The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-19

OF HySUEAR
POSSESSIONS
viii Probably Occupy Much Atten-
tion in Both Houses Of Com
gFeaa This Week.
THE SENATE AMENDMENTS
On the Finance BIZ Nay Come in foS
Large Share Of Attention In
the House

WASHINGTON, Feb. ls.-The atten-
tlon Of the senate, this week, viii be
given largely to the relations OF the
United States 70 its insular possessioas.
Ths bill providing a form Of Eovern-
ment for the Hawaiian islands has
right OF way. and II It should be 70 for
tunata a. to be finally acted upon be-
fore the clOse Of the week, the PuOFto
Rican bill. under the agreement made
in the Republican caucus last week.
will Be Immediately taken up. The
probabilities are that the Hawaiian blil
win be debated At considerable length
and that many amendments will be Of
fered to u. on this account, and be-
cause 1t maybe made the basis Of more
or less general talk ON the question Of
the policy to b pursued towards tha
new possessions. considerable time
probably viii be necessary to the Anal
disposal Of the blu.
Legislation for Hawaii.
All admit the urgency Of legislation
giving the Hawaiians a entbut
there are some points on which there
are radical differences of opinion, and
these viii have to be fought out. The
most important Of these Is the question
asto whether the commercial intercourse
between thr United States and islands
SHAH be under tariff or under the free
trade system allowed between tina
states Of the Union. The bill provides
for free trade but several Of the sena-
tors under the leadership Of Senator
Platt, of Connecticut. are making an
effort to secure radical amendment In
this respect.
Senator Cullom, in charge Of the BILL
viii resist, and he will be supported by
some Republicans and nearly all the
Democratic members. Practically the
same aght win be made on the Puerto
Ricsn bill.
on Wednesday Senator Lodge VIII de-
ifver a set speech on the Philippine
question.
II is quite possible that the confer
enee report on the currency bill win be
brought in during the week, and II 90
everything else will be LAID aside for its
consideration. A very short debate Is
expected over this report when made.
The diplomatic Appropriation bul may
be considered during the week. Thurs
d,v nuIoqiss will be delivered on the
late Senator Hayward, of Nebraska
Porto Rico and Senate Finance Bill.
The house tomorrow viii enter upon
the consideration of the Porto Rican
tariff bill and the debate upon It prom
isss to be memorable III the history OF
This Congress. The vital question at
issue over the bill IS whether that clause
OF the conatitutlon providing for equali-
ty Of impost and excise taxes through
out United States territory extends over
the island OF Porto Rico, and In this ia
involved, perhaps, the determination OF
tho status and government OF our new
possessions. The Republicans In franz
ing the bill. have proceeded upon the
theory thar the constitution anu 'p-
immunitles do not extend over Porte
Rico. The Democrats are soliily ar
rayed upon the other side. and in COM
mI,tee they were Joined by one Renuh'
lIcan. Mr.. Mccall, Of Massachusetts,
Among the other Republicans who take
the same view is Mr.. LlttIefeld, Of
Maine who succeeded the late Mr.. Ding
lev He won his spurs in the slebatu
upon the Itoberts case, and 10 already
considered one Of the most powerful
debaters in the house. The support ot
these two prominent Republicans has
caused some hopes in the opposition
that they may be able to defeat the bill.
although this hardly seems probable at
this writing. Both sides arr preparing
for a royal struggle. Mr.. Payne, the
door leader of the majority, W'ilI open IL
support OF the bill. He win ba followed
by Mr. Richardson, the minority leader,
Mr.. Bailey, Of Texas, win closO for ths
minority. The debate Will cOntinus
throughout the week. and tho vota'wlu
be taken on the following Monday