The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-03

rsvsnues due on importations By tse
Unitsd States from Puerto Rico since
the evacuation Of Puerto Rico By the
Spanish forces on October Is, 1893, to
January /. 1860, together with any further
customs revenue collected on imJp rta-
tions from Puerto Rico since January
1, 1900 or that shall hereafter be collected
under existing law shall be placed at
the disposal OF the President to be used
for the government and benefit OF Puer-
to Rico until otherwise pro, ided by law;
and the revenues herein referred TO, al
ready collected and 10 be collected under
existing laws. are hereby appropriated
for the purposes herein specified out Of
any moneys in the treasury not otherwise
appropriated.
Mr.. Berry Of Kentucky said that no
one sympathizsd with the starving peo-
pie of Puerto Rico more than he did, but
he believed that thsre should be direct
appropriation from the treasury.
MIR. MoRae OF Ark nsss declared tbs
bill was an admission that money had
been unjustiy taken from Puerto Rico.
At this point, MIR. Bailey attempted to
secure the cors,nt Of the other side to
an amendment limiting the appropria-
ton to the money In the treasury and to
define tia purpose for which II should be
used, but Mr.. Cannon declined to yield
and turned the floor over to Mi. 6rosvenor
OF Ohio. The latter said IL would be
. source Of qualification to himself and
TO the country that the agony and de-
spair which had so recently rested upon
Puerto Rico had bsen shifted to the
Democratic side Of the hall OF repreeen.
tatives lRepublioan applause He said
the Democrats had bsen vastly mere agi-
tatsd acout politics than starving Puer-
to Ricans. Now the Republicans pro-
posed to show them that the administra-
ton was the bsst possible guardian Of
the people Of Puerto Rioo.
g"Wby did you net adopt the Presidents
recon m end alton relative to the Puerto
Rico tariff billf" shouted q Democrat.
al have heard that question $50 times,"
replied Mr.. Grosvenor. "We are now
coming to the point where we are In &C.
cord with the administration. Let us
have yea and nay vote and sustain the
President We, on this side, are anxious
to sustain the administration. How do
you feelY" (Republican applause.l
At this point Mr.. Bailey reiterated his
request that the bill be modified SO as to
limit the appropriation to the money In
the treasury and to specify the purposes
for which 1t wss to be employed.
II those notifications were made. said
he, the whole Democratic side would
support the bill.
1--WE cannot place ourselves In opposi-
ton to the administration" retorted Mr.
Grosvenor amid laughter and applause.
MIR. Maddox Of Georgia denounced the
message and bill as piece Of cheap
political capital.
Mr.. Sulzer Of New York said: "Ths
President lie good politician. He has
heard from the country. democratic
applsuse.) He Is trying to square him
self and you with the people who prs-
tested in the name Of justice against the
unconstitutional and ubiquitous tariff
bill you passed on Wednesday. You
come here with q confession that that bill
was wrong and now you seek to return
portion Of tho stolen goods like oon-
science stricken thief" (Applause.)
MIR. Richardson who arose to close the
debate, had but four ninut,s remaining.
De appealed for more time, but 1t was re-
fused. He protested vigorously against
the methods employed by the ma jority.
In all his experience. he said, he bad
never known such an unfair advantage
to be taken Of the minority. A bill had
been brought in, prepared in secret sss.
sion, after nights conference with the
President and prscipitated upon the
House In the hope of getting some
"oheap John" advantage. democratic
applause.)
"You hoped and prayed that some one
on this side would objsot to this BILL"
said he. addressing Mr.. Cannon. who
sat smiling at him. why did you.ds-
sire that some one should object' hs
proceeded.
"Not to prevent this appropriation. 1t
was a privileged matter and could have
been called up at any time. No; you
WanteU an OUJcctiOn W kos ovou VI
the loss sustained by your party In the
treatment of Puerto Rico. The Republi-
can press is blistering you and you hope
In this way to fool the people. But you
cannot do 1t. / warn you that In the ides
of next November . hurricane. In COM
parison with which that which dsvas-
tated Puerto Rico was mere zephyr,
will sweep over the land and sweep you
ont of power in this Congress and in the
White HOUSE. prolonged Democratic
applause.)
Mr.. Cannon said he wished to see the
Puerto Ricans secure relief and this bill
was we'll designed to give 1t.
Mr.. Bailey asked why specific pro-
vision was not made that the funds ba
turned over to Puerto Rico.
MIR. cannon said this was the plain pur-
pose of the bill as the President was to
use the funds for island purposes. With
a President who was responsive to every
of Justice, there was no