The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-04


laws and upon the people laughter
Does the Constitution say you cannot
make a title of nobility? Yes. Does it
go into the outside territory? No. Then
you can make titles of nobility there.
God help the man in November who
plays that game"
Mr. Culberson (Texas) then spoke. 1t
was his first speech in the Senate. He
characterized the bill as 'indefensible,
morally, economically, and constitution
ally"
Mr. Culberson said it had been main
tanned by the Senator from Ohio (For
aker) that the dogma that the Consti
tuition extended Of it's own force over
acquired territory originated with Mr..
Calhoun. in the interest of slavery.
This, he contended. was not the fact.
The Constitution itself" he said, 'is
the true origin of the doctrine 1t was
announced first in 1905 by Thomas JEFF
ferson, not in the interest of human slav-
cry, but in the interest of religious free
dom"
Mr. Culberson took strong ground
against reegating the control OF the at-
fairs of Porto Rico to Congress uncon-
trolled by constitutional provisions. Con-
being the fact profigacy and oppression
were to be expected. Already the skirm
ish lines had been thrown out for
change on the part CT the imperalists by
Senators Lodge and Beveridge, the latter
expressing preference in respect for the
unwritten constitution of the aristocracy
of Great Britain There could be no ques
tion that tho President had violated the
Constitution when he had levied a duty
upon articles exported from the United
States to Porto Rico.
Mr. Culbcrson also argued that the tax
proposed would be oppressive, an assault
upon our institutions and q crime against
q free government
The order for fifteen minute speeches or
less. then went into effect. Mr.. Clay
(GaD, was the first speaker He pointed
cut alleged Inconsistencies Of the sup
porters OF the pending bill. The original
measure was Numerically opposed in it's
provisions to the pending bill, providing
as it did for a territorial form of gov
ernment. 1t was also in keeping with the
President ) message for the President had
not only declared for free trade but he
had also taken a position for a territorial
form of government we have been
told" said Mr.. Clay, chat the President
has changed his mind, but as for myself
the President can have but one attitude"
He recognized no message from the
President that was not official and there
fore still regarded the President favor
able to free trade with Porto Rico re-
gardless of the assurance of Senator's and
the Speaker of the House. However, the
Republican party was making such rapid
transformations that he did not feel JUS
tilted in accepting Mr.. Depew suggestion
to get on the band wagon. Indeed. it did
not remain in one place long enough to
permit one TO get aboard if so disposed
Mir. Clay said his objection to the bill was
based upon the fact that it violated fun
damental principles and sacred pledges
and was the first step leading to untold
wrong. He pronounced Speaker Hender-
sons recent letter as remarkable pro-
duction.
Mr. Ross (Vt). argued in favor of the
bill. but thought free trade should be es-
tablished as soon as possible between the
United States and Porto Rico.
Mr.. Teller Colo), entered his protest
against the pending bill He would vote
against it because the United States
ought TO treat the people of Porto Rico
as it was proposed to treat those of Cuba
He believed Congress had ample power
to legislate for the Porto Ricans under
the Paris treaty IF we had a colony
he said eve could give its people either
tariff or free trade"
Mr.. Bacon (Ga), adyerted to what he
termed evolution of the pending bill.
showing how it had developed from a free
trade to a tariff measure. The provis-
ion relating to the citizenship of the peo-
pie had likewise been changed and upon
the enactment of the pending bill they
were 10 be disappointed in not becoming
citizens of the United States When this
bill should pass it would be the first law
declaring that people for whom Congress
had legislated were not citizens of the
United states. II was indeed an historic
occasion.
Mr. Wellington (MdD, opposed the pend
ing measure although he said he had
stood ready to support the first bill pre-.
sented TO the Senate upon the subject.
That bill he regarded as just and constitu-
tional. But" he said "the legislative
monstrCsity now before us transgresses
every principle of national honor. patriot
ism, good faith and justice. | am COM
PEELED therefore to part from my coll
leagues the Republican majority and
vote against this bill"
Mr.. Gallinger On. HI, and Mr.. Stewart
New, also spoke. At four o'clock the
committee amendments we're adopted
without division.
The bill was then reported to the Sen
ate, the amendments were agreed to and
Oh an aye and no vote it was passed by
vote of 40 to 81, majority Of nine.
Following is the detailed vote on the
bill
Yeas-Allison Baker, Bard. Carter
Chandler, Clark (WyoD, Cullom, Deboe,
Depew, Fairbanks, Foraker, Foster. Frye,
Gallinger, Gear. Hanna Hansbrough,
Hawley, Jones New, Kean Kyle. Lodge
Mcbride, McComas. Mcmillan, Penrose
Perkins. Platt Comm, Patt (N. VI
Pritchard, Quarles, Ross, Scott, Sewell
Shcup, Spocner, Stewart, Thurston Wet
more. Wolcott-40.
Nays-Allen, Bacon, Bate Berry, Clark
(MCnt.). Clay. Cockrell. Culberson Daniel
Davis (Rep) Harris, Heitfeld, Jones
(Ark), Kenney Lindsay, McLaurin. Mar
tin. Mason (RepD, Money, Morgan. Nelson
(Rep.), Pettus, Proctor (Rep), Sullivan
Taliaferro, Teller, Tillman, Turley. Vest
Wellington (Rep.)--31.
Scarcely had the Porto Rican measure
heen diSnoSpd of when ouite OnexnectadIv