, 1900-02-20
HOUSE AND SENATE
PUERTO RICAN TARIFF MEASURE
COMES UP FOR DISCUSSION
IN THE HOUSE.
No Agreement Reached as to the Time
For Closing the Debate on the
Decentralization Government
Bill Is On in the Senate-Conferees
on Financial Bill Meet.

Of the house We're well filled today in
anticipation of the opening of the de-
bate upon the Puerto Rican tariff bill.
Before the bill was called up, Mr.. Dol
liver Of Iowa, from the committee on
ways and means moved the passage I'M
der suspension of the rules of the bill
reported from the committee to amend
sections 1899 and 3341 of the revised
statutes relating to the internal revenue
tax on fermented liquors. The purpose
of the bill, Mr.. Deliver said, was to
abolish the smaller packages of beer,
one-sixth and one-eighth barrels. The
bill, he said, was asked for by the
brewing interests of the country. 1t
would in no wise affect the revenue.
Mr.. Fletcher, republican of Minneso-
Ia, offered an amendment providing
that the bill shall not go into effect
until July /, 1900.
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr.. Sulzer. democrat of New York,
said he favored the bill, but that it was
HiFNtAg Il sup " INC
they really wanted was the abolition
of the war tax. He thought the war
revenue law should be repealed. The
republicans. he said, had promised to
do that when the war was over. but
they had made no move in that direc-
ton. He challenged the leaders on the
other side to say when they proposed
to repeal that law which is used to pile
up money in the treasury to be loaned
without interest to pet national banks.
Mr.. Terry, democrat of Arkansas, de-
clared that the republicans were using
the war tax to exc out the deficiencies
caused by the Dingley bill, which, he
said, had proved a most lamentable
failure. The republicans jeered at this
remark and continued to jeer when Mr..
Terry said that the republicans dare
not abolish their policy of criminal ag-
erosion in the Philippines because of
the secret understanding with Great
Britain, and for the same reason they
dare not offer a word of sympathy to
the two republics struggling for liberty
in South Africa.
Mr.. Often of Wisconsin, Mr., Barth-
0ldt of Missouri and Mr.. Babcock of
Wisconsin urged the passage of the bill
in justice to the brewers. The latter
said hat the brewers were carrying
the greatest tax burden in this country,
paying s72, O00, 900 of taxes, and were
entitled to consideration.
Mr.. Payne of New York, floor leader
of the majority, then moved that the
house go into committee of the whole
to consider the Puerto Rican tariff bill.
Pending the motion, Mr.. Payne Of
fered to make an agreement by which
general debate should close on Satur-
day next, the bill to be taken up under
and the final vote to be taken at 2
o'clock. Mr.. Mccall of Massachusetts,
asked IL such an arrangement would
preclude a vote upon the bill originally
introduced by Mr.. Payne for free trade
with Puerto Rico, which was in line
with recommendations of the president
in his annual message. Mr.. Payne re-
piled that that was a matter for the
house and the committee to decide.
Mr.. Richardson, the minority leader.
insisted that there should DE a definite
understanding that the minority could
offer a substitute. To this Mr.. Payne
declined to agree.
AS a matter of privilege, Mr.. Hit of
Illinois reported back from the COM
mittee on foreign affairs the Wheeler
resolution calling upon the state de-
partment for information as to the
truth of the charges of Mr.. Macrum ,ex-
consul at Pretoria, concerning the open
ing of his mail by the British authori-
times, and it was adopted without de-
Late.
The house then went into commit
tee of the whole with all questions re-
lating to the close of the debate open.
Mr.. Payne, in charge OF the bill, OPP
ened the debate with a carefully pre-
rared argument In support Of the meas
ure. He was listened to with marked
attention.
Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee follow
ed Mr.. Payne. He spoke against the
bill, saying the measure was more dan
gerous to the liberties of the people
than any measure ever seriously coz
sidered in the American congress.