Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-04-19
POLITICS IN NE HOUSE
Grosvenor and Williams Indulge in
q Heated Colloquy on Porto
Rico Question.
Debate Almost Reaches the Persona
Encounter oint-President's
Views Discussed
The Charge That Mckinley Changed
His Views Under PRESSURE is
Quickly Resented.

!
Washington. April 10. The debate on
the naval appropriation bill under the
tive-lninute rule yesterday drifted into
politics and for good part Of the
afternoon members fought hammer
and tongs across the political aisle. The
partisan rancor almost eliminated in a
sensational scene between Mr.. Gros-
vencr of Ohio. the champion Of the adj
Isministration, and Mr. Williams of
Mississippi. Mr. Williams made an in
terruption that drew a sharp rejoinder
from the Ohioan about the unfair.
advantage taken by the Mississippian.
This aroused the wrath of the latter
and after Mr.. Grosvenor had concluded
he made a singing response in which
I;he said parliamentary language would
mot permit him properly to characterize
| Mr.. Grosvenor's offense. Later Mr..
/ Grosvenor disclainled Intentional af-
4 front and there the matter ended.
Some progress was made with the bill,
! but most of the controverted points
Went over. A motion TO strike from the
1 bill the contingent fund of 100000 for
! the navy department was defeated.
/ MIR ISitchin of North Carolina. a
8member Of the naval committee, made
LA point of order against the provision
lin the bill appropriataing 100000 to be
feXpended under the direction of the
4 president to meet unforeseen contin-
igencies. Mr.. Foss argued that the ap-
preparation was in order under the
general provision for the maintenance
dof the navy.
Mr. Payne OF New York, who was in
4 the chair, overruled the point of order
| and Mr.. kitchin took an appeal from
the decision.
/ The chair was sustaired-94 to 10.
4 Mr.. Kitchin then moved to strike the
4 appropriation from the bill. During
1.-THE debate which followed Mr.. Gross
venor of Ohio and Mr.. Williams of Mis-
sissippi became involved in sharp
controversy. Mr.. Williams asked Mr..
sGrosvenor whether it was not true that
1.-the president had changed his mind on
the Porto Ricans question.
There was considerable fencing, Mr..
1 Wheeler of Kentucky taking a hand in
4 Trying to force the Ohioan. At last Mr..
.
4 Williams method of interrupting him
which the latter resented with an ems
4 sphasis that portended personal quar-
rel on the floor. but Mr.. Williams fins
ally allowed Mr.. Grosvenor to proceed,
rcserving his reply until the Ohioan
lhad finished.
Does the gentleman deny that the
president has changed his mindy. asked
MIR. Kitchin. of North Carolina. address
ling Mr.. Grosyenor
As soon as it became manifest to
1.-The president that monety had to be
4 raised in some way and that the ways
and means committee of this house had
brought in a tariff bill providing for 10
lper cent CIR 25 per cent, replied Mr..
1.-The right and power of this house to or
liginate that tariff bill. Up to the very
Hast moment OF the passage of that Por-
Ito Rican bill gentlemen on the other side
insisted that the president was still in
flavor of free trade In Porto Rico, and
1 newspapers from one end Of this CONT
merit to the other claimed that we. on
Isthis sidesof the house, were in a contest
with the president, that the president
never changed his mind, that he was
Il
the gentleman's attention to the fact
that in the message Of the president he
gave no sign or indication of when he
desired that that free trade measure
should go into effect. We, by our vote,
i put it SO that within the next sixty
days, ninety days, four months. any
j time, after the organization Of the civil
4 government, the people Of Porto Rica
i can have free trade. The president has
,tsigned it and thereby given his approval
sItoit.
II say he did not change his opinion
lin any material respect; he simply
A changed from the original idea of free
trade to what was almost the condition
q of free trade that we appended to the
1. measure. The country understands It.
Z. Congressman after congressman who
4 stood here in defense of the bill has
gone to his constituents, just when the
4 Idenaocrati tic noise was the loudest, and
has been sent back here with a unanim.
3 lily almost unparalleled in the nominal
a ton of congressman. And the great
! body at Philadelphia. the Manufacture
ers' Association. on yesterday approved
OF the Porto Rican bill, the very body
that a few weeks ago was quoted or
this floor y opposed to 1t. (Applause
q on the republican sideD And from one
end of this country to the other the PEG.
pie of this country are taking care of 1t
!. The republican party will not lose any