The Portland daily press., 1900-02-27
Large Number Of Speakers on Both
Sides Monday.
Mr.. Boutelle Attacks
Mr.. Littlefield.
Interest Centers i'm the Efforts
For a Compromise.

Washington. February e6.-The general
debate upon the Porto Rican tariff bill
was today extended until tomorrow
nj ght. Intsrsst conferred In the confer
enoes which were going on among the
Republican leaders and the dissenting
Republicans In their efforts to compro-
mife their differences upon the bill. The
speakers today were Ne ssrs, Boutslls OF
Illinois, Brown OF Ohio, Mondell OF wyo-
miag, Graham Of Psnrsylvania and
Reeder Of Kansas for the bill, and Messrs.
Bartlett Of Georgia, Csnham of Texas.
Moon of Tennessee, william OF Illinois,
Johnston OF West Virginia, Sutherland Of
Nebraska, Jstt OF Illinois. Noonan OF
Illinois and Wilson of Arizona, against
Il.
The House met at eleven O'Clock.
There we're few members on the floor, but
the leaders on both sides wsrs active. Mr..
Payne Of New York. the floor leader. an
nounced that no oompromis, had been
made with the dissatisfied Republicans
and that Their, would be q conference to-
night
When Mr.. Payne preferred the request
for the extension OF time, MIR. Richard
son, the Democratic leader, said:
,"This 10 a remarkable request to come
from the majority. We oonstrue 1t to be
a frank and candid confession that they
have brought here tad bill, and an adj
mission to the House that I they had not
votes enough 10 pass 1t. 1hs Democrats.
he continued, were always mag unanimous
They would not strike their foes when
they were down, and they were not dis
posed to take advantage Of the pitiable
situation on the other side Of the aisle.
Still, they felt that some terms should be
imposed; and he demanded as conditions
to IN extension, . night session tonor-
row night and permission to offer q sub
stitute In the House on Wednesday when
the vote was to be taken. With these
!" conditions" he rem Arksd blandly, the
minority would grant the "entreaty" of
the majority.
MIR. Payne smillngly replied that he APP
preciated the generosity OF the other side,
and not to be outdone In magnamity he
would agree to the conditions.
Mr.. Bartlett Of Georgia then took the
floor with a half hours speech against
the bill He laid down az an elementary
principles of international law that
Whenever . country whether empire,
monarchy or republic acquired BY oon-
quest. purchase or treaty, that territory
"beoams part of such oountrJ and sub
jsot 30 her laws"
Mr.. LAnhan Of Texas, In opposing the
bill declared that the Puerto Ricans were
either Americans or aliens. There could
be no such thing as separating and divid-
ing the immunities and privileges Of
American citizenship. The Inhabitants
OF the island were entitled 60 unre-
strictsd free trade with the United States.
I MIR. Moon OF Tennessee also opposed the
b IL.
Mr.. BoutAlle of .s,Illinois. followed in
advocacy Of the measure. He c,lled
TO the widely diverse opinions
of Its opponents. Mr.. Bromwell Of Ohio
had thought 1t bad iis,al MEASURE, but
sound oonstitutionally. Mr.. MCCALL had
thought 1t a good fiscal measure, but I'M
but 1t remained for the
gentleman from Maine (Littlefisld) with
the irrestistabls torrents OF his eloquence.
70 make the discovery that Ii was bad IN
every particular, financially. oonstitu-
moral. spiritually and political
ly. In his opposition, said MIR. Boutelle.
he had cried out for divine guidance.
God that he was mot as other
men WERE"
Proceeding. Mr.. Routells took up the
testimony before the insular and ways
and means committees to show that the
people Of Puerto REQ were utterly I'M
prepared for self Rovsrnmsnt. He was
opposed. he said, to admitting the Puerto
Ricans and the Filipinos to free compsti-
ton with American labor. He would MT
support the bill II 1t were to be made 3
permanent measure.
Mr. Williams Of Illinois, opposed the
bill. In the course of his rsmarks he said
the President and Mr. LittlensId were In
accord with each other on the Pusi to
Rican tarif bill and he suggested the
from Maine as good running
mate ON the ticket with Mckinley.
"But he has no barrel" observed q
Democrat.
"Hs has barrel OF brains" retorte1
Mr. Williams.
"Would you vote for him as your Vice
candidass7" asked Mr..
Cannon, Republican OF Illinois.
"lf l voted tbs Republican ticket"
replied MIR. Williams, 81 would ind some
consolation for the crime In voting for
the gsntlemah." democratic applause.
There is a good deal Of democracy In
what he breaches"
Mr.. Brown. Republican of Ohio. sup
ported the bill. He believed that our
home industries should be protected
against the competition of Puerto Rico.