Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-04-04

Dill.
Foraker said that so far as the pending
| bill was concerned there had been moth
ing unusual or different from legislation
generally. Changes had been made in the
measure since it was first drafted. but
those changes had been explained again
and again.
Proctor, VT, inquired why the Presi-
dent, the secretary of war and Gen
Davis, the governor of Puerto Rico, had
not seen and noted the necessity for 4
tariff on Puerto Rican products.
II do not know" .retorted Foraker,
why it did not occur to them. What
do know is that the subject was thor
oughly ana impartially investigated and
the necessity Of the Legislation now pro-
posed was established beyond bubble by
our committee
Did that necessity" inquired Tillman,
''change the political status of the people
of Puerto Rico from citizens of the
United States to citizens of Puerto Rico?''
NO" answered Foraker, that was not
the reason The reason for that change
was the opposition of Democratic sena-
tors. They maintained that the confer
ring of citizenship Of the United States
upon the people Of the island was a prac-
teal extension Of the constitution over
the. island. That is the reason we made
the change"
I 1t was not for Gen. Miles, Foraker CON
tinucd. to speak for the government as
TO political pOlicy-that was for Congress.
His duty was to carry the flag there, as
he gallantly did. The secretary of war
had made no pledge. As for the Prcsi-
dent, il was his enemies who were as
Stunning to represent him. He had recon-
meudcd that we give the Puerto Rican;
free trade. That was just what this bill
did. True for Il time, duty was i'm
poScd-fur less than y; mouths-to meet
an emergency. There would be absolute
free trade sooner if the Puerto Ricans
should ask for IL in the proper way. Fur
thcrmore. absolute ana present free trauc
WIS vpuchstfcd ~ the Hill IN practically
nearly MI essential articles. In Wow of
this fact there was no violation Of pledges
or contradiction Of the Presidents recon-
incubation. Tho president had not called
for free trade ON the day that his mes
sage was issued but had recommended it
as Il line OF policy.
Gallinger supported the bill saying it
was not contcnded that We could lcgiSiatr
for Puerto Rico except in legal and
regular way. There was no proposition
to treat the people of Puerto Rico any
worse than the residents Of the District
Of Columbia all Of whom were governed
without their consent. The committee
had made an effort to give the highest
possible relief to tho Puerto Eicans ana
he believed that result would be accom-
1..l
stable form Of government more than
free trade.
When the hour of o'clock was
reached the chairman announced that
the votes upon the pending amend
ments and upon the bill should be
taken.
At the suggestion of Foraker the
committee amendments which had
been passed over We're reverted to and
adopted without division. Davis. Rep,
Mimi. then offered his amendment
providing that no duties on imports
or exports shall, after the passage of
this act, be levied or collected on any
article imported from the United
States into Puerto Rico or from Puerto
Rico into the United States. Davis &c
manded the yeas and nays.
The amendment was lost. 30 to 10, the
detailed vote being as follows:
Yeas-Allcn Bacon. Bate Berry. Clark
Mont. Clay. Cuckrcll CulhcrSnn. Daniel.
Davis tRepD. Harris, IIctfeld. Jones.
Ark. kcnncy. Lindsay. McIaurin. Mar
son CRepD. PettuS. Proctor HtcpD. Simon,
lRepl. Sullivan. Taliafcrro. Til!mln.
Turley. Vest. Wellington IEcP;l-@
Nays-Allison. Baker, BARD Carte,
Chandler clark Wv0 Cullnm Dchoc