posses
sions be given all the immunities o.
American citizenship, while they wer,
using all their ingenuity to rob th'
southern negroes Of the constitutions
rights conferred upon them He tool
Hvny ~,
speech of Senator Tfllman, OF Soutl
Carolina.
Mr.. Richardson. the minority leader
challenged some of Mr.. Shattucf
statements relative to the advantag
J which the latter claimed accrued Il