St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-04-04
THE PORTO RIcAN QUESTION.

> a field day In the senate on Puerto Rico
several senators speaking on both side'
= of the question. The senate convened al
II o'clock in order that the debate might
be extended. The public galleries were
crowded
Those who listened to the debate were
well repaid. The speeches were good
and the running debate was unusually
bright and lively. During the speech OF
Mr.. Spooner the chamber seemed to
scintillate with sparks, as he crossed
argumentative swords with some of the
best debaters on the Democratic side.
His address, If so 1t could be called, was
devoted almost wholly to a discussion OF
the constitutional questions involved in
the pending bill.
Mr.. Bate opened the discussion of the
day with a carefully prepared speech in
opposition to the BILL He was followed
| by Mr.. Cullom in a vigorous speech sup
porting the measure. Then came Mr..
| Depew, a member Of the committee
which framed the bill, who made de-
Tense of the measure. Mr. Spooner, who
spoke next was followed by Mr.. Per-
| kins. also member of the committee on
Puerto Rico, who presented a strong
argument for the bill. The closing
speech was delivered by Mr.. Simon, who,
in criticising the measure, discussed the
political effects Of its passage.
Senator Depew declared that the con-
stitution does not extend by its own
power over these new possessions; to
this the majority agree, and also that
congress can legislate as 1t deems wise,
subject only to prohibitions of the con-
stitution. He gave a graphic sketch Of
the history of the island, referred to its
remarkable fertility and pictured a
bright future for it's million of people.
The pending bill, he said, is only tenta-
tive measure, and wholly for the benefit
of Puerto Rico The bill gives free trade
on all the necessarles of life, and all i'm
plements necessary in the industries. 1t
restricts as far as can be done the power
of trusts or combinations 1t gives to
the Puerto Ricans the fullest opportunity
for cheap food All the islands recently
acquired, he said, are to be held and gov
erned as a duty as well as for their and
our progress and growth. He does not
apprehend that we will incorporate the
alien races and half-civilized people of
the islands into our body polite as states
of the Union.
Senator Depew touched spot which Is
80 very sensitive that the Republican
party usually winces at any contact with
it. No Republican orator has dared
touch it before. Mr.. Depew said that
when the bill was introduced appro-
priating for the benefit of Puerto Rico
the money which had been paid in GUS
toms duties on Puerto Rican goods i'm
ported into the United States, somebody
had said that we were merely giving
back the taxes collected. This he de-
clared false, for these taxes had been
paid by the sugar trust and the tobacco
trust, whereas the money was given to
the Puerto Ricans, who had not paid the
taxes.
Here Is new Republican doctrine, for
practically the whole fight made in 1890
in defense of the Mckinley tariff was
made on the theory that the foreigner
and not the American paid the duties.
Mr.. Depew's speech ended with the
declaration that he hailed with faith and
hope and joy the new order of things
which will be ushered in with the goth
century.
The final vote on the bill will be taken
late this afternoon. 1t is arranged for
A o'clock, but an effort will be made to
extend the time for debate beyond that
hour
Members of the senate committee on
Puerto Rico yesterday made POLL of
the senate on the Puerto Rican bill.
They estimate majority of seven for the
bill, believing that it will receive AZ votes.
A possible reduction of the war taxes
was foreshadowed in resolution adopt
ed by the house yesterday calling upon
the secretary of the treasury for infor-
nation as to the probable surplus exist
ing revenue laws would create during
this and the coming fiscal year. The
resolution was presented by Mr.. Payne,
the floor leader of the majority.
Among the district bills passed was
one to increase the tax on foreign insur-
ance companies doing business in the
district from to IL percent.
Under suspension of the rules bills
were passed to open to settlement AS 900
acres in the Fort Hall Indian reserva-
ton and 100000 acres in Oklohama by
ratifying the agreements with the Ban
mock and Shoshone Indians and the
Kiowa, Commanches and Apaches; to
divide the northern judicial district of
! New York into two districts and to APP
propriate 100000 for a military post at