The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-02-20

! u viii endanger the bill. II is impossible
to say at this time. The disafectien.
however. is sufficiently serious TO alarm
the Republican leaders. and every effort
Is being made to bring the recsleitran,s
/ into line
\ Ii was stated late yesterday afternoon
| that probably a Republican caucus wouli
| be necessary during the week to prevent
| the defeat o, the bill. Some OF the de-
! fections among Republicans we're men,
toned in The Post several days ago. Yes
! ierday. however, Il developed that there
we're fifteen or twenty more Republicans
disposed 70 cote against the measure
There are two Republicans from each OF
the three Pacific coast States who do no;
approve of The plan proposed for govern
ing Porto Rico. although not all of them
are ready Yet to commit themselves final
~ as hostile TO its passage.
| hansans Inclined to Free Trade.
Representative Long. Of Kansas. IL a
member of the Ways and Means Commit
tee who signed the majority report, but
( among the other Kansas Republicans
there Is pronounced revolt. Even
among the Iowa Republicans there
is disposition to vote against the bill.
| and Representative Tompkins. OF New
York. emphatically announced that ne
would not vote for the measure Other
/ New York Republicans are similarly in
clined. The argument for a caucus Is that
Republicans who oppose the bill could
| then find an excuse for supporting 1t on
| the ground that 1t was the policy OF the
party. The opponents OF the bill are try
lag to secure a statement from the Presi-
dent regarding IT,
] Nothing was heard In the debate yes
terday of the Republican opposition to the
Dill. representative Mccall, the Republi-
can who submitted a separate report
from the Ways and Means Committee,
VIII probably speak to-day. Representa-
tive Littlefield. OF Maine who follows Mr..
Mccall. is expected TO speak next Thurs
| day. He watched the debate yesterday
very attentively. During the speech by
/ Representative DalZell, who went into
the constitutional phases Of the question.
| Mr. Lttlefield took notes on a pad OF
White paper. He did not intend orig
inally TO go into the constitutional phases
OF the question. but simply to make
brief speech defining his position The
development of the debate may lead him
TO change mis- original plan somewhat.
NfANSNhNdliNS VINO Is cn3lT
| man of the Ways and Means Commit
| tee, and In charge of the bill on the floor.
refused yesterday TO agree that a vote
should be taken on substitute to be Of
fered by the minority. This substitute,
which has not yet been framed, will be
in substance the bill originally introduced
by Mr.. Payne, providing for free trade
with Porto Rico by the extension of the
customs and revenue laws of the United
States over the island.
Lacked Exciting Features.
The debate yesterday lacked exciting
features. 1t was in the nature of a long
range bombardment before the clash OF
the contending forces in battle Repre-
sentative Payne opened with a general
argument in support of the bill, going
largely into the material side of the sit
uation which the bill is designed to- re-
lieve. Representative Richardson Joined
issue upon the power of Congress to en-
act the proposed legislation. and Mr.. Dali
zell, of Pennsylvania. backed I'D Mr..
Payne with constitutional and legal ar
gument. All three were listened to with
close attention.
The House went into Committee of the
Whole after some wrangling with all
questions relating to the close of the de-
bate open. Representative Payne opened
the debate with a carefully prepared ar
gument in support of the measure He
was listened TO with marked attention.
and showed as he proceeded that he had
acquired vast fund of information re-
lating TO the affairs of the island
"All agree that the first and most I'm
portant duty We owe to the people of
Porto Rico" said Mr.. Payne, as to open
up markets for them. In no other way
QllaU ba ~
likely to arise among a people who have
realized so little In the change from Span
ish oppression of 400 years to the pros
perity and liberty which follow the Amer
lean flag.
The original bill. introduced on the 10Th
day OF January last, provided that the
customs laws of the United States and
the internal revenue laws be extended 10
Porto Rico. The idea was to give tie
producer of sugar the free entrance Of
this staple into the United States. saving
duty of over go ton. Under that bill
the duty saved upon tobacco would be *
cents per pound for the main portion of
the crop and for the wrappers sl85 per
pound.
Expenses of Government.
After consultation with .. Gen. Davis,
the present military governor who has
made a careful study Of the conditions
in Porto Rico ii was found that this ac-
ton would not produce sufficient revenue
to meet the expenses Of the government
He estimated that not more than A mill
ion dollars could be collected from both
customs duties and internal revenue tax
This sum would not pay the bare ex-
penses OF the government, without ap-
propriating a dollar for the public schools
or roads. The substitute was then brought
Forward, which imposes duty equal to
our own tarin upon all articles imported
from abroad other han those OF the
United States into Porto Rico and a duty
equal to q per centum of the rates of our
own tarin laws on all articles imported
into Porto Rico from the United States
or from Porto Rico into the United States.
The best estimates than can be obtained
show that this will produce a revenue If
N,75o0O from customs duties, which, add
ed 10 the internal revenues OF the island
Will produce 10000, a sum sufficient 10
pay all the expenses Of the government.
including the postal service, and also
SS5,UO for the public schools
The total estimates OF Gen Davis for
the expenditures is 8, $4,000 The original
Dill, therefore, il would seem means a
bankrupt treasury: the substitute a sur
plus OF 10000, which will meet some Of
the pressing needs for the establishment
OF common schools. The remission OF
70 per centum. OF the duties on sugar and
tobacco, which are now paid, means an
annual increase. Of income to these peo-
pie Of S2.31oooo. This means the lifting OF
mortgage from many small planta-
ton. better wages for the laborers. more
money In circulation. and greater general |
prosperity. IL means hope insJeaI Of des-
pair. IL means encouragement TO the
other agriculturtsts, who will be siimula-
ted by the prosperity of their neighbOrs
TO restore their own broken fortunes
The Income Will Increase.
That the income under this bill will in |
crease from year to year there can be no |
doubt: that IL Will restore prosperity and |
give new life and enterprise 10 the people |
Of the island Is equally true. This will |
open up new channels for direct taxation |
without proving burden TO the people, |