The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-20
SENATE.

idlAoh oAi was pocSNH
by the senate today. Its text follows.
3 il enacted, etc, that the sum of
$2,095,455 being the amount of customs
revenue received on importations by
the United States from Porto Rico
since the evacuation of Porto Rico by
the Spanish forces on the 18th of Octo-
Der, 1898, to the first Of January 1900,
shall be placed at the disposal of the
president, TO be used for the govern
ment now existing and which may
hereafter be established in Porto Rico
and for public education, public works
and other governmental and public
purposes therein. and the said sum or
SO much thereof as may be necessary,
is hereby appropriated for the purposes
herein specified, out of any moneys in
the treasury not otherwise appropriate
ed"
This relief appropriation bill, recon-
mended in a special message by Presi-
dent Mckinley follows a debate, at
times spirited, extending over parts
of two days.
The senate unanimously agreed to
take up the Quay case two weeks from
next Tuesday n discuss 1t until dis
posed of, the discussion not to inter-
fere with the unfinished business, the
Spooner bill authorizing the president
to govern the Philippines until other
wise directed, the appropriation bills
or conference reports.
Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, Of
fered the following resolution which
was adopted:
That the secretary of war be direct
ed to communicate to the senate a let
ter of Emilio Aguinaldo dated at Ba-
coor' July 18th 1898, addressed to the
American commander and forwarded
to General Merritt July 9th, 1885,"
Senator Gallinger. of New Hamp-
shire, offered a resolution which was
agreed to, that the members Of the alb
met be directed to communicate to the
senate the number of clerks in their
departments, giving the number be-
tween specified ages, and also those
who, in whole or in part, are perma-
nently incapacitated.
Consideration of the Porto Rican
appropriation bill was then resumed.
The chair having ruled hat the COM
mittee amendments to the bill had
been adopted, other amendments offer
ed were in order. The committee
amendments provided that the NON
appropriated should be that collected
up to January 1st, 1900, the appropria-
ton to be used for public education,
public works, and other governmental
and public purposes"
The first amendment was that of
Sens Tor Allen, of Nebraska. 1t pro-
vic ID that the constitution was, by
force of the treaty concluded between
the United States and the Kingdom
of Spain at the city of Paris, France,
April 18th, 1899, extended over the
Island of Porto Rico n its inhabi-
tants.'
Senator Allison entered a motion to
lay the amendment on the table, but
withheld it while Senator Chiffon, of
Texas, addressed the senate on the
general proposition of the
and the Porto Rican question. He said
the bill is as wrong and dangerous in
principle as the tax on tea which fired
our forefatherS. The constitution, he
urged goes wherever the flag flies.
Senator Allison's motion to table
Senator Aliens amendment prevailed
-36 to II.
The amendment offered yesterday
by Senator Jones, of Arkansas, was
then laid before the senate. Senator
Jones said he had decided to withdraw
the amendment. In a discussion of
his position he declared that A great
storm had ragged in Porto Rico and
likewise a great storm was raging in
this country, the cause of the latter
being the action of the house on the
Porto Rican question. He said there
was now a effort on the
part of the republicans to get out of
this storm and the bill now proposed
was the leans they were employing
to land safely. He declared that the
course of the government toward the
people of the island and not the hur-
| ricane had paralyzed the industries of
Porto Rico. The remedy was a re-
| versal of the action of the government
and authority for the Porto Ricans to
bring their products here free of duty
and letting them buy and sell whereV-
er they might please.
In answer to a question by Senator
Allen, of Nebraska, Senate Allison re-
piled that under the military govern
ment in Porto Rico all food products
farm implements and many other
useful and necessary articles were ad
mitted free of duty.
Senator Allen asked what rates OF
duty the goods Of Porto Rico were now
paying in the United States
They are paying the rates fixed by
the Dingley Act" replied Senator Al.
lison.
Senator Jones, inquired where thu
money came from that was being ex'
pended in Porto Rico now and hat
been expended heretofore.
Senator Foraker replied that a large
amount had been expended from tn
war emergency fund and that som
had been expended from customs re
ceipts.
fSciidI hllS lHdl He SOuIu HOl dSNCi
tain just what the object Of the bill
was. Senator Jones said he would con
tent himself by offering the following
amendment:
From and after the passage of thi
act, no duty shall be collected on ar
ticles coming int Porto Rico from
ports of the United State or on good
coming from Porto Rico into othe
porSs of the United States"
Senator Tillman said there was evi
IDENTIFY so much division among the re
publicans hat it appeared doubtfr
to him whether they would be able t
enact any Porto Rican legislation a
all. He said it looked as If h re
publican party had reached the en-
of the rope nj that its last hope no'
was to contend that congress wa
without limitations in the governmen
Of, or in legislating for acquired terri
tory.
Referring to the difference betwee
the governments treatment of Hawa
and Porto Rico as to the admission {
their respective productions Senate
Tillman said: Senators owed 1t I
themselves not to show such discrim
nation on the one hand and such out
-oDa nr rh4 Tho n --0 DninO 4