The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-02-21
ARE NERVOUS.
Leaders Worried About
Porto Rico Bill.
Enough Doubtful Re-
publican Votes,
To Turn Scale Against 'fhe
Measure.
Three Speeches Were
Made Yesterday.
Five Hours Consumed In Their
Delivery.
Five Hours Consumed In Their
Delivery.

HachihktVHs 3ObNdnky k1sh
today there were but three speeches In the
House upon the Porto Rioan tariff bill.
Five hours were Consumed In their deliv-
cry. Mr.. Hopkins of Illinois spoke In sup.
port Of the bill and MIR. Newlands Of Ne.
vada and Mr.. Swanson Of Virginia In
opposition to 1t. The speakers devoted
themselves almost exclusively to the con-
stitutional question involved and were
listened to with attention. The Repub.
iican leaders are becoming nervous over
the fate Of the bill. They have only q
majority of fourteen over the opposition,
VIII ioh is solidly opposed to the measure.
Eight votes from the Republican side
from IL to IS Republican votes In doubt.
A movement for Iiepublioan caucus
Is being agitated and although no call
had bsen issusd up to the time OF ad :
journment tonight, the general under
standing was that one would be held to-
morrow night. The Republicans reported
to bs opposed 10 ths bill are Messrs. Mo-
Call Of Aassaoh usetts, Littlefield OF
Maine. Powers of Vermont, Tompkins OF
New York, Bromwsn Of Ohio, Lorimer
OF Illinois, Heatwole Of Minnesota,
Tongue OF Dragon. Loud Of California,
Jones and Cushman of Washington and
Crumpacker of Indiana
Before the debate upon the Pusrt, Rican
tariff bill was resumed Mr.. Hepburn
of Iowa attempted to secure an agree
men to take up the NioaruRuan canal
bill. He asked unanimous consent that
10 te taken mp two weeks from today.
Mr.. Richardson asked II there was
snything In the bill which recognized
the existence Of the Clayton -Bulwsr
"Thsre is not" replied Mr.. Hepburn.
"The bill provides for absolute owner
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois, chairman of
the committse said hs was not prepared
to agree at this time to the consideration
of the bill.
"Ihere is no objection on this side, {"
observed Mr.. Richardson.
Mr.. Hepburn offered to make the date
q week from today but Mr.. Cannon still
dissented. The House then went into
committee of the whole and MIR. New
lands. Silverite Of Nevada. a member Of
the ways and means committee. took
the floor In opposition 70 the Puerto
flChn DILL
Mr.. Newlands said in part:
"As the result Of . humanitarian war
inAugurated not for conquest but 70 free
Cuba from spsin's oppression, the United
States tnds itself In the qualified posses
sion of Cuba, In the unqualified posses
sion Of Puerto Hioo and the disputed pos
session Of the Philippines.
"As to Puerto Rioo, Mr.. Newlands
said that there existed NO complications
uniesa they were created BY the mal-ai-
ministrntion Of Congress. Doubtless the
establish there territorial form Of gov
srnment and extend our constitution an d
our laws to tbs people Of the island.
Their fear was that a precedent would be
established controlling our action regard
ing the Philippines later on such aceion.
EN- braoing not simply one leland near
our coast, easily governed, its people
archiZ .lago OIL, 700 islands, seven thous-
and miles distant, Of divers races. speak
ing different languages, having differen
customs and ranging all the way from
absolute bsrbarism to standardization.
II was evident therefore, so far as Puerto
Rico wes concerned. whstsver present
objections there might be upon the part
free dom OF trade between . hat Island and
tha union, such trads won Id not be long
deferred az a part from the important OF
the constitutional questions raised by a
discT inn mating tariff, which doubtless
would be only Temporarily, 1t was evident
that both of the political parties of the
country were now in substantial agree
ment that Porto Rico should become q
part Of the union.
Mr.. Newlands said, however, that the
Republicans we're losing sight of the
possibility that the unrest and dissatis-
factian created by inequality OF laws
might make our problem OF government
in Porto Rico much more dificult than II
now seemed.
The dominant party was desirous OF
proven ting freed )m of migration and
free trade between this country and the
Philippians This was this sentiment Of
the entire country. There Was but one
way to accomplish this under the con.
stitutiou and that was to declare that
they did not belong to the United States
and that the sovereignty of the United
States would be exercised In these islandf
only for their paoihoation and the estab'
lishment Of stable government and the
final establishment Of independent sell
govern ment In the islands. As to Puerto
Rico our duty was 10 immediats moor
porate that island In the union as ter
rttory with all Its rights and privileges