The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-01

nessee had read communication from a
delegation of Porto Ricans appealing for
free trade.
Mr.. Payne, in reply, said the gentlemen
who signed that communication were all
directly pecunarily interested in export
ing sugar and tobacco into the United
States
A verbal amendment to section four was
adopted. Mr.. Payne then offered the fol-
lowing section agreed upon at the con-
ference of Republicans on Monday night.
This act shall be taken and held to be
provisional in its purposes and intended
to meet pressing, present need for rev.
enue for the Island of Porto Rico. and
shall not continue in force after March
l, 1902
Mr.. Powers of Vermont was the author
of the amendment and supported it.
Mr.. Slbley of Pennsylvania announced
his intention of voting for the bill. But
Porto Rico, he said, was mere incl
dent to the broader proposition.
The emergency" interrupted MIR. Will
liams of Illinois, lis not in Porto Rico,
but in the politics of the Republican
party" Democratic applause)
MIR. Sbley: You have located the pol
itics on the wrong side" Republican ap.
plause)
Mr.. Williams: 1T is pretty hard to To-
cate you" Oaughter)
Mr.. Sibey replied that as he had said
before, his seat could be considered con-
structively on the Republican side. Con-
tinuing, he said that If 1t was esta bhshed
that every foot of territory owned by
the United States was on an absolute
equality then he was opposed to the whole
policy of expansion. If the Inhabitants of
the Philippines could compete with Ameri-
can production and American labor he
was willing to give the archipelago to
Aguinaldo He concluded with a scath-
ing Characterization of his Democratic
critics.
Mr. Hepburn of Iowa said that the
treaty by which Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines became ours could never have
been ratified without Democratic support.
Mr. Carmack of Tennessee suggested
that the Democrats had voted to ratify
the treaty because they believed in the
assurance of Republicans, Mr.. Hepburn
among them, that the Philippines were to
be retained only temporarily.
Mr. Hepburn Indignantly denied that
anybody speaking for the Republican par
ty had ever offered such an assurance
Mr.. Payne's amendment was then
agreed to without division and he offered
the following to come in before the en-
acting clause:
Whereas, The people of Porto Rico
have been deprived of markets for a large
portion of their products and have lost
property and crops by severe and unusual
storms whereby they are impoverished
and are unable to pay internal revenue
and direct taxes, and,
Whereas. Temporary revenue Is neces-
sary for their schools, their roads and
their internal improvements and the ad-
ministration of their government: now
therefore, etc.
At this point Mr.. Cummings of New
York threw the House Into a furore Of
excitement. He described how he bellev-
ed it to be the duty of every man in q
great crisis TO rise above party and sup
port the government as he had done dur.
ing the Spanish war.
Il believe now we should follow the
lead of the President" said ne, emphat.
ically, "and l will vote for this bill"
This statement electrified the House
The Republicans without waiting for hin
60 finish his sentence, rose en- masse anC
cheered while the Democrats sat stunnec
and dazed. Mr.. Cummings stood witt
arm upraised until the Republican ap
plause ceased.
81 will vote for this BILL" he continued
addressing the Republican side, "providel
II Is amended in accordance with the ad
vice of the President for absolute FIRE.
trade with Porto Rico"
1T was now the turn of the Democrat.
to cheer, and for several minutes they
made the rafters ring. The excitemen
Il
the voting drew near
Upon the amendment of Mr.. Payne I,
insert a preamble before the enactinl
clause, the rising vote was 1853 yeas to Is
nays. Mr.. Payne then offered the las
committee amendment 10 change the titlt
of the bill
When the committee rose, Mr. Mccall
OF Massachusetts, for the minority, of
fered as a substitute MIR Payne's origina
bin for free trade with Porto Rico.
The committee amendments were adopt
ed without division. The Mccall substi.
tute was lost, 159 to 175.
The following Republicans voted with
the opposition for the substitute: Heat.
wole of Minnesota, Littlefield of Maine
Lorimer of Illinois, Mccall of Massachu.
setts and Crumpacker of Indiana
The following Democrats voted with the
Republicans against the substitute: Davey
of Louisiana, Myer of Louisiana, Sibley oi
Pennsylvania, De Vries of California.
A motion of Mr.. Richardson, the minor.
ity leader, TO recommit the bill to the Com
mittee on Ways and Means, was lost, 16.
to 1856. On this Mr.. Fletcher, Republican
of Minnesota, who voted with the Repub.
lIcans on the substitute. voted with the
Democrats, and Mr. Spight, Democrat, OF
Mississippi, who failed to get in his vote
on the substitute, voted for the motion to
recommit.
The vote on the final passage of the bill
was 172 to 16l. The announcement was
greeted with uproarous applause.
At 4:40 O'Clock the House adjourned.