The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-17
APPROPRIATION
FOR PORTO RICO
Continued from First Page

if the Republican party had reached the
end of the rope and that its last hope
now was to contend that Congress was
without limitations in the government OF,
or in legislating for acquired territory.
Referring to the difference between the
Government treatment of Hawaii and
Porto Rico as to the admission of their
respective products Mr.. Tillman said:
Senators owed it to themselves not TO
show such discrimination on the one hand
and such outrage on the other"
He was going to vote for the pending
bill, he said, because the enactment of
the measure into law was the only way
to restore TO the people OF Porto Rico
taxes taken from them Wrongfuiiy anu
unconstitutionally.
1.-The United States has not given the
people of Porto Rico a cent and it is
high time, said he, that we give back
to them the money we have stolen from
them
Mr.. Tillman declared that the govern
ment established now in Porto Rico was
worse than that forced upon the people
by Spain, particularly as to the islands
fiscal affairs, as, under Spanish rule the
Porto Ricans had at least free market
in Spain for their goods.
L.
eral Davis report stopping in the midst
Of the reading to exclaim: Let's cast
this legislation like honest white men,
let's not have any mandy pambyism and
hypocritical philanthropy about it. That
is all am trying to get Senators to agree
to now There will be no trouble about
the main question. That will either be
adjusted by Congress before adjournment
or it will be adjusted by the people next
November and don't you forget 1t.
He thought the way to help the people
of Porto Rico to get on their feet was
to give them market through the means
of free trade with the United States Ii
a public soup house was started men VINO
might earn their living with hoe, or
an axe would sit down and wait for the
soup to be handed around. The result
would be to cut off the very labor neces-
sary to rehabilitate the island as II
should be rehabilitated.
Mr.. Tilln1an favored a civil government
for the island and criticised the expendi-
lures under the present military system
as expensive. There is no sense, no JUS
tice and no honesty" he said, lin having
those poor devils robbed simply because
they have come under our dominion He
thought the Republican party was in
dilemma, but thought it would come out
all right ''You are the best organized
party 1 ever saw" he said, and no mat
ter how you talk I've no doubt you'll all
round up on the vote.
Mr.. Tillman referred to what he said
would be the monumental salaries of the
officials of the insular possessions, par
ticularly noting the members OF the
Philippine Commission.
Mr.. Foraker informed Mr.. Tillman that
he had been told that the highest salary
of any member of the commission would
be $1,000 a year. THAT may be disap-
pointing to the Senator" suggested Mr..
Foraker.
mo" replied Mr.. Tillman. I'm graft
fed I'm always willing to trust William
Mckinley, but it's his bad and wicked
partners that I'm afraid of. He is a
patriotic and noble man, although just
now he may be carried off his feet by the
dream of appearing in history alongside
of Jefferson and others who added largely
to our territory"
Mr. Allison then asked for a vote upon
the bill and amendments, and the request
was acceded to.
Mr.. Tillman urged Mr.. Jones and Mr..
Pettus to withdraw amendments which
lney ndu oHereu III oiuel tudI Tic nio1
sure might be passed without delay, and
just as it came from the Senate Commit
tee.
Mr. Jones withdrew his amendment, but
Mr. Pettus insisted upon vote on his
amendment, which, in effect was the
making of direct appropriation for the
relief of the Porto Ricans without any
reference to the tariff or customs duea
collected The amendments were de-
feated.
The bill as reported by the Senate COM
mittee was then passed without division,
only few scattering noes" being heard
against it. This disposed of Mr.. Mason
entered a motion that the Foreign Rela-
lions committee be discharged from
further consideration of his resolution
expressing sympathy for the Beers IN