The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-19
THE WEEK IN CONGRESS-.
SsHatt WIN Devote lis lime to The lusular
4 Possessions.
HAWAIIAN LEGISLATION IS VERY URGENT
Report on Puerto Ricnn NH VIII He
Taken Tn in the Housc--Promises
TO BE Memorable.

Washington, February ls,--The atten-
tion OF the senate this week will be given
largely to the relations OF the United
States TO its insular possessions. The bill
providing form Of government for the
Hawaiian islands has the right OF way
and II II should be so fortunate as TO be
finally acted upon before the close OF the
week the Puerto Rican bill under the
agreement made In the republican caucus
last week, viii be taken up. The prob.
be debated at considerable length and
that many amendments Will be offered to
It. On this account and because It may
he made the basis OF more or less gen
eral talk on the question of the policy Ia
he pursued towards the new possessions
considerable time will be necessary to the
ANAL disposal OF the bill.
All admit the urgency OF legislation
giving the Tiawlians government but
there are some points on which there are
radical differences of opinion The most
important OF these Is the question as 10
whether the commercial intercourse be-
tween the United States aud the islands
shall be under a tariff or under the free
trade system allowed between the states
of the Union. The bill provides for freq
trade, but several Of the senators under
the leadership OF Senator Plat (Conu
are making an effort 10 secure radical
amendment IN this respect. Senator Gull
lom in charge OF the bill. will resist and
he will be supported by some republicans
and all the democratic members Practi-
cally the same hght will be made on the
Puerto Rcan bill ON Wednesday Senator
Lodge Will deliver prepared speech on
the Philippine question Senator Kenny
viii also deliver set speech on the Phil
ippine question Thursday. II is possible
that the conference report on the currency
bill will be brought in during the week
and II so everything else will be laid
aside for its consideration, 4 short dc.
bate is expected over this report when
made The diplomatic appropriation bill
may be considered during the weak
Thursday euoglcs will be delivered on
the late Senator Haywood Of Nebraska
Washington, February ls.-The nous,
tomorrow Will enter upon consideration
Of The Puerto Rican bill and the report GA
Il promises TO he memorable In tho his.
tory Of this congress The vital question
at issue in the bill Is whether that claus,
o.
cf iinpoSt and excise taxes Throughout
United States territory extends over Puertc
Rico and in this Is involved. perhaps. IL,
determination OF the future status arc
government, OF our new possessions. III,
republicans In framing the bill have p!S,
ceeded upon the theory that the constitu.
ton and its immunities do not extern
over Puerto Rico, The democrats ar
solidly arrayed on The other side and Il
committee they were joined by one re
publican, Mr. Mccall lMass.l. Anon
the other republicans who will take tn
same view Is MIR. Littleficld OF Maine H.
won his spurs in tho debate upon the Rob
erts case and is already considered on
Of the m, 81 powerful dehsters in the house
The support OF these two republicans ha
raised some hopes In the opposition tina
they may be able 10 defeat the debate
although 1t hardly seems possible az thl
writing. Both sides are preparing for
royal struggle Mr. Payne, the door lead
er Of the majority, will open in support o
the bill. He viii be followed by Nj
Richardson. the minority leader Nj
Bailey trexasl win close for the minority
The debate will continue throughout I'll
week and the vote will he taken on Oh
following Monday.