The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-04-18
PORTO Rico BILL PASSED.
Senate Voted 30 to 81 For tht
Amended Measure.
FREE TRADE AMENDMENTS LOST


tive -. Last Days Debate Attracted
Many People - Speakers For and
Against tho BilI-scheme Of Govern.
ment Proposed For tho Island.
WASHINGTON, D. C. (Special).-By ma
forisy Of nine votes tho Porto htco Dill
including the provisions for tariff and
for a temporary form OF government,
vas passed by the Senate. just as 1t was
completed by the committee OF which MIR.
Foraker Is chairman. The vote stood 4c
to 81. A magnificent audience occupied
the galleries when the bill was passed,
having attended the session to hear the
speeches and witness the proceedings al
the critical hour.
The speeches which preceded the votes
we're BY Senators Mason, Culberson, Clay,
Teller, Bacon, wellington and Lindsay II
opposition to the bill, and Foraker, Hoss
Stewart and Gallinger 10 support OF It.
There were three roll calls in conneotioE
With the bill. The first was on the Davis
amendment, contemplating free trade, by
making Porto Rico one OF the internal rev.
enue districts OF the United States: This
resulted in Its defeat by vote OF ~ TO ~
Senators Davis, Mason, Nelson, PROCTOR
Simon, Wellington and Heltfe!d voting
with the Democrats In favor OF the amend
ment.
The next vote was on Senator Nelson:
absolute free trade amendment, which was
defeated by q vote Of Al to 20. The loss oil
one vote in favor OF free trade en- thi.
amendment was caused by Senator Daniel
who voted with the Republicans against 1t.
The vote on the final passage OF the bill re-
suited In yeas ~ and nays 81, as follows:
YrAs-Messrs. Allison. Baker, Bard, Car
ter, Chandler, Clark (Wyoming), Cullom,
Deboe, Depew, Fairbanks, Foraker, Foster,
Frye, Gallinger, Gear, Hanna, HansorouSh'
Hnwiey. Jones (Nevada), Kean, Kyle
rose, Perkins, Platt (Connecticut), Platt
New York;, Pritchnrd, Qusrles. Ross,
Scott. Seweil, Shoup, Spooner, Stewart,
Tburston, Wetmore, Wolcott-40.
NAYs.-Messrs. Allen, Bacon, Bate Berry,
Clark (Montana), Clay, Cockrell, Culber-
son, D Daniel, Davis crop Harris, Heitfeld,
ZONES (Arkansas), henney, Lindsay, Nc
Laurln, Martin, Mason lRep.), Money,
Morgan, Nelson (Rep.), Pettus, Proctor
(Rep.). Simon (Rep.), Sullivan, Taliaterro,
Teller, TiIlman, Turley, Vest, Wellington
(Rep.)-3l.
The bill as passed consists OF thirty-nine
sections. Section 1 makes the act apply
to Porto Rico and its adjacent islauds ana
waters. Section extends to Porto RICO
the tariff rates OF the United States on all
Imports from foreign countries, besides five
cents pound on all coffee. Section i'm
poses on goods imported from the United
States Into Porto Rico and from Porto
Rico into the United States fifteen per
cent. OF existing tariff rates.
Section provides that the duties and
taxes collected in Porto Rico shall not be
covered into the general fund OF the Treas
ury, but shall be held as a separate fund
and shall be placed at the disposal OF the
President to be used for the government
and benefit OF Porto Rico until otherwise
provided by law. As soon rs civil gov
srnmens for Porto Rico is organized In aG,
eordance with the provisions OF this act all
duties and taxes in Porto Rlco collected
under the act shall be paid into the Treas
ury OF Porto Rico.
Section fixes the capital OF Porto Rico
at San Juan. Section 6 recognizes the In
habitants as citizens OF Porto Rico and as
entitled to the protection OF the United
States. Section recognizes the laws and
ordinances OF Porto Rico so far as they are
not inconsistent with the statutory laws OF
the United States.
Section 8 directs the Commissioner OF
Navigation to make regulations fox the ma
tionallZation OF vessels owned by the In
habitants OF Porto Rico on April II, 1899,
and still owned by them, and their admis-
sion to the coastiuG trade o. the United
States. Section Q provides for the estab-
Nshment OF quarantine stations. Section
10 provides for the substitution OF Amerl-
ear coins for those OF Porto Rico.
Section ii directs the payment OF the ex-
penses OF the Porto Rico Government out
OF its own revenues. Section 12 extends to
Porto Rico the statutory laws Of the United
States not locally inapplicable, except In
ternal revenue laws. Section 13 gives to
she legislative authority power to amend
or repeal any existing law. Section IL re;
quires all judicial processes to run In the
name of the United States OF America, and
It requires all officials to take an oath to
support the Constitution OF the United
States and the laws OF Porto Rico. Section
Is defines the powers and duties OF the
Governor OF Porto Rico.
Section 16 provides for the appointment
by the President for four years OF a Secfe-
tary, Attorney-General, Treasurer, Audi
tor, Commissioner OF the Interior, Commis-
sioner of Education and five other persons
to constitute an Executive Council. At
least five OF them are to bs native inhabi.
tants Of Porto Rico. Sections II and l8
prescribe the duties of the Secretary. Sec.
tionS 10 to "a prescribe the duties OF the
-. Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor,
Commissioners OF the Interior and OF Edu-
cation, and the other five members OF the
Executive Council.
Section 25 vests legislative powers In two
houses, the Executive Council and q House
Of D elsgates consisting OF thirty-ave mem.
bers elected biennially. Section. 26, q, %
and 20 apply to the election Of delegates
and define the legislative authority.
Section II to So regulate the judiciary OF
the island. The Chief Justice and As
socinte Justices OF tie Supreme Court and
Marshal are to be appointed by the Presi-
dent and the Judges OF the District Courts
by the Governor. Section "a directs that
of the revenues OF Porto Rico, and a1es
toned.
Section &c provides that no export duties
shall be levied or collected on exports
from Porto Rico; but that taxes and as
easements on property and license fees
may be imposed by act Of the Legislative
Assembly.
Section 81 provides for Resident Com.
missioner to the United States, who shall
be entitled 20 official recognition by all de-
partnents. He must be bona nde citizen
OF Porto Eico, thirty years OF age, and must
read aud write the English language. Sec
zion 3S provides for commission OF three
members, one at least q native citizen o.
Porto Rico, to be appointed by the Presi.
dent to compile and revise the laws o.
Porto Rico. Section 80 makes the act take
effect on May l, 1900.
Died at the Ape of 10S