The Portland daily press., 1900-04-06
Referred to Committee
by Speaker.
Government Amendment Made
This Possible.
LsPEcIA- TO THE FRESH

Washington, April 6.-Now that the
Porto Ricsn bill has come back to the
House with the Senate amendments, the
parliamentary status of tn Q measure is
a matter Of no little interest. In the
frat place the Speaker has referred the
bill to the Com mittese on Ways and
Means. This Is in accordance with the
rules and practices OF the House. In
the 5lst Congress Speaker R3ed did the
same thing with frse coinage amend
inert t, the committee recei wing the bill
on that occasion being that on Coinage,
Weights and Measures. The silver forces
in that Congress- led by MT. Bland, OF
Missouri, did not want the bill referred
20 the committee; but wanted to consider
it at once In the House and concur In the
Senate amendment. They therefore. un-
did the Speakers Fction by striking the
record of 10 from the Journal. But II
took long time to do this. and by that
time the sound money forces had rallied
and the action Of the Speaker In refer
ring the bill Was sustained.
Ths right Of the Speaker to r.fer bill
Of this kind is now so we'll settled that
no disturbance arose over Speaker Hem
derson's disposition of the Porto Rico
bill.
When the bill originally came from the
Ways and Means committee 1t dealt en-
tirely with revenue, and was therefore
privileged under the rules, and could be
reported and considered at any time.
This privilege is given revenue bills un-
der the rules because of their great impor-
tanoe. But the Senate have attached to
the bill az amendment providing for
civil government Of Porto Rico, this
destroys the privilege Of the bill, and will
make 1t neoess Ary for the Committee on
Rules to intervene with q spsoial order
TO enable the bill to be considered with
out delay.
The committee on Ways and Means
will examine the Senate amendments
and make recommen dations in regard to
them, probably that the House concur
In some, nonooncur in others, and concur
in others with amendments These REQ
concentrations being reported, the House
will consider them and act On them.
1t has been assumed in some quarters
that when the bill comes up frse trade
amend msnt MAJ be offered, and thuS the
House may be lined up again on the pro-
POSITION for tariff or free trade. This
assumption is not correct. The subject
CT tariff for Porto Rico has been passed
on by both House and Senate, and 1t IL
not now In controversy. The HOUSES
tariff proposition has been agreed to by
ths Senate with an amendment which
makes certain exceptions to the House
provisions. These exceptions are under
consideration, hut they do NOT involve
the main tariff proposition, which has
been passed upon by both Houses. The
text Of the bill to which both Houses
have agreed may not now be changed
This Is old and well underPtood Parlia-
mentary law. Mr.Jsfterson lays ii down
in his manual (which is official autho-
rity In the House, aud the same principle
has been followed in rulings Of Speakers
Randall. Keller. Carlisle and Reed.
1t Is probable that this situation will
prevent the excitement whioh has been
expected In the House by q revival OF
the tight over tariff and tree trade.