The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-17
PORTO RlCAN BILL PASSED
Continusd from as page.

! would be able 10 enact any Porto Rican
| IeSlslatlon al all. He said il looked as if
! me republican party had reached the
eHu Oh the rope and that its las4 hope now
vas 70 contend that Congress was with
out limitations in the government of or
IN leslslating for acquired territory.
referring to che difference between the
| governments treatment of Hawaii and
Forto Rlco as to the admission Of their re-
| spectlVe products Mr.. Tillman said
senators owed il 10 themselves not 60 show
such discrimination on the one hand and
such outrage on the other. He was going
to vote for the pending bill, he said, be-
cause The enactment of the measure into
law was the only way to restore TO the
people OF Porto Rico taxes taken from
them wrongfully and unconstitutionaliy.
The United States has not given the
people OF Porto Rico a cent, and it is high
tlme, lie said, that We give back to
them the money we have stolen from
them"
Mr. Tillman declared that the govern
ment established now in Porto Rico was
worse than that forced upon the Porto
kicans by Spain, particularly as to the
lsiahd's fiscal affairs. under Spanish
rules the Porto Ricans had at least a free
market in Spain for their goods This
assertion Mr.. Gallinger disputed. calling
Mr. Humans attention 20 the fact that
| spain levied a duty upon Porto Rican
products, especially coffee, which consti-
tuted four-hfths of the export product of
the island.
Give Them Honest Government
Mr. Tillman read extracts from Gen.
Davis report, stopping in the midst OF
the reading to teXclaim, Lets cast this
legislation like honest white men: LET'S
not have any namby- pambyism and hypo.
critical philanthropy about it, That is all
am trying to get senators to agree to
now There will be no trouble about the
main question. That will either be adjust
ed by Congress before adjournment or 1t
will be adjusted by the people next No
Nember, and don't you forget it,
He thought the way.to help the people OF
Porto Rico to get on their feet was t.
give them a market through the means
of free trade with the United States. If
a public soup house was started men who
might earn their living with a hoe or an
ak would sit down and wait for the soup
to be handed around. The result would
be to cut off the very labor necessary to
rehabilitate the island as ii should be reha-
biitatad.
Mr.. Tilman favored a civil government
for the island and criticised the expendi-
lures under the present military system as
expensive. There is no sense. no justice
and no honesty" he said, sin having these
poor devils robbed simply because they
He thought the Republican party was
in a dilemma, but thought it would come
out all right. You are the best organ.
lied party l ever saw" he said land
no matter how you talk I've no doubt
you'll round up on the vote. T."
Mr.. Tillman referred to what he said
would be the monumental salaries of the
officials Of the insular possessions, par
tcularly noting the members of the Phil
ippine Commission.
willing to Trust Mckinley.
Mr.. Foraker notified Mr.. Tillman that
he had been told that the highest salary
of any member of the commission would
be 10000 a year.
THAT may be disappointing to the Sen
ater," suggested Mr.. Foraker.
No" replied Mr.. Tillman. Pm graft
fed. I'm always willing 10 trust William
Mckinley, but its his bad and wicked
partners that I'm afraid of. He is a pa
triotic and noble man, although just now
he may be carried off his feet by the
dream of appearing in history alongside
of Jefferson and others who added largely
to our territory"
II conclusion he besought Congress to
take it's hands from the throat of The
Porto Ricans and give them a chance to
govern themselves, even if We had to
guide them a little at first
Mr.. Allison then asked for vote upon
the bill and amendments and the request
was acceded to.
Mr.. Tillman urged Mr. Jones and Mr.
Pettus to withdraw amendments which
they had offered in order that the meas
ure might be passed without delay and
just as it came from the Senate commit
tee.
Mr.. Jones withdrew his amendment, but
Mr.. Pettus insisted upon a vote on his
amendments, which, in effect were the
making of a direct apDropria ton for the
relief of the Porto Ricans without any
reference to the tariff or customs duties
collected The amendments were defeated.
The bill as reported by the Senate COM
mittee was then passed without division,
only a few scattering noes being heard
against it.
This disposed of, Mr.. Mason entered a
motion that the Foreign Relations Com
mittee be discharged from further con-
sideraton of his resolution expressing
sympathy for the Beers Under the rule
the motion went over and at $40 p. m.
the Senate adjourned until Monday.