New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-24
ACTION ON RELIEF BILL.
THE CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
AFTER A LIVELY DEBATE.

Washington, March 28.-The Senate to-day
adopted the conference report on the Puerto
Rican Relief bill by vote Of So to Is.
When the report called up by Mr.. Allison.
MI Timan who voted for the bill as 1T passed
the Senate and a member of the Committee
on Appropriations, voted TO report it. vigorously
opposed the conference report. He expressed his
regret that the Senate conferrees had yielded TO
the House particularly in agreeing TO enlarge the
purpose of the measure by providing ''for the aid
ard relief OF the people of Puerto Rico There
were two motives behind this BILL he said. The
first was the necessity for the immediate relief
by the United States of the Puerto Ricans, and
the other that the Republicans were uneasy
about the result Of erecting tariff wall against
Puerto Rico which, he said, had be CLOSED
over somewhat for the benefit Of the people. He
sharply criticised the method adopted by the
United States of extending hands full of food TO
the people Of Porto Rico gratuity. LAS long
as you continue TO feed those people down there,
he declared, you may feed them So long as the
Freedman's Bureau maintained In the South
the colored race there amounted to nothing. That's
a characteristic of the So long as you give
food to those Puerto Ricans they will never do
stroke OF work. This Government will set itself
up as an eIeemosynary institution by the passage
of this bill. and do not believe we should stand
any such ground
In response TO an inquiry from Mr.. Spooner Mr..
Tillman said I'm in favor of free trade With
Puerto Rico / don't believe in protecting one
part Of the United States against another.
Mr.. Perkins. of California, inquired If Mr. I'LL
man was In favor of free trade with the Philip
pines, knowing that those Islands had the al
vantage of peon and Malay labor.
IF we are continue TO hold the philippines
replied Mr. Tillman, I'm not in favor of free
trade with those islands. There is an old legal
axiom that a man cannot take advantage OF his
own wrong Those who voted to bring into the
country those islands, with their cheap contract,
peon and Malay labor, were told of the results
that would follow the ratification of the treaty
And you could not get the votes necessary to make
that treaty law until you had bought some men
for IL. Now, then, # it is proposed TO send
q horde of carpetbaggers over there. backed by
the bayonets of soldiers, long as 1 have voice
] shall protest"
Referring to the recent speech of Mr.. Beveridge,
Mr.. Tillman declared that it had been translated
into the Spanish tongue and distributed among the
Filpinos. It had, he said, infused new life and
energy into the revolution, because indicated the
hypocrisy and double dealing which he said the
United States had resorted to in the treatment of
the FTipinos. The people, he declared will teach
the Republicans in November that trade and flag
and liberty and the Constitution go together.
Looking Mr.. Allison Mr. Tillman laughingly
alluded to the resolution adopted by the Legis-
lature CT Iowa, warning their representatives in
Congress of the consequences Of their action the
pending bill 1T never rains. but it pours' The
whole political structure is tumbling about their
asked; "or is he following along behind the car
driven by the men who want protection against the
little island in the Caribbean Sea-"
After waiting an instant Mr.. Tillman said: "Of
course there is dense silence in the chamber
a response to my inquiry. The Senator from Ohio
O1f- Foraker), TOO, is doubtful his position.
I'd like TO know if he is in favor of free trade
with Puerto Rico"
MR.. FORAKER DEFENDS THE TARIFF
Mr. Foraker replied that his position had been
set forth fully IN the report the Puerto Rican
government bill. The committee in investigating
the subject became convinced that the people of
Puerto Rico could not stand direct taxation. This
slight and not burdensome tax said Mr.. Foraker,
was determined upon by the committee a gen.
erous and merciful means of alternating the suf-
fering of the people of Puerto Rico"
Mr.. Tillman replied that he had not read the re-
port written by Mr.. Foraker because he had no
time TO follow the vagaries Of a committee which
changed its mind every week. Has the Senator
from Ohio changed his mind?'
The Senator has a right disbelieve any state
ment may make" said Mr.. Foraker.
Mr.. Tillman disavowed any intention of reflect
ing Mr. Foraker's veraclty, but replied, aud-
ing to editorial in THE Chicago Times Herald:
THE Senator, think, got out OF the free trade
boat Mr.. Kohlsaat got into it."
81 VIII say 10 the Senator and in the presence
Of the Senate" replied Mr.. Foraker that I have