The Portland daily press., 1900-03-09

Washing ton, March s.-Formal discus
sion Of the Porto RicaD tariff and OWL
government will began In the Senate today
ana continued uninterruptedly for four
and half hours. The principal speakers
were Mr.. BorAker, Republican Of Ohio,
in charge of the measure and Mr.. Pettus,
Democrat Of Alabaus, but ut various
times during the debate lively colloquys
occurred, In which other Senators were
participants.
After Mr.. Mason Of Illinois had entered
his motion to discharge the committee ON
foreign relations from further considera-
ticn Of his resolution expressing sympathy
for the Beers and IL had gone over until
tomorrow, under the rules, Mr.. Pettus
delivered carefully prepared speseh In
opposition to the pending bill. He argued
that 1t was unconstitutional.
MIR. Foraker occupied the floor during
the remainder Of the session. He ex-
planned the measure in detail and gave
the reasons why the committee had de-
tsrmined upon the levying OF a tariff up
on Porto Rican products.
A bill giving American register to the
steamer WindwaId. presented BY the
British association to Robert Z. Psary,
u. Is. N, the ARCTIC explorer was passed
by the Senate at the opening of today's
session. when the rou tine business had
concluded Mr.. Mason Of IIlliois, in &C.
cordanoe with the notice he gave yester-
day moved to discharge the COMMITTEES on
foreign relations from further considera-
ton OF his resolution introduced Decem-
Der 6, last expressing sympathy for the
Beers. Under the rules the motion went
over until tomorrow.
Mr.. Pettus of Alabama, then addressed
the Senate on the Porto Rico bill. He
CONGRATULATED the President on the posi-
ton he had taken in his last annual mes
sage favoriDg free trade between the
United States and Porto Rico. "No sor-
did politicians fingers have been put In
to the ink OF the message" he said, 1.-THE
President was honest and sincere when
he DISTINCTLY advised free trade between
the United States and the island Of Porto
Rioo.
nOtn HOUSES VI OOnBEossi oOhsAAbo1
Mr.. Pettus, fare controlled by the Re-
publican party. The President is the ex-
ecutive head or the party now In power
and we had q right to hope and to believe
that he would have some influence over
his party in Congress, especially as the
rallying CRY for the past three years has
been support the admin istration.'
"The public press 10 now trying to
make us believe that the secretary OF war
il the author OF the pending bill and that
the President has aooeded to the pro-
visions of the measure.
"For one," declared Mr.. Psttus, 'I re-
fuse to believe this charge against the
President. Though he may desire re-
election he was brave soldier and Is an
able and generous man. For him 1t is
not everything in life TO be reelected to
the presidency by his party. He has acted
for the common good OF all tine people. II
he approves your bill, then l may be-
lisve any vile story against good man."
Mr.. Pettus maintained that the policy
Of the bill was bad, aside from the ques-
tion OF law. He hoped senators would not
permit the enactment of such law.
"It lie Illegal" he 6eclared, "and Is
hardly Decent" Mr.. Pe.tus said be had
the floor me ely to direct attention to the
iAot that the PENDING bill could not lie
enacted Into law without violating the
constitution which declared that all
duties shall he uniform throughout the
United States.
He also called attention to the amend
ment proposed by Mr.. Davis. which, he
said gave q most interesting specimen of
the products of inventive genius.
"Tte Senator proposes" said Mr..
Pettus, ''to seud over to the Porto
Rioans, the constitution In installments.
a little now and little them"
In conclusion. Mr.. Pe.tus tesought the
senste not to attempt by act of CongIess
to change the constitution.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Pestus' speech
Mr. Morgan gave notice Of his intention
10 move to lay the entire substitute Of the
Senate committee for the House bill on