New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-31
THE SENATE ASTONlSHED.
up PFTTTs ENLTvENS THE PUERTO
RICAN DEBATE.
,r-orENrr KEPT IN RoARs OF LAUGH
~rR-paoGREss ON THE TARIFF BILL

-,-,s.,rvton March 30-The debate on the
r,.,a-+o Rican bill in the Senate to-day was
- interesting than usual. and was marked
-. 80 sudden and wholly unexpected discovery
-. che body nun bered among its membership
vs+irical humorist Of no mean powers in the
80, Of the venerable Senator Pettus. Of Ala
ia usually one OF the most sedate OF Sena-
80 with a solemn air and ponderous manner
ua had been for some time gravely discussing
r. constitutional questions involved in the
-.-s,,r bill. and his remarks on that thread
- .,b,ect had not excited much interest or
-..a,.son when suddenly. and without warning
:. o,a,ed his masked batteries of wit and ridi-
- NJ Nj GaIInger and Mr. Beverage. the
,..io- Senator from Indiana. who spoke yester-
g. and who fortunately or unfortunately was
:. IN The Senate Chamber to-day. In an in
-sr- the Senate ali attention and the
-,.o,v specrators in the galleries awoke and
.,eS their uecks and cooked their ears TO see
- hear From that time until he sat down
- every sentence Of the Alabama Senator
rss punctuated with a shout OF laughter, in
.,.s me most solemn Senators on both sides
:, the chamber heartily Joined; and when he
- enisbed he was overwhelmed with compli-
-+s and congratulations. Such scene has
- been witnessed in that grave and deoorous
.,5v IN many years. If. indeed il was ever seen
before
NJ Petrus is the Oldest member Of the Sen
..A-bis age being only few months short Of
.soo-e wears His speech sparkled with wit
- ,rbbled with hurnor. It's sarcasm was keen
-. mt hitter: and even those who were the
.+,-,s ~ II could not but enjoy its perfect good
,,-,o- and IFS unaIloyed fun. Throughout II
al Nr Pertus was as solemn as IL he were de-
,.--.-,,g q funeral Grafton Not & smile soft
.,s5 +he deep lines OF his strong and rugged
,ountenance and as he stopped occasionally 70
-,or the perspiration from his face and head
u4sb big silk bandana he glanced about the
ss,a,e as Il in surprise at the laughter Of his
colleagues Indeed. he apologized once for the
u1brness Of the vein in which he was addressing
+he sanate on so important question the
Puerto Rican bill
The reports viii give the words, but words
4sU N describe the quaint manner Of their ut
+arsnce OF the effect they produced. There was
: s,sn,ciou Of "ghoulish glee' in the demonstra-
-.ons ~ enjoyment among some of the older
Senator's on The Republican side which a close
observer Of the scene could not have failed TO
notice.
Senator Proctor. who opened the debate, gave
what appeared 10 him TO be conclusive reasons
Ebv he could not vote for the pending bill on ac-
count Of its tariff provisions, and among them
was z letter from his predecessor, ex-senator
Edmunds TO him in opposition TO the bill. This
letter Senator Proctor caused 70 be read as a
norton Of his speech. which commanded the at
ten1ion Of both friends and opponents OF the
measure Il was evident from the tenor OF his
remarks that he would not only support free
trade amendment but vote against the bill II
rlch an amendment should be defeated
Some progress was made the bin, most Of
the amendments recommended by the committee
being adopted as reported. One exception was
the striking OUT Of a provision making the Gov
srnor a member Of the Executive Council with
vote therein, 10 which Chairman Foraker con-
sented after brief discussion IN the course OF
which il was pointed out by Mr.. Lindsay. Mr..
spooner and several other Senators, that II
would De an anomaly for the Governor to vote
on measure as a member Of the Executive
Council which he might later veto in his ca
pacity as Governor and have the right after
ward in mis- capacity as a member Of the
Executive Council TO vote TO sustain his own
veto.
Senator Gallnger who is a member Of the
Committee on Pacific Islands and Puerto Rico.
proposed an amendment which. after some dis
cussion he temporarily withdrew. which pro-
vided that an internal tax equal 70 the United
states tax should De imposed On ClSLlllec spiTlts
manufactured in Puerto Rico and there con-
Eumed Senator Norgan's free silver amend
ment was rejected by aye and no vote, and
Ike fate befell an amendment offered by Sena-
Tor Pettus providing that Puerto Rican silver
coins should be exchanged at their face value
Tor silver coins Of the United States which are
10 De the only legal tender except gold three
months from and after the approval Of the act
Nj Depew and Mr. Spooner gave notice that
they would speak on Monday
THF DFRATF N DETAIL.
When consideration Of the Puerto Rican bill was
resumed to-day Mr.. Proctor. Of Vermont, ad-
dressed the Senate. He spoke unalterable
advocate Of the policy Of free trade between the
Island and the Unitd States. and close attention
was given 10 him both sides of the chamber
PRocToRs ARGUMENT FOR FREE TRADE.
In beginning his speech Nj Proctor expressed his
approval o. the civil government features Of the
psholng bill and MS regret that on account Of the
9Th provision he could NOT vote for it, He re-
viewed briefly the history Of the proposed Puerto
AcNn iarf, quoting the President in his annual |
asaee and the Secretary of war in his annual |
- as favoring free trade between Puerto Rico |
-. NE United States Then h. referred 10 the
ana said.
fcs s sfSnee nat some Of in lack of an Of
sbTf S.enert y apparent reason for this sudden
vE;cb v "a Dc SLOW 70 give Up a line Of action
tbs ot4eNe 20 be based on principle and tus-
EsfE -. course II is charged-I do not know
naad45 49, : 10 u any-that this charge was de-
bseco in,a-1o fouSLJ about by sugar and TO- !
sbor ss.s, ana, also. II is stated, By organized
lesenfz,i.o Fef. nave failed that the ZEN
he courr;,- tIA latter Interest appea red before
iade VIZ p = Is practically adm red that free |
nstsrsI L t3co does not harm these interests
sdenf -, out they claim that IL creates prec
o the Psii ,aS aarn them Il adopted in reference
cross fhos- -gpiiles and Cuba will be time "a /
ny ou5re+s lFsrs when come 70 them and ~ |
th prore- Ae crossing viii NOT be difficult when
We - .!fne comes for action NJ ''74 /
many wrong and foolish things with /