The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-27
TIME OF DEBATE EXTENDED.


WASHINGTON. Feb. 26.-The general de-
bate on the Porto Rican tariff bill was to-
day extended until tomorrow night. In
terest conferred in the conferences which
were going on among the Republican lead
ers and the dissenting Republicans in their
efforts 10 compromise their differences upon
the bill. The speakers to-day were Messrs.
Boutell of Illinois, Brown of Ohio, Mondell
of Wyoming. Graham of Pennsylvania. and
Reeder of Kansas. for the bill. and Messrs.
Bartlett of Georgia. Lanham of Texas.
Moon of Tennessee. williams of Illinois.
Johnston Of West Virginia, Sutherland Of
Nebraska. Jett of Illinois. Noonan of ILL
nois. and Wilson of Arizona. against it.
At the opening of the session this morn
ing. when Mr.. Payne, floor leader of the
majority. preferred a request for extension
of time. Mr.. Richardson. the Democratic
leader, said: This is remarkable request
to come from the majority. We construe
1t to be a frank and candid confession that
they have brought in bad bill and adj
mission in open house to the country that
they have not enough votes to pass It,.
The Democrats" he continued. were al
ways magnanimous. They would not strike
their foes when they were down, and they
were not disposed TO take advantage of the
ritiable situation on the other side of the
aisle. Still. they felt that some terms
should be imposed, and he demanded as
conditions to an extension night session
tomorrow night, and permission to offer
a substitute I'm the House on Wednesday.
when the final vote was to be taken. With
these conditions" he remarked blandly.
1.-THE minority would grant the 'entreaty'
: Of the majority"
Mr.. Payne sn.ilingly replied that he ap-
preciated the generosity Of the other side
and, not to be outdone in magnanimity. he
would agree to the conditions.
Mr. Bartlett then took the floor with a
half-hour's speech against the bill. He
laid down as an elementary principle OF In
ternational law that, whenever a country.
whether empire. monarchy or republic.
acquired territory by conquest. purchase
or treaty. that territory became a part of
such country and subject to her laws.
There was one consolation, he said, for
those who believed this bill was unconsti-
tutional Whatever this Congress might
do, however they might trim down. shade
or override the sections OF the Constitu-
ton, there was court which was the
greatest that ever sat upon bench. and
would, IL guided by prior decisions of that
grand tribunal, hold to the indestructible
principles of the Constitution, which were
our only safety and hope for the perpetual
ton of the Republic.
Mr.. Lanham, in opposing the bill. de-
clared that the Porto Ricans were either
Americans or aliens. There could be no
such thing separating and dividing
the immunities and privileges OF American
citizenship. The inhabitants OF the island
he insisted. entitled to unrestricted
free trade with the United States. If an
imperial policy was set up IL could but end
in the downfall of the Republic.
Mr.. Boutell. In advocating the measure
called attention to the widely diverse opin-
ions OF its opponents. He was opposed, he
said, TO admitting the Porto Ricans and
the Filipinos to free competition with
American labor. He was in favor of doing
justice 10 those people, but We must not
do wrong to ourselves. Mr. Boutell said
he would not support the bill If IL were to
be made a permanent measure. 1t i'll be-
came the other side. he said. to taunt the
Republicans with Imperialism. The Demo
cratic party was the only party that had