Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-15
AID FOR PORTO RICO
Discussing the Proposed 100000
Appropriation.
LONG DEBATE CAUSED In SENATE
Suggested That Action of Courts
Be Awaited.
DISTRICT BILL IN THE HOUSE

At the beginning of today's session of the
Senate Mr.. Jones (Ark) offered the follow
ing, which was adopted:
Whereas, frequent complaints are being
made from many sections of the Indian ter
ritory that the town site commissioners are
incompetent, inattentive to their duties and
are not discharging the duties incumbent
upon them:
Resolved. That the committee on In
dian affairs be directed to inquire into the
truth of these allegations and report to the
Senate
When morning business had been finished
Mr.. Sullivan (Miss) took the floor to de-
liver his announced speech on our relations
with the Philippines. but at the request Of
Mr. Allison yielded for immediate consid-
GRAFTON of the bill appropriating for the
benefit of Porto Rico the revenues col
lected on importations therefrom.
Mr.. Jones ArkD offered the following
substitute for the bill: That all duties col
lected to this date upon articles imported
into the United States from Porto Rico
since the 11th day of April, 1899. the date
of the exchange of ratifications of the
treaty of peace between Spain and the
United States be returned to the persons
from whom they Were collected, and from
and after the passage of this act no duties
shall be collected on articles coming from
Porto Rico
Mr.. Allison explained that the amend
ments propose had been carefully consid-
cred by the committee They made the bill
simply a specific appropriation measure. in
Guiding moneys collected up to January
1. 1909.
Mr.. Jones tArkD inquired what Mr.. ALI
son proposed to do with the duties collected
after January ], 1900.
Mr.. Allison replied that that was > cues
ton for Congress to deal with in me future.
Il regard this as peos1 important meas
ure,'' said Mr.. de>es Il do not believe
there is Jaw for the collection Of these,
an1 10 hold that their collection was in
violation of the fundamental principles OF
our government.
Further he expressed his opinion that the
funds collected in duties ought not to be
returned to Porto Rico, but to the people
of whom the duties were collected.
Mr.. Lindsay suggested that the amend
ment offered by Mr. Jones was a proposed
settlement of question which was at least
open to doubt. If those who paid the duties
on Porto Rican products imported into this
country believe they have been wrcnged
they are at liberty to institute suits to Sc
cure their rights In fact. he understood
that suit had already been begun against
the United States to recover duties paid on
Porto Rican goods.
IF we are to determine the question
now said Mr.. Lindsay. and then later
the courts should decide otherwise. We
made a donation to these people
Why" said Mr.. Spooners should We an
ticipate the decision of the courts in the
matter? Suits are now pending to recover
this money. In my judgment, the duties
were levied properly and cannot be re-
covered.
Mr. Turley asked Mr. Spooner why it
would not be well for Congress to wait until
the courts had passed upon the question
before appropriating this money.
Yes. replied Mr.. SpoOner, vehemently.
wait. Let the people OF Porto Rico starve
until the courts have determined whether
we shall pay back the money collected as
duties TO the sugar and tobacco trusts l
| cannot believe the senator would stand by
any such proposition as that"
Mr.. Clay inquired of Mr.. Spooner II it
We're not true that in the midst of their
distress, We had collected this burdensome
tax frcm the people OF Porto Rico
NO, it Is not" replied the Wisconsin SEN
ator. The duties were paid by compare
lively few people, and those are not the
poor people. We were right in imposing the
tariff and We are right in making this ap-
preparation.
New Bills In the Senate.
Senators Mcmillan and Penrose both in
| troduced bills in the Senate today providing
| for the opening of Libraries in Manila for
| the benefit Of Americans there.
bill Was introduced in the Senate today
| by Senator Warren authorizing the secre-
| tary of War to pay travelling allowances OF
| enlisted men who have been discharged
| Senator Proctor of Vermont today intro
| duced a bill providing for the prevention OF
! the adulteration of food. 1t authorizes The
| creation of a bureau of chemistry In the
Agricultural Department and places the
| regulation of adultera ton In It's charge.