The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-24

washington, March 23.-The senate
today adopted the conference report on
the Porto Rican relief bill by a vote
Of 50 to 10, practically a strictly party
expression. No Democrat voted for the
report, but Mr.. Stewart (NeV.) voted
with the Republicans.
The time of discussion was consumed
mostly by Mr.. TilIman, who made a
fierce attack on the measure and &C
cused the Republican senators and the
Republican party of indiscretion. hy-
pocrisy and dirty work" His speech
was quite characteristic and was lis
tened to with interest by his colleagues
on the floor and the people in the gall
leries.
Nj. Gallinger (Rep., N. HI followed
with a temperate statement Of those
who not only favor the report, but
the passage of a Porto Rican tariff
bill.
Mr.. SpOoner Rep., Wis., closed the
debate with a forceful statement in
opposition to Mr.. Tiliman's speech, in
the course Of which he took occasion
TO sharply criticise the South Carolina
senator for dragging the measure into
politics. His colloquial tits with Mr..
Tillman were immensely enjoyed by
the auditors.
Opposition of Tillman.
Mr.. TiIlman, who voted for the bill
as it passed the senate, and as a men,
Der of the committee on appropriations
voted favOrably to report it, vigorously
opposing the conference report. He eX-
pressed his regret that the senate con-
fesraac- bod xyiaIHps1 70 tho contention
of the house conferees, particularly in
agreeing to enlarge the purpose of the
measure by providing 'for the aid and
relief of the people" of Porto Rico.
Mr.. Tillman sharply criticised the
method adopted by the United States
of extending hands full of food to the
people of Porto Rico as a gratmty.
"As long as you continue to feed
these people down there" declared Mr..
Tillman, you may feed them. So long
as the freedmen's bureau was MAIN
tanned in the south, the colored race
there attended to nothing. That's a
race characteristic. This government
will set itself up as an eleemosynary
institution by the passage of this bill
and I do not believe We should stand
on any such ground"
In response to an inquiry from Mr..
Spooner, Mr.. Tillman said: I'm in IA
vor Of free trade with Porto Rico. I
don't believe in protecting one part of
the United State against another"
Mr.. Perkins (CaL) inquired if Mr..
Tillman was in favor of free trade
with the Philippines, knowing that
those islands had the advantage Of
peon and Malay labor.
Free Trade With All.
Mr.. Tillman-If we are to continue to
hold the Philippines 1 am in favor of
free trade with those islands. Those
who voted to bring into the country
these islands, with their cheap contract,
peon and Malay labor, were told of the
results that would follow the ratifica-
ton of the treaty. And you could not
get the votes necessary to make that
treaty law until you had bought some
men to vote for it. If it is now pro-
posed to send horde Of carpetbaggers
over there, backed by the bayOnets Of
soldiers, so long as I have a voice L
shall protest.
Referring to the recent speech of Mr..
BeveFidge, Mr.. Tillman declared it had
been distributed among the Philippines
and had infused new life and energy
INTO the revolution, because it indicat-
ed the hypocrisy and double dealing the
United States had resorted to in the
treatment of the Philippines.
Looking over at Mr.. Allison, Mr.. Till
ma laughingly alluded to the resolu-
ton adopted by the legislature of Iowa,
warning their representatives in con-
gress," he said, "Of the consequence
and of their action on the pending
bill" IT never rains, but it pours. The
whole political structure is tumbling
about their ears.
Mckinley Lacks Backbone.
Continuing, Mr.. Tillman said: 81 be-
lieve Mckinley is one Of the most low
able OF men in public life, but the
trouble with him is that sometimes he
has not the backbone to stand up
against his party friends"
Disclaiming any authority to speak
for the president, Mr.. Perkins of Cali
fornia said that the belief that the
sugar trust had acquired the greater
part of the sugar product of Porto Rico
and his desire to build up the beet in
dustry in the United States had in
duced the president, he (Perl1ins) be-
lieved, TO favor a tariff If il were true
that he did favor it.
Mr.. Gallinger IN. HI, who is a men,
Der of the committee on Pacific islands
and Porto Rico. said in that committee
there had been but one thought, and
that was 20 provide that which would
be best for the interests of The island
and its inhabitants.
Destitute and suffering as these
people are" said Mr.. Gallinger. 1--WE
ought to pass this bill promptly and
not deal in such political diatribes as
we have been treated to here
In the course Of the debate Mr.. Till
man said: I'VE had some dares here
yesterday, but the bob-tailed flush of
my friend from Ohio fE7oraker) did not
20 through" Oaughter.)