Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-21
(py Telegraph to vIrglnlan- Pilot.l

(By Telegraph to Virginian- Pilot)
Washington. Feb. 2O.-Again to-day
there were but three speeches In the
House upon the Porto Rican Tariff bill.
Five hours were consumed in their de-
livery.
Mr. Hopkins, of Illinois, spoke in sup
port of the bill, and Mr.. Newlands, of
Nevada, and Mr.. Swanson, OF Virginia,
in opposition to 1t. The speakers de-
voted themselves almost exclusively TO
the constitutional question involved,
ana were listened to with attention.
The Republican leaders are becoming
nervous over the fate OF the bill They
have only a majority OF fourteen over
the opposition. which Is solidly opposed
. to the measure. Eight votes from the
Republican side would, therefore, defeat
It,. and there are from twelve to fifteen
Republican votes IN. doubt
REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION.
y movement for Republican caucus
Is being agltated, and although no call
had been issued up TO The time of adj
journnent Tonight, the general under
standing was that one would be held
tomorrow night. The Republicans re-
ported TO be opposed to the bill are
Messrs. Mccall, Massachusetts; Little
field, Maine; Powers. Vermont; Temp
kinS. New York; Bromwell Ohio; Lor-
inner. Illinois; Heatwole, Minnesota;
Tongue, Oregon; Loud. California, and
Jones and Cushman, Washington, and
Crumpacker Indiana.
CANAL BILL DELAYED.
M the opening Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa
attempted to secure an agreement To
take up the Nicaraguan Canal bill. and
asked unanimous consent that it be
taken UP two weeks from to-day, and
later pressed for it a week hence.
Mr.. Richardson, of Tennessee, the
Democratic leader had no objection,
but Mr.. Cannon. of Illinois, chairman
OF the House Appropriation Committee
diSsentcd.
THE PORTO RICAN DEBATE.
The House went into committee of
the whoie,-fetati=Afr. lesviandsr Ne
vada. member OF the Ways and
Means Committee, took the floor.
ut was evident" Mr.. Newlnnds said
that so far as Porto Rico was con-
cerned. whatever present objections
there might be upon the part of the
dominant party to establishing freedom
of trade between that island and the
Union, such trade would not long be de-
ferred, as apart from the Importance Of
the constitutional questions raised by q
discriminating tariff, which, doubtless,
would be only temporary, 1t was evil
dent that both of the political parties
of the country were now on substan-
tial agreement that Porto Rico should
become part of the Union.
Mr.. Newlands said, however, that the
Republicans were losing sight OF the
possibility that the unrest and dssat-
isfaction created by inequality OF laws
might make our problem OF govern
ment in Porto Rico much more diff
cult than it now seemed Whether
these islands were to be regarded as de-
Tendencies or territories, freedom of
trade, freedom of migration, and equal
ity of right and burthen must be es-
tablished, for otherwise each commu
nifty Disseminated against would re-
gard itself as the victim OF prejudice
or self-interest.
THE COUNTRY'S SENTIMENT
The dominant party was DESTROYS of
preventing freedom of migration and
free trade between this country and the
philippine islands. This was the senu-
ment OF the entire country There was
put one way to accomplish this under
the constitution, and that was to de-
clare that they did not belong to the
United States, and that the sovereignty
Of the United States would be exer-
cised in these islands only for their
pacifcation and the establishment of
q stable government and the final es-
Enlistment of independent self-gov-
eminent in the islands. Everything
pointed to this as the correct course
Our duty was to Immediately incopo.
rate Porto Rico in the Union as a ter
ritory with all it's rights and privileges
under the constitution and laws of this
country. Equality of right and equal
ity of burthen would render them sat
isfied with our scheme Of government
and contented with condition of tu-
telage. which would ultimately lead to
representation in the Federal Union.
FOR THE TARIFF.
Mr.. Hopkins. Illinois, another mem
Der OF the Ways and Means Commit
tee. then spoke in support of the bill
The Issue presented In the measure, he
said was. whether Porto Rico and the
Philippines, under the treaty Of peace