The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-27
CALLED BY PORTO RICO FREE TRADE
REPUBLICAN SENATOR.
REPUBLICANS IN A DILEMMA.
h senate Discusses at Length the
Conference Report on Porto Rican
AppropriationBiIl- Republicans Chal-
lenged To take "A Vote on the House
Porto Rican Tariff Bill senator Proc
tor ObS~cts-The House l,ecmmits
the Loud Bill
SENATE.

ence report upo the Porto Rlco y
preparation bill. The democratic sena-
tors manifested a disposition to criti-
else the restoration of the house provis-
ion covering future collections of reve-
nue., protesting to find in this action
a desire to continue the Dingley tariff.
Speeches were made on these lines by
Senators Bacon, Cockerell. ZONES Of
Arkansas, Berry and Allen.
The republicans met the taunt with
a proposition to taxi a vote immedi-
ately upon the house Porto Rico tariff
bill, ana ii looked at one time as if the
unanimous consent would be secured
for a vote on the tariff measure tomor-
row. Senator Proctor objected, now
ever, on behalf of the republican free
traders, and when he indicated a will
ingness to agree TO a vote next week,
Senator Pettus put en- end to the pro-
ceedins by calling for the regular or
der of business.
The following resolutions were pass
ed: BY Senator Allen, requesting in
formation as to the tariff rates in force
in the Philippines, Guam, Porto Rico
n Cuba and the amount collected In
each instance since h American oc-
cupation; by Senator Butler, asking
the secretary of the treasury for infor-
nation as to the bank charters grant
ed since the passage of the currency
bill n for information concerning he
operations of the bill.
The senate hen took up the confer
ence eport on the Porto Rico appro
priation bill.
Senator Bacon, of Georgia, objected
| to the changes made in conference.
| The report would he said, indicate
| that mutual concessions had been made
on behalf of both the senate and the
| house, but he held that an analysis
| would show that the senate had yield
ed practically everything and the house
| nothing. He objected especially to the
concession on the part of the senate TO
the house contention that the appro-
| priation should cover future collections
as well as those accruing up to Janu-
! airy 1st. The appropriations bill, he
said, should be definite in terms, and
| especially was it believed by senator
Bacon that it was the purpose of the
bill to provide for the contingency that
the tariff bill now pending may fail.
In that event the revenue arrangement
would continue. That he thought was
a legitimate conclusion.
Senator Bacon also dwelt upon the
insistence of the house upon the Ian
| guage continuing h collection and
retu. 4 of the revenue, under existing
/ law Thus, instead of having free
rae with Porto Rico or a reduction
to 10 per cent. as promised, we are, he
| asserted, to continue the present rela-
ton, enforcing the full rate of the
Dingley law. To adopt this conference
| report meant the leaving of the tariff
wall standing n senators who pro-
fessed to be favorable to Free trade
could not afford to shut their eyes to
this fact. If then congress should ad-
jourH without passing another law,
those who should vote for the confer
ence report would be responsible for
leaving this great burden upon a peo-
pie for whom there was so much eX-
pressed commiSeratiOn.
Senator Bacon urged that Porto Rico
was entitled to a free territorial gov
eminent with all it's privileges.
Senator Cockerell, of Missouri and
Senator Sullivan, of Mississippi, also
opposed the conference report.
Senator Allison, defending the report,
arraigned the democrats for their de-
laying tactics and incidentally predict
ed there would be a deficit under any
revenue system that might be devised
for Porto Rico.
Senator Allen, of Nebraska, CRITICS
ed the republican party. The appro-
| priatiOn bill was a make-Shift to per-
S ~~S INA ~ SS>oPS AoA Wv
ward dilemma. The general bills he
predicted, would be allowed to drift
until the temper of the people could
be aScertained and a way out of the
difficulty discovered. Referring par
ticularly to Senator Beveridge's in
definite postponement of his speech
he spoke of the wonderfully organized
system which controlled the move
ments of the republican party. He
challenged the republican side of the
senate for a vote on the house bill
fixing the Is per cent. tariff.
Replying to an inquiry from Senator
Foraker, Senator Allen said so far as
he was concerned he was willing tC
vote today on the house bill. In the
ensuing discussion the drift of senti.
ment seemed toward fixing an houl
.. tomorrow for a vote.
enator Proctor, of Vermont, how.
ever, objected to immediate action anC
his proposition to vote a week hence
was finally agreed to by Senator For
aker.
Senator Allen, however, character
lied his as a bluff of Senator Foraker
whose wv party called him"
An effort to have a vote today on &C
cepting the conference report on tn,
appropriation was stopped by an OBJ
lection from Senator Tillman, and tn
matter went over.
At $50 o'clock d. m. the senate ad
I, journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
After a spirited discussion extendin;
over three days the Loud bill. relatini
TO second class mail matter. was re
committed by the house today 10 tn
committee OIL postoffices. The MAORI
ty in favor of the motion to recommi
was so decisive that it is regarded a
unlikely that the measure will appea
again during the present congress
Mr.. Loud said after the vote was an
nounce that this was the third tim
ana out" so far as he was concerned
The final vote was preceded by
liveI debate on the general feature
Of the bill, the principal speeches beini
made by Mr.. Moon, of Tennessee, il
opposition to the measure and by VI
Moody, of Massachusetts,, in supper
Of it.
MI Noon urged the value Of the lit
erature now sem as second class mat
ter as instructive to the people, a poin
more important than a small bit Q
revenue to the The ex