The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-17

proposes 20 continue the commercial sit
ustiou as between ourselves and Porto
Rico for any considerable time. and VIII
hasten the consideration Of that question
But II IS manifest that We cannot now
deal with the whole Porto Ricsn ques-
tion ON this bill which is for immediate
relief They cannot very well wait until
we can deal with the whole question.
Mr. Jones asked Mr.. Allison TO state
tine objects for which the money was 10
De used Those objects were stated by
Mr. Fairbanks as public works, sanitation,
and schools.
Mr. Jones said that that statement made
him the less inclined 70 vote for the bill
as he had supposed the object 10 be the
relief OF desutution on the island.
ar. Sewell made an explanation IN TO-
ply 30 Mr. Jones remarks.
Mr.. Foraker then spoke OF the relief
being given by the military authorities In
Porto Rico out Of the war emergency fund.
Another Amendment offered
Mr Jones remarked that it seemed i'm
possible 30 find out the purpose Of the ap-
preparation and he would content himself
with Offering the following amendment:
From and atter the passage df this sot 30 duty
shall br collected on articles coming into Porto
Rico fraip other parts oi fht nited Sfatp~. or uu
good .aiuiug flom Port, Rico into othcJ parts
OF toe United States.
Nj pettus criticised the bill as some
thing contrary to the practice Of the Gov
ernmrnt and objected 10 il as being too
general in its terms. He was reminded
by Mr. Nolcott Of the various former oc-
casions when appropriations were made
for she relief Of sufferers in the Missis-
sippi valley. in Chicago, in ireland. and
in India and was asked whether those
bills were not even more general in their
provisions thap the pending bill.
No sir" Mr.. Pettus replied, They we're
not They were specific appropriations for
a specific purpose This bih will not do.
IL Is bad policy; il is dangerous policy.
He proposed to strike out Of the bill
everything as to where the money comes
from That would not make a row OF pins
difference" 70 the validity OF the bin. And
he would then support the bill as an honor
able just and wise measure Why en-
cumber the bin. he asked by referring to
the source of money which he and many
other Senators believed had been unlaw-
fully collected.
Mr. Tillman criticised Mr.. Allison. whom
he spoke of as "an encyclopedia OF legis-
latfve information. and said that he had
been laundering about and unable 10 an
swer the questions asked by Mr. Jones.
The Chairman of the Pacific Islands and
also. Mr. Tillman said been unwilling or
unable 10 give light
Mr. Foraker objected to the statement
regarding him. and said he had heard no
question asked which he was not willing
and ready TO aanswer.
"Oh said Mr. Tnlman. do not suppose
tha; I am casting reflections upon any
body for ignorance on the subject or this
bill 7 acknowledge my own ignorance. /
Intended nothing but a little amusement
VERY we'll Mr.. Foraker remarked
pleasantly 4 will not interfere with the
amusement"
Nr. TfIlman's Views.
Mr.. Tillman went on with his remarks.
Tie said he would vote for the bill because
fl would restore to the people OF Porto Rico
taxes which had been taken from them IN
cons,itutionaIly and in contravention OF the
law Of the land n fOresaw the possibility
of .carpetbaggers" seizinE all the valua-
BILE real estate CT Porto Rico. and said that
that was not a far-fetched thought, al
though be saw some Of his Republican
friends smiling at IT,
"A little visionary Mr.. CGllingar inter
posed
In the course of further remarks Mr.
Tillman said that spain had never imposed
customs duties on Porto Rican products,
and was corrected by Hr. GallinEer. VINO
said that Spain had collected customs du-
ties from the coffee Of Porto Rico, which
constituted four-ffths Ia value of its prod
ucts.
i am glad" Mr.. Tillman exclaimed to
find somebody who knows something about
the fiscal affairs OF the island. He is tie
first one / have found.
Further On. speaking OF schools, he SAID
Let us manage this bill like honest
white men: let US have no hypocrisy ana
uamby- -pamby philanthropy about H. mat
is all I am attempting TO get Senators TO
agree to. The question as to what shall De
done with Porto Rico hereafter and
whether the tariff shall continue viii be
adjusted either BY the Senate and Coagres 8
or by the people Of the United States next
November"
starting of on another tack, he warned
Republicans against establishing a Freed
mans Bureau in Porto Rico II you do,
said he, "your effort to rehabilitate that
island and put It on its feet viii be unsuc-
cessful. II you're going to spend . million
dollars in building roads tas somebody pro-
poses) yOu viii take from the farmer te
very Isbor he needs to cut the trees of his
coffee plantation and to rehabilitste his
farm"
Mr.. Galliuger remarked that the trouble
was not to cut down the trees, as the hur-
ricaHe had uproOtcd them all
Let the Senator from New Hampshire
Mr.. Tillman calculated. talk about med
iciue. and / will yield TO him. but when he
comes to agriculture he is all wrong.
He recalled a remark he had made when
rations were being served after the
Charleston earthquake. II was. so long
as that ration lasts you cannot get any
body to pick cotton. "
Mr.. MckfnieN's Partners.
Mr.. Foraker said he had been informed
that the President had said to one Of the
commissioners appointed 10 serve on tho
commission, and who had accepted that
the salaries 10 be allowed would not iu
any event exceed SO 600.
Well" ." said Mr. Tlliman. chat is bet
ter than / hoped for
You are disappointed" Nr. Foraker
suggested.
No" said Mr.. Tulm5n. u am graft
fed. I am always willing 60 trust william
NcKi iniey II is his bad and wicked part
ners that I am afraid of. Let us pass this
bin and then fight out the tariff question
On the bin Tor the government OF Poru
Rico.
Mr.. Jones then Withdrew his amend
ment. Mr. Pettus' amendment was vote,
down and the bill was passed without th'
yeas and nays.
A COMPROMISE IMPRoBABLE.