The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-28
charging the Philippines were retained fol-

charging the Philippines were retained for
the benefit of the trusts OF the country.
Mr. Marsh of Illinois. replying to Mr.
Lentz. said that Mr.. Lentzs speech was
filled from beginning to end with COM
plants of his country and the Admins
tration. and fairly earned for the gentle
man if he had never before borne it. the
soubriquet CT the great scold." He de-
nounced the speech as a disgrace to the
American Congress 1t was such a speech
as might have been made by the greatest
defamer of the country; by the man who
was to be hanged on the gallows for trea-
son. One of the beautiful things in the
Constitution was the provision that no
man was to ne called to account elsewhere
for words uttered in debate here, and so
the gentleman from Ohio would go scot
free.
Regarding the bill ITSELF Mr. Marsh
said that Mr.. Lentz did not propose to
vote against it, but cOntented himself
| with crticising the condition that made
necessary the appropriation Of SO large a
sum as the bill carried. He did not think
the gentlemen on the other side OF the
House had any ground for criticism in
that regerd. They had been as eager for
war 80 anybody, but now did not want
to carry it on. II the President should
with raw the forces of the United States
from the Philippines he would be subject
to impeachment by the House OF Repre-
sentatives. What the Administration was
| doing in the Philippines was only its
| bounden duty.
| Upon the paragraph OF the bill providing
| for the oifice of the Commanding General
| of the Army Mr.. Steele OF Indiana said
| that General Miles had gone to Porto Rico
| and his address to the people had been
| largely quoted by the Democrats. And
| vet none Of them would say that anything
contained in that address proposing to
! commit the United States to any policy
| regardin Porto Rico was presumption
| Mr.. Steele had read a letter from Porto
Rico expressing surprise at the hurricane
| raised in the United States over the Tariff
| bill People in the island. he said. did
! not want free trade. which would benefit
only, or very largely, the sugar and to-
| baccD trusts.
| ]. R. Williams Of IlIinois-What posi-
! tion does the writer hold?
Mr. Steeie-That of a gentleman. who
! attends to his own business.
| \ colloquy followed. engaged in by
| Nessrs. Steele. Williams. and Richardson.
over the name OF the writer. which was
| ended by Mr.. Steele stating that it was
1 Walter X. Lands, a brother OF Repre-
| sentative Landis. and that he came origi-
,elly from Indiana. where all good men
| come frSI2-"
| a position in Porto Rico. probably that of
! postmaster. ard, of course, he was anx-
| ious TO help the Congressman of his
| State who were in such distress over
! their action upon the Porto Rican tariff
| bill.
| Mr. Steele replied that any gentleman
worried over his distress could possess
| his souI in peace. He had taken part in
| the preparation Of the bill. had voted for
it believing it to be humane measure
| for the benefit OF the people of Porto
| Rico. and had never desired to evade his
| just share OF responsibility.
| Conditions in the south.
In the course of statement by Mr.
! Underwood of Alabama. regarding the
school fund and State debt. referred to
| in a report on school land bill. made by
| Mr. Lacey OF Iowa, Chairuai ot the Com
mittee on Public Lands, ne was inter-
rupted by Mr. Moody of Massachusetts
| Referring to an Interview with MIR. Tn
| derwood upon his recen. return from Ala
| bama in which he was quoted as saying
| that the South was enjo! ing unusual pros
| perity under the present tarin law. Mr..
| Moody asked if he had said anything like
! that
| Mr.. Underworld will say that never
| before in the history of the Southern
| states has there been such prosperity as
! now exists in the district which l repre-
! sent.
After some further discussion OF the
| Alabama school question. the committee
| rose. and the Speaker submitted the mes
| sage OF the President, transmitting the
| correspondence of the State Department
upon the open door policy in China. 1t
was ordered printed and referred to the
! Committee on Interstate and Foreign
/ Commerce. and at $40 o'clock the House
! adjourned until today.