Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-01


consideration of the Hawaiian gov
eminent will be resumed. In lieu of
the amendment offered by Senator
Clark Of Wyomins, Senator Morgan
presented a substitute for section rs |
providing that the secretary of the in
terror make Investigation of the pub
lie land law of Hawaii and that the |
secretary of agriculture make an ex-
animation and report On the agricul- |
tural and forestry conditions, |
and that $500 be appro-
priated for each investigation.
The substitute was agreed to. Senator
Platt rep. Conn offered amendments
to section 81 providing that the presi-
dent and not the governor of the ter
ritory appoint the chief Justice, JUSTICES
of the supreme court and judges of the
circuit courts. and that the tenure of
Office OF such appointees be / instead of
| 9 years Senator CullOm (rep., ND,
in charge of the measure. defended the
action of the committee in placing the
appointments referred to with the gov
ernor and not the president. He said
| the government OF Hawaii when the
territory was acquired by the United
| States was one of the best republican
| forms of government in existence. 1t
was the desire Of the committee to at
ford the people OF Hawaii as full and
free a government as could be extend
ed them in the circumstances. In op-
position to the proposed amendment
Senator Morgan reviewed the situation
as the Hawaiian commission found it
on the islands and argued that the JUS
tees should have a longer tenure as
no stranger to Hawaii could master the
customs, institutions and language of
people very soon. The senate then
went into executive session.
Washington. Feb 21.-For the first
time in the debate upon the Porto Ri
can tariff bill the voice of republicans
was raised against the measure. Mr..
Bromwell of Ohio opposed the bill on
the ground OF policy, not of constitu-
tiOnality His hostility, however. was
not so absolute but that ne announced
his intention of voting for it if the sub
stitute failed. Mr.. Cromwell said he
did not doubt the power of congress to
enact this legislation but did not
agree with its justice or equity. The
original bill which proposed to estab-
lish free trade with Porto Rico was in
accordance with the recommendations
Of the president and secretary of war
who are familiar with the conditions
and necessities of the people of the
island He said: If the Porto RI
cans are not treated fairly they may be
ready to cast off their allegiance and
join our foes whenever opportunity Of
fers. A monarchial government may
we'll claim might makes right but how
much more noble would it be for this
!. great and free liberty-loving republic
to adopt the motto right is mighty and
must prevail Mr. Henry (dem.,
Tex followed in opposition to
the bill, which he said was
more damnable than the laws en-
acted by British parliament against
the people who inhabited the thirteen
colonies prior to 1776. He asserted his
belief that when the president recon-
mended free trade with Porto Rico he
did so because he knew the people of
that island were entitled to all the
rights Of the constitution with which
the people of the United States are en-
dowed. He charged that a change of
base had occurred to appease the sugar
and tobacco interests of this country
which feared the effect of free imports
from Porto Rico. Mr.. Long (rep..
kas.), member of. the ways and
means committee, spoke in favor of
the bill. The committee had carefully
considered the presidents recommen-
dation and had framed the bill to raise
revenue for the island. Porto Rico was
PROSTATE. Relief could come only by
authorization of direct appropriation
out of the United States
treasury or the enactment of a law to
raise revenue The committee consid-
cred the latter method preferable. The
republicans decided to hold a confer.
ence on the bill Saturday night. Al
though there is said to be between 20
and 30 republicans hostile to the meas
ure, the republican leaders say not
more than four or five will vote against
1t. They also say that several demo-
Gratis will support it. The only demo-
crat outspoken in the advocacy of the
bill is Mr.. Davey (La). He represents
the largest cane sugar district in the
south.
| Washington, Feb. 22.-In accordance
with the desire Of senator's who were
unable, on account of the meeting of
the democratic national committee 10