The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-28
.DEBATE { CLOSEDON
PORTO RICAN BILL
Galleries Were Banked.
to the Doors.
.D0LLIVERANDBAILEY
Made Closing Arguments on Their
Respective Sides.
PHILIPPINES IN THE SENATE.
DOLLIVERANDBAI
IN THE SENATE.
Before Large Attendance ofsenators
and Brilliant Assemblasc of Gail
lery Spectators Mr.. Depew, Of
New York, Delivered Il Bril-
liant Speech i'll the Sen
ate OIL the Philippines.

WASHINGTON, ID. &C., Feb. N.-The
general debate on the Porto Rico tariff
bill closed to-day in a blaze of great ora
tory. The galleries were banked to the
doors. and every seat on the floor was
occupied when the rival champions of the
respective sides-AIr. Dolliver, of Iowa,
and Mr. Bailey, Of Texas, made the clos
ing arguments. Each spoke for an hour
and a, half. The speech of MIR. Bailey,
devoted, as it was, almost exclusively to
the legal phases of lthe controversy,
while it was profound and impressive, did
not arouse the unbounded enthusiasm
which swept the galleries and floor while
Mr.. Doliver was speaking. The Iowan
was at his best, and his wit, eloquence,
and sarcasm Pin turn drew salvos of ap-
plause from his Republican associates.
Before these closing speeches were
made, Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, one Of the
veterans on the Republican side, made
an exceptionally effective speech in sup
port Of The bill NLessrs. Carmack Dem
ocraD of Tennessee, Clayton (DemocraD
Of Alabama, Kleberg (DemocraD of Tex
as, Pearce and DeArmond Democrats) of
Missouri, had also made speeches in op-
position to the bill THE Republican
managers are now confident that with
the notifications agreed upon at the
conference last might the bill will COM
mand a narrow majority on the final
vote tomorrow.
The last day of the general
debate on the Porto Rico tariff
bill opened in the House to-day
with q twenty-minute speech, by Mr..
Z Clarn1ack+- of Tennessee, sin@opposition to
the bill. The alternative presented by the
bill, he said, was the abandonment of our
priceless principles or of our new pos
sessions. The country had been dazzled
with the gorgeous picture of empire, yet
at the very threshold of the new depar-
ture, he said, gentlemen on the other
side had been appalled, lest the free
trade which they had looked at with
covetous eyes would bring ruin and de-
struction to American labor. Therefore
the new possessions were to become
colonies and be turned over to, carpet
bagger adventurers. Hc read from the
Republican platform of 1860 to show that
it set up the very contention maintained
by the Democrats now-that the Consti-
tuition was supreme in the territories and
extended over every foot of ground over
which the United States had jurisdiction.
"A LETTER FROM MIR. PAYNE.
Mr. Clayton, of Alabama, created much
amusement and enthusiasm by reading
a letter written by Chairman Payne to
W. II. Curtis. of palmyra, n. Y, Janu-
ary q, 1900, in which he advocated free
trade with Porto Rico on the ground that
it would give relief to the stricken
island. The letter also contained the
following reference to the Philippines:
Under the treaty the Philippine Islands
are to have free trade with Spain for
ten years We could not extend these
tariff laws to the Philippine Islands even
if we would
Mr.. Kleberg, of Texas. and Mr.. Pierce,
of Tennessee. also opposed the bill.
Mr. De Almond. of Missouri said this
bill proposed to set aside The Constitu
ton, not for the purpose of doing some
thing phiianthropic, but in the interest
of the partial or complete enslavement
of a helpless people. This change of
front had been brought about by the in
fluence of the agents of mighty corpora
tions.'' The Porto Ricans, he said, were
to be crucified in order that the cross
might be raised in the Philippines. We
could withdraw from the Archipelago
and leave 100000 of tropical people to
work out their own salvation. I'm my
opinion he said, "that is what we ought
to do Democratic applause), but If they
are held they must be held under the
Constitution. The inhabitants must be
American citizens, black, brown, and yell
low, and ultimately be represented upon
this floor with more representation than
all of New England"
ADMINISTRATIONS POLICY.
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, followed. He
I,iha n with q
whole party behind him., asserted that
there was no power under the Constitu-
ton to coerce a sovereign State when
those States We're already in arms PIE
pared to shoot the life out OF what was
left of the Union. The Constitution, he
said was the buckler of those who at
tempted 10 embarrass the government
during the war.
WHAT is the administrations policy?''
asked Mr.. Norman.
..Ill tell YOU" responded Mr.. Cannon.
s.'As to Porto Rico, do the only thing
that can bring relief to the island-pass
this bill. As to the Philippines, continue
to do as we are doins-put down the
ins,,rrection and restore law and order"
4 t(Applause.)
"The fathers of our country, in build
ing the Constitution did not build &
trap (Great applause.
Turning directly 10 Ihe DILL Mr.. Cam
non secuted the cry that had been raised
that the trusts had dictated It. He
charged that both the tobacco and sugar
stored in Porto Rico was already owned
by the sugar and tobacco trusts.
STOOL PIGEONS.
They had put forward some natives as
stool pigeons to beg for. free trade so
that while the Democrats cried out
:, e,a inst the trusts they would be voting
for them. Their voice would be- the
voice of Jacob and their hand would be
the3 hand of Esau. Appiause.)
The remaining three hours OF general
debate was divided equally between the.
two sides. Mr. Bailey (Dernocrat). tof
Texas, and Mr.: Dolliver Republican, of
Iowa. closed for. their respective sides.