Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-12
PORTO RICAN DUTIES
Senator ]. K. Jones Makes Per-
sonal Explanation.
PROPOSED RETURN OF THE TARIFF
Mr.. Burrows Argues Against Seat
ing Quay.
GOVERNMENT REPOSITORIES

When the Senate convened today Mr.. Gull
Ion presented the conference report upon
the legislative executive and judicial APP
preparation bill. The report was agreed to-
Mr. Jones (Ark.). chairman of the demo-
cratic national committee. addressed the
Senate en- a question of personal privilege.
He read from the Record the following
quotation from the speech of Mr. Dolliver
nowa) delivered in the House yesterday
on the Porto Rican bill: Il accuse the
chairman of the democratic national COM
mittee of being in the same conspiracy, If
you will permit me so to speak. / hold IN my
hand a proposed amendment, offered by
Senator Jones CT Arkansas. to the bill, now
become law. to give the proceeds of the
present Porto Rican customs to the peo-
pie OF Porto Rico-an amendment which, II
1t had been passed, would have given to
the American Sugar Refining Company
S1.Soo.OH. which they have already paid in
cash into the treasury of the United States
on sugar imported from Porto Rico.
Il, as a rule, pay no attention TO asper-
sions Of this character said Mr.. Jones,
but it may be possible that some honest
man may have been misled or might mis-
judge what has been done by me-
When the Porto Rican bill was present.
ed in the Senate 1 offered an amendment
proposing to refund the duties that had
been collected from the people of Porto
Rico to the people who had paid those
duties. | did that from the CONVICTION tndl
the government of the United States had
10 right to levy any tariff duties upon
products coming from Porto Rico, and If
We had no such right 1T was common hon
esty that we should give the money back
to the people from whom we had taken It.
Not in the Trusts Confidence.
II had never looked to see who had paid
these revenues nor where this money would
go. l am not in the confidence of the
sugar trust. They have not come to me
TO complain of that duty by which they
paid 81 10000. / did not know that such
was the fact Men who are more familiar
with the dOings of the sugar trust, of
course. knew more about that than l.
that they had paid million and a half of
tins money into the treasury of the United
States. L knew nothing of it. What I I'M
derstUod the facts to be We're that protests
were made when these duties were levied
and that the case was pending in the Stu
p-eme Court Of the United States, and 1
believe that when the Supreme Court de-
cides this question it will direct this money
shall be paid back to the men who paid 1t.
II believe in doing justice, no matter who
Is involved | believe in giving the devil
his due. and if we have no right under the
laws 10 levy this tax and the sugar trust
has paid part of it and the money is
due 70 them IT ought TO be refunded.
Il have no fear Of being misjudged by any
Wemher of this body. l do not believe any
motive nf this kind has ever been attributed
10 me by man who has Il sense of justice
and a desire to he fair and just to his fell
low men.
Il offered this amendment In the course
Of the debate here 1t was stated that
large part Of the money that had been paid
WIS paid by the sugar trust and the tobacco
trust. | withdrew the amendment. No vote
was ever taken on it. After discussion l
made up my mind that the proper thing to
do Was 10 leave the matter to be settled by
tn- courts. That having gone to the length
We had II was better 10 let he courts say
~het ner or not this thing should he done
There is nothing that l think anybody can
justly ccnsure me with"
miscellaneous Bills.
TIL" following bills were passed: Amend
ing an act fixing the fees of jurors and wit
nesSeS In the United States courts in GER
tain states and territories: for the relief of
the Brooklyn Ferry Company of New York
Mr.. Morgan then asked unanimous con-
sent that the Nicaragua canal bill be made
the order of business for o'clock April 80
1 do not see suggested Mr.. Lodge
how ] can assent To that in view of the
bill which have in charge" CThe Spooner
philippine bin-the unfinished business)
Il shall feel bound" replied Mr. Morgan,
Ito antagonize the senator's bill with the
Nicaragua canal BILL
Mr. Burrows CAIich) then addressed the
Senate on the resolution relative to seating
VI. ). Quay as senator from Pennsylvania
An abstract of his remarks is printed in
aIOrhsr column