The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-08

ments, II any, without intervening motion. to
final passage. Immediately after the reading of
the journal on Monday, the 18th day Of December
And during said debate the House shall on each
day adjourn not later than O'Clock p. m.
The bill on December is was passed in
the House by vote Of ayes, 100; noes, $50:
not voting, IA.
On Thursday afternoon, February Is, a
substitute bill entitled: "a bill to affirm
the existing .s.s :. value to main
&c parity IN value OF ali forms OF
money, to refund the public debt. and for
ether purposes" was passed by the Senate
by vote Of 46 to 20. The report of the
committee of conference on the disagree
Ing votes CT the two Houses was submitted
to the Senate by Mr.. Aldrich en- Friday,
February 90, and adopted on Tuesday.
March 6. The report was presented to the
House by Mr.. 0verstreet on Wednesday,
March Z, and was adopted on Tuesday
March 1S, by n vote of 166 to 100. 1t was
approved by the President on Wednesday.
March IA.
This bill confirms the gold dollar as the
unit of value.
Porto Rican LeEislntion.
Legislation for Porto Rico occupied
much of the session. The House passed
a bill providing for tariff duties of Is per
cent on the Dinghy tariff on all goods
going into Porto Rico from the United
coming from Porto Rico into the United
States. This bill was referred to The
Committee on the Pacific Islands and
Porto Rico in the Senate and was reported
back and embodied in bill providing
for a civil government for the people of
Porto Rico. and in this shape was passed
in the Senate. The senior Senator from
Ohio, Mr. Foraker. introduced bill pro-
yiding for a civil government OF the peo-
pie of Porto Rico, and the bill PROVIDED
liberal Territorial government Tor that
island, corresponding in every particular
with the Territorial governments That
have heretofore been organized since the
foundation of our Government, and in its
leading features was antagonistic to the
bill reported by the committee OF which
Senator Foraker was Chairman.
The bill first introduced by the Senator
made the people of Porto Rico citizens Of
the United States, extended the provis-
ions of the Constitution to the island,
and provided for absolute free trade be-
tween the people of that island and the
United States. The next bill deprived
the people of that island Of the privileges
Of American citizenship. did not extend
the Constitution to the island, fixed tariff
duties between the United States and
those people, and was an entirely new de-
parture from all Territorial governments
heretofore organized since we became q
nation.
Mr.. Payne. Republican floor leader in
the House, on Friday. January 10, intro
| duced bill ITO extend the laws relating
! to customs and internal revenue over the
S1o ne tn
States" The bill was referred to the
| Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr.. Foraker, on January 9. introduced
| in the Senate bill ITO provide a govern
ment for Porto Rico and which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Pacific Islands
and Porto Rico.
Mr.. Payne's bill. with q substitute. was
reported back to the House on February
4 S, with the recommendation that the sub
! stitute pass 1t was passed by the House
on Wednesday, February rs. by vote of
| ayes 172, noes 100. 1t was passed by the
Senate on Tuesday, April 3. the vote being
40 to 81. The bill. with the Senate amend
ments, was again brought into the House
and referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means, was reported back by Mr.. Payne
on April 10, with the Recommendation that
the Senate amendments be concurred in.
| This was done and the bill was approved
by the President, on April 1S.
Island Revenues.
| President Mckinley, on March 2. sent to
| Congress the following message in the
matter Of Porto Rican revenues:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives,:
Since the evacuation OF Porto Rico by the Span
ish forces on the 18th day OF October, 1s9s, the
United States has collected on products coming
from that island to the ports OF the United States
the duties fixed by the Dingley act. and amount
ing So Cos 455.sS, and will continue to collect
under said law until Congress shall otherwise di-
rect. Although / had the power, and having in
mind the best interests OF the people Of the ISL
and used it, to modify duties on goods and prod
ucts entering into Porto Rico, did not have the
power TO remit modify duties Porto Rican
products coming into ports Of the United States.
In view CT the pressing necessity for immediate
revenues in Porto Rico for conducting the gov
eminent there, and for the extension Of public cd
ucation. and in view also of the provisional leg
isla;ion Just inauguratcd by the House OF Repre-
sentatives, and for the purpose of making the
principle embodied in that legislation applicable
to the immediate past as well as to the iinmo-
date future. recommend that the above sum SO
collected and the sums hereafter collected under
existing law SHALL without waiting for the
actment of the general legislation now pending,
be appropriated for the use and benefit Of the
island. WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
On March 2. upon the receipt Of the
above message from the President. Mr..
Cannon introduced and obtained imme-
date consideration for the bill which fol-
lows:
A bill appropriatirs for the benefit and govern
ment OF Porto Rico, revenues collected in.
portations therefrom since its evacuation by Spain
and revenues hereafter collected on such importa-
tons under existing law
BE 1t enacted. etc, That the sum of s2.095.-
1888. being the amount OF customs revenue re.
ceived inportations by the United States from.
Porto Rico since the evacuation OF Porto Rico br
the Spanish forces the 18th Of October, 1893 to
the lst of January, 1900 together with any further
customs revenue collected on importations from
Porto Rico since the 1st OF January, 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 Por
to Rico until otherwise provided by law; and
the revenues herein referred to, already collected
and to be collected under existing law are hereby
appropriated for the purposes herein specified out
of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise ap-
propriatcd.
1t was charged by the minority of the
House that the presentation of this bill
was a confession on the part of the ma
jority that they had wronged the Porto
Ricans by collecting tariff on Porto Rioan
goods. The bill was passed by 162 to 1oS.
The bill was introduced IN the Senate re-
ferred to the Committee on Appropriations,
reported back with amendments, debated,
and passed. The House ncn-concurred In
the Senate amendments, a conference was
ordered, the report of the conferees was
agreed to, and the bill was approved on
March a.
On May 1 there was approved by the
President joint resolution to provide for
the administration of civil affairs in Pc: to
Rico pending the appointment and quail
fcation of the civil officers provided fer In
the act approved April IL, 1900, entitled:
An act temporarily to provide revenues