The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-06
SENATOR TElLER'S AMENDMENT TO
THE SENATE BILL.
A SENSATION IN THE HOUSE
Astounded by a Message
from the President and a Bill Intro
duced Providing for Return 10 Porto
Rico of Customs Collected on Goods
from That Island The BIZ ADOPTED.
The Senate Discusses the Porto Ric
Bill and the Quay Case.
SENATE.

has Deen transferred from the mouse 10
the senate. Consideration of the bill
~embodying substantially the provisions
of the house bill and in addition pro-
viding for a temporary form OF civil
government for the island of Porto
Rico, was begun in the senate today.
Senator Teller, of Colorado, in.medi-
ately proposed an amendment, estab-
fishing a temporary government in
Porto Rico for the purpose of enabling
the people of the island later to estab-
lish a permanent republican s~elf-gov-
eminent, the adoption OF a constitution
and the establishment of a permanent
form Of government, not interfering
with the sovereignty of the United
States over the island or it's inhabi-
tants.
This amendment was followed by an
other by senator Stewart. of Nevada,
striking out the provision levying =
duty on Porto Rican goods and provid-
ing hat they should be admitted free
into the United States.
A spirited debate was participated in
by Senators Foraker, Teller, Stewart,
Allen and others.
Senator Pettigrew secured the adop-
ton of the following resolution:
That the president be requested, if
not Incompatible with the public inter-
est, to send to the senate a statement
of the number of saloons that have
been established in Manila since the
occupation of that city by the United
States forces; who ndu these Sa-
looms; who are their patrons and what
kind of liquors are sold and the guam
tity of sue liquor. The president is
also requested to inform the senate of
the number, if any, of saloons run on
the American or English plan in Ma
Mia before we occupied the place. The
president is also requested to inform
the senate whether or not it is within
his power, as commander in chief of
our military forces, to suppress all sa-
looms in Manila and prohibit and pre-
vent the sale of liquor to our soldiers"
The chair then laid before the sem
ate the presidents Porto Rican mes
sage. 1t was referred to the committee
on appropriations.
a resolution offered by Senator Turn
er, of Washington, directing the secre-
tary of war to inform the senate of
the amount of money expended for
travel pay and Communication of sub
siStence to those officers and men re-
turning from the Philippines and what
county or reward was paid for the re-
enlistment of soldiers, was adopted.
Senator Penrose called up the QUAY
case, n Senator Hoar addressed the
senate in support of Mr.. Quay's right
to a seat in the body. His particular
idea was to show that the country at
large was vastly interested in having
every state fully represented III the
senate. This idea, he said, was con-
Stantly before the m of the con-
stitution. Discounting the value of
presidents in election cases, Senator
Hoar asserted that senators knew that
three seats claimed MeSSrs. Mantle,
Allen and Beckwith were decided
against these gentlemen because they
were silver men n the senate was
about to enter upon the consideration
of the repeal of the Sherman law.
The Porto Rican tariff and govern
ment bill was hen taken up, Senator
Teller denounced it.
In replying to Senator Teller, Senator
Foraker became involved in a general
discussion with other senators on some
of the constitutional questions raised
by the bill. The committee, said Sen
ator Foraker, adopted the term citizen
rather than to treat them IS either
| aliens or subjects, but it implies only
| allegiance and protection.
| A message was received from the
house transmitting the Porto Rican
| appropriation bill passed today. 1t was
referred to the committee OF Pacific
| islands and Porto Rico.
| Concluding, Senate Foraker called at
tention to the important fact that this
| bill raises a question which al be de-
termined only by the United States SUI
4 pICIlIC Nool( oild oil ally uClCl III
ton was highly important. Beyond
| Porto Rico" he said, 'lie the Philip
| pines. If we open them to the worlds
trade, we will have the worlds pro-
| ducts poured into the United States
| and our whole protective tariff system
| will fall to the ground.
Senator Stewart gave notice of his
| free trade amendment and the senate
| at Sis o'clock p. IN. adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Within two hours after the. special
message from the president recon-
mending the immediate passage of a
| bill to place in his hands all the nor
eys collected upon Porto Rican goods
since the Spanish of the is
land to be used for the relief of the
Porto Ricans had been read to the
| house today the house a passed and
| sent to the senate a bill to carry out
the recommendation.
h message came like a bolt out of
a clear sky to the minority. They
were at first inclined to hail it with
| delight as a reproof of the majority
for the passage of the Porto Rican
tariff bill On Wednesday,. The repub-
| lican leaders, however, had a bill ready
to carry the presidents recommended
tions into effect. Mr.. Cannon asked
immediate consideration of the bin,
and this was given. 1t vas only when
debate opened, it having been agreed
! that twenty minutes should be allowed
| on a side, that under the lead of Mr..
Bailey, of Texas. the democrats began
lining up against the bill because it
placed no limitation upon the presi-
| dents discretion in the use of the
money Mr.. Cannon and Mr.. Grosve-
nor charged the democrats with hav-
ing made false professions of friend
ship for the starving Porto Ricans for
political capital and adjured them if
they We're sincere to stand up and vote
for a bill that would give the sufferers
immediate relief. The bill was passed
by a vote of 1872 to 107, thirteen demo-
Gratis, two populists and two silver re-
publicanS voting with the republicans
in the affirmative.
Subsequently the Aldrich-Robbins
contested election case from the
Fourth Alabama district, which the
house twice refused to consider yes
terday was taken up by a vote of 13S
to 129 and was debated for the remain
der of the day.
In his invocation today the blind
chaplain of the house prayed for Mr..