Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-03-19
FIFTY.SlXTH CONGRESS.
Washington, March 10.
SENATH.

th0r1ZlnR the secretary OF Tue navy &c
loan naval equipment to certain mill
tary schools.
The legislative appropriation bill was
then called up by Mr.. Cullow.
Mr.. Beveridge offered an amendment
to the Puerto Rican bill and gave no.
tice that he would submit some remarks
on the bill Thursday after the routine
business. The amendment provides fol
absolute free trade between Puerto Ri
CO and the United States and that not b.
ing in the bill shall be construed to
mean that the constitution OF the
United States is extended to and over
the island.
Mr.. Lodge introduced q resolution
that the senior major general of the
army while commanding the army OF
the United States shall have the rank oil
lieutenant general and shall be entitled
to the pay and emoluments of an Officer
of that grade and that the adjutsnt ger-
ersl of the army shall have the rank
paw and allowances of q major general
A bill was reported favorsbly author
izipg the district courts of the Uoited
States to appoint photographic report
ers and fix the duties and compensation
thereof
Mr.. Beveridge, 10 support of bis
amendment to the Puerto Rican bill,
said 1--WE have followed the Pres
dents suggestion appropriating two
million dollars for the immediate relIe
of Puerto Rico, which is more than the
House bill would have given the islam
10 the entire two years of it's life. This
removed the reason which members had
for voting for the bill and restores US to
the position announced by the Presi-
dent. On the great principles involved
we are in entire harmony with the Pres
ident. The object of my amend
ment is the same as that of
Senator Davis's amendment. bu'
the latter extends all of the taxation
and revenue provisions OF the constitu-
ton over Puerto Rico, and when any
part of the constitution is extended, il
is there forever. II may be that ex-
perience will demonstrate that we shall
want to change the laws OF taxation OF
Puerto Rico, and if 80 fear the extern
sion of the taxing provisions of the CO =
stitution would prevent US. On all
questions of power Congress should b.
left with an absolutely free and I'm.
shsckled hand"
The legislative appropriation bill WI g,
after soms immaterial amendments,
passed without division.
HOUSE.
The House passed Senate bill ap-
propriatipg $4,000 to convert tie
steamer Thetis into q revenue cutter.
Messrs. Barney, McClesry and Bell
were appointed as the House members
of conference committee on the pen
sion appropriation bill.
Mr.. Cannon moved that the House
non-concur In the Senate amendments
to the House bill refunding to Puerto
Rico, 50 DOC, 900 that had been paid IN
der the D.Dgley tariff laws.
Mr.. McRae argued in favor Of con-
curing in the Senate bill.
"The House bill" he said, declares
the right of Congress to levy the Ding
ley tariff on Puerto Rican produces.
The Senate bill DOES rot present that
claim and it is the bill that should be
passed"
Mr.. Bell, said the Puerto Ricans did
not care for the bill. They wanted not
charity but civil government before all
Then free trade. He called attention
to the fact that under Spain's rule Puerto
Rico was allowed four members 10 the
upper house and 16 in the lower hous
of the Spanish Parliament.
Mr.. Bail stated that the condition of
Puerto Rico under the policy of "benev
olent assimilation" Is worse than 1t was
under the Oppressive and savage mis- q.
rule Of SPAIN" He charged the repub
licans with seeking to delay action on
the 81, 600, 900 bill in order to force the
suG ring Puerto Ricsns to accept toe
modified Dingley tariff.
Mr.. Moody insisted that the House
should not accept the Senate bill,
That measure limited the refund
Of the tariff payments to the time
preceding Jsnury /. Mr.. Moody
Insisted that the Puerto RIcans should
be repaid all the money paid by them
under the Dingley law until new tariff
regulations affecting the island have
been adopted.
The original House bill proposed to
continue the rebate until Congress
should settle the tariff question relating
to Puerto Rico.
Mr.. Swanson took the opposing
view. charging the republicans with
unfairness In their dealings with
Puerto Rico. He declared that the
intention is to exploit the colonies
for the benefit of few special industries
in the United States, to kill of the
cigar making industry OF Puerto Rco.
Mr.. Hemenway declared the House
bill dealt with the situation practically,
giving dollars and cents to the Puerto
Ricans. The democrats, he said, pro
posed to give them free trade and n0tb-
ing to eat.
Mr.. Cannon concluded the debate for
the republicans.
On Mr.. McRae's motion to concur in
the Senate bill, the vote was: Yeas-S6;
nsys-16.
Mr.. Csnnon's motion to non.concur
was then carried without opposition.
Messrs. Cannon, Moody and McRae
were appointed as the members of a
conferrees on the part of the House.
The House took puder consideration
q bill to grant a franchise to an indie
pendent telephone company in Wash
ington.
The bill fixes the rate for residences
at $S8 and for business places at $4S.
The charges made by the company now
operating a telephone system here
range from $72 to Sl20. A law passed
by Congress 10 1898 to reduce the rate 9
was declared unconstitutional by the