Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-03-30
FIFTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
Washington, March 30.
SENATE.

Ia the Senate today Mr.. Spooner gave
no ice that he would submit some re-
marks Monday on the Porto Hlcan
question.
A bill was reported favorably appro'
priating SIC. 900 for the preparation Of
plans for a memorial or statue OF Gen.
Grant, in Washington, ID. Q.
Mr.. Proctor then addressed the Senate
on he Porto RicaD bill.
When The Porto Rican bill came up 10
the Senate today Mr., Proctor said ::
THE bill reported by Senator Foraker
meets my entire appreciation. But the
committee has included in this bill pro:
vision for a tariff between the United
Ststes and that island. l greatly-re'
gret that these two measures, natural
" separate and distinct, should be thus
com bined, and still more regret that 10
declining to support the tariff provisions
OF the bill this unwise union compeis
me to vote against the excellent gov:
ernmentsl features which 1t contains
He then had read long letter from
ex-senator Edmunds 10 which be main.
tanned that the constitution ought 80
be extended to the island, also that be
was in favor OF holding Porto Rico be-
cause be regarded it important alter
the construction of the Nicaragua ca
nal. Continuing, he said: I'VE may
do many wrong and foolish thines
without violating the CONSTITUTION, Out
10 does not follow that We must DOZEN
or ought to do them, and I claim that
the plain people, who are not sugar
men, nor tobacco men, nor men who
have any commercial or class interests,
which It 10 claimed must be
placated by our action, are the
best judges of what Ia fair and
honest and that their judgment
10 the end must and will prevail.
The people believe as the President
did when be wrote that our plain duty
1, to abolish the customs tariff between
the United States and Porto Rico.'
The people know that sentence by
heart, Mr.. Preeident, and they will re-
peat 1t millions OF times within the year
from it's deliverauce unless we perform
what the President says is our plain
duty The constitution may or may
not follow the flag. but tho good faith
of the American people must stand I'm.
wherever the Stars and
Stripes are seen. The plea OF harmony
10 the party appeals to ne strongly.
But this is question higher than party
or policy; it is a question OF principle,
and 1t is better that even a small MI
nority of the party should be
right than we should all be wrong.
Mr.. Proctor concluded at l O'Clock
and was followed by Mr.. Pettus who ct
the start made constitutional sreu.
ment. Then he said ne was highly
amused ri things that have happened
lately in the chamber, and brancned
out a. q wit TO the great. surprise OF
every one. His remarks pr0duced
much merriment. While making his
argument Mr.. Pettus
swallowed his guild of tobacco, and 1t
was q minute or more before he could
proceed.
The House met with the intention OF
spending the day in the consideration
OF private war claims.
The first bill called up was that to re.
fer to the court of clailns the so.called
"border raid" claims OF the southern
tier of counties In Penney lvania,
to s., 100000 1t occasioned
considerable debate, Mr.. Mahon con.
tending for its passage while Mr.. Hop
kins and others held that there was no
good basis for the claims.