Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-01
PORTO R|CAN TARIFF BILL,
1T PASSED THE HOUSE WITH A
RARE MAJORITY AND NONE TO
SPARE.
Republican whips and Leaders Conn
PEELED to Run I'm Every Favorable
Member and TO Carry Men From
sick Beds TO the House-Detatls OF
the Vote.


WASHINGTON, February 2S.-The
battle royal over the Puerto Rican tar
if bill ended in the House to-day in
sweeping victory for the Republicans.
The bill amended as agreed upon at
the conference of Republicans on
Monday night. so as to reduce the tar
if from Is to Is per cent. of the Amer
lean tariff and limiting its life to two
years, was passed by vote of liz
yeas to 161 nays,
Six Republicans, Messrs. Crumpback-
er. of Indiana; Fletcher, of Minnesota:
Heatwole, of Minnesota; Littlefleld. of
Maine; Lorimer, of Illinois. and Mccall.
of Massachusetts,, voted with the oppo-
sition against the bill and four DEM
ocrats. Messrs. Davey and Myer. of
Louisiana: Devries. of California;
Sibley, of Pennylvania, voted with the
Republicans for the bill. In addition.
Mr.. Warner, (Rep.. Ills.), was paired
against the bill with Mr.. Boutelle,
(Rep., Maine), for ii. Two other Re-
publicans, Mr.. Lane, of Iowa, and Mr..
Faris, of Indiana, were absent and un-
paird. They were understood to be
against the bill. Four Democrats who
were opposed to the bill, Messrs. Flem-
ing. of Georgia; Small, OF North
Carolina: Smith, of Kentucky, and
Stallings, of Alabama, were absent and
impaired. Other pairs were Gibson.
(Tennessee), Reeves. Qllinois). Bou-
telle, (Maine), Harmer. Pennsylvania,
Bailey, (Kansas), Sheldon, CAichi-
gam, Wadworth New York;, all Re-
publicans, for the bill with Tate,
(Georgia), Parkman, (Florida), Fox.
(MississippD, Bellamy, North Caro-
lina), Cox, (Tennessee), and Epes,
Virginia), Democrats, all against the
bill. Herculean efforts had been made
to get out the full vote and this led
to some remarkable incidents. Six
men were brought from beds of sickz
Brownlow, of Tennessee, was bro
in carriage accompanied by bis
and physician. He sat bundled
near the entrance. until his vote
given and then withdrew. 1t was
that the strain would be severe
him but when Mr.. Tawney, the
publican whip. urged that the bii1
might be lost by this one vote, Mr..
Brownlow said Il would rather lose
my life than see this bill defeated"
Mr.. Tawney and three assistants
were out in carriages until midnight
last night accounting for every vote,
and Mr.. Underwood, the Democratic
whip, was similarly exerting every
means to get out his vote. Three
Democrats were brought from sick
beds.
The first test to-day was on a SUBJ
stitute offered by Mr.. Mccall on be-
half of the opposition. It was the
original Payne bill for free trade with
Puerto Rico. and was defeated 160 10
Ia. Only five Republicans voted Tor
the substitute. Mr.. Fletcher, (Rep.A
Minnesota). who subsequently voted ID
recommit and against the bill. voted
against the substitute. A motion 10
recommit IT, which followed, shared a
similar fate, being last 160 to 172.
There was great excitement through
out the roll calls, which were followed
with eager interest by thousands Of
spectators who packed the galleries to
suffocation. The Republicans indulge
ed in a demonstration Of wild jubilaI
ton when the final result was az
nounced.