The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-02-23
THE HAWAIIAN BILL.
Measure for a Government Con-
sidered in the Senate.
THE PUERTO RICAN TARIFF BILL.
The Discussion of the Measure Opens Up
In the House-BiIl to Endow Mining
Sohoas-Civl Service Act-Noth-
Ing at Night session.

In the House-BiIl to Endow Mining
Sohoois-Civil Service Act-Noth-
Ing at Night session.
Washington, Feb. 20.-A simple res
olution of inquiry introduced in the
senate yesterday by Senator Hale, of
Maine, precipitated an hours con
stitutional debate by some of the
ablest constitutional lawyers in the
body on the authority of congress
at it's pleasure to extend or withhold
the constitution to territory acquired
by the United States. The bill pro-
viding a government for the terri
tory of Hawaii was under considera-
ton most of the afternoon. Senator
Cullom, in charge of the measure, eX-
planning in detail its provisions.
Senator Hale offered resolution
which, after long debate, was
adopted, calling upon the commits
sioners of the District of Columbia
for information as to why the law
of congress relating to telephone
charges had not been enforced and
practically was imperative.
A1NhbNoi NNob lNHOl Ath liOih AliN
committee on national quarantine
the bill introduced by Senator Cock
rell, appropriating $4,000 for the in
vestigation of pollution of rivers, the
investigation to be made by the ma
rine hospital service and to be made
concerning the Potomac river first.
An amendment was added giving
60 characterization, I, 10 grI
commissioner upon the effects of the
pollution of the water upon the fish
of the streams.
Senator Fairbanks introduced an
amendment to the Puerto Rican gov
eminent bill extending the immigra-
tion laws of the United States to
that island.
The Puerto Rican Tariff Bill.
Washington, Feb. 2O.-The debate
upon the Puerto Rican tariff bill
which is to continue throughout the
week and possibly longer, opened i'm
the house yesterday. On all hands
il is agreed that this bill, although
it applies only to Puerto Rico, in
volving as it does the question of the
power to govern our new possessions
outside the limitations of the consti
tuition, is the most important meas
ure which will come before this CON
gress. Interest in the bill is intense
among the members on both sides
and there is urgent demand for time.
Mr. Payne, the floor leader of the
majority, refused to agree that n
vote should be taken upon substi.
tute to be offered 10y the minority.
This substitute, which has not vet
been framed, will be in substance the
bill originally introduced by Mr..
Payne providing for free trade with
Puerto Rico by the extension of the
customs and revenue laws of the Uni.
ted States over the island. The de.
bate yesterday lacked exciting feat
ures. II was in the nature of long
range bombardment before the clash
of the contending forces in battle.
Mr.. Payne opened with a general ar
gument in support of the bill, going
largely into the material side of the
situation which the bill is designed TO
relieve. Mr.. Richardson. the demo.
cratic leader, joined issue upon the
power of congress to enact the pro-
posed legislation and Mr.. Dalzell. of
Pennsylvania, backed up Mr.. Payne
with Il constitutional and LEGAL
argument. All three were listened to
with close attention.
MIR. Mondcll, of Wyoming. presented
the report Of the committee ON mines
ana mining on the bill ito supply a
portion of the proceeds of the sales
OF public lands to the endowment and
support of the mining schools in the
several states and territories for the
purpose of extending similar aid in
the development of the mining indus
tries of the nation as already pro.
Nided for the agricultural and me-
chanical arts The report dweIls
upon the extent and importance of the
mining industry and on the desirable
ity of the government fostering state
mining schools as in the case of agri-
cultural colleges.
Mr.. Lacey, of Iowa, introduced a bill
amending the civil service act. 1t pro-
Vides that government employees shall
serve for five years, with opportunity
for reappointment for another five
years. Those now in the service shall
serve out a term of five years and
those who have served beyond that
time shall be divided into classes
whose terms shall gradually expire.
Mr.. Richardson, of Tennessee, the
house minority leader, after consulta-
ton with some of his democratic col.
leagues, yesterday introduced in the
house two resolutions aiming at the
sugar trust.
Nothing was accomplished at the
night session of the house, which was
to have been devoted to pension leg,
islation. Mr.. Talbert, of South Caro-.
lima, made the point of no quorum
and blocked proceedings. The house
remained in session until ten o'clock