The Portland daily press., 1900-02-20

leader. Joined Issues upon ths power of
&c. Ss.s.s: .ss H. !. 'isss ps.s hs s
backed up Mr.. Payne with oonstitu-
tienAi and legal argumenk
washin gton, February 1o.-Ths CALLER
lee Of the Houss were well filled today In
antisipation Of the opening Of the debate
on the Porto Rican tariff bill Before
chs bill was called up Mr.. DoDiver. Of
Iowa. from ths eommittss on why's and
means. moved the passage under suspen-
sion Of the rules Of the bill reported from
that cemuittee 10 amend sections 3s3s
and s341 Of the Revised Statutes relating
to tbs Enternal rsvenue tax On ferment-
ed liqaors. The purposs Of the bill, Mr..
Dollivev said. was 10 abolish the smaller
package OF beer or sixtn and one-eighth
barrslA The bill, he said, Was asked
for BY the brewery Interests Of the ooun-
try. II would In NO wiss aneot the rsve-
nus. Mr.. Fistshss, Republican Of Min.
pesota. offered su amendment providing
that the bill shall not 60 into effeot un.
I'll July /, 1000. The amendment was
agreed to. Mr.. Sulser said he favored
the bill, but that Il WAS merely sop TO
thsnbrswer. What they really wanted
was the abolition Of the war taxes. lie
thouaht the war Rovenus lsw should Be-
repealed. The Republicans, ne saia, had
PROMISED to do that Whsn tho war was
direction. He challenged the leaders
on the other side 70 say when they pro-
posed to repeal that law which 10 used
TO pile up money In the treasury to be
loan ed without interest TO pet nation al
banks. Mr.. Terry, Democrat Of Arkan-
sas, declared that the Republicans wers
| using the war taxes 10 eke out the de-
hoiencies caused BY tie Dlngley law
which. he said, had .psovei most la
msntsble failure. The Republicans jeered
this remark and continusd TO jesr whsn
Ar. Terry said that the Republicans dare
not abolish their policy Of criminal az.
erosion In the Philippines because Of
the sscrst understanding with Great
Britain and that for the same reason they
dare not offer word Of symr athy to the
two republios struggling foIn liberty
In South Africa. Mr.. Often Of Wiscon-
sin, Mr.. Bartholdt Of Missouri. and Mr.
Baboock OF Wisconsin. urged ths pasiage
OF the bill.
Mr.. Bartlett OF Georgia said the hum
BILE people were Asking relief from the war
taxss and they should be listened to As
well as the rioh association of brswers
mhopaid heavy osmpaign oontributions.
The bill was passed wiShout division.
Mr.. PAyns Of New York, floor leader OF
the majority, then moved that the HOUSE
20 into comm ittee OF the whole to oon-
slider the Puerto Rican tariff bill
Pending that motion Mr. Payne on
| cred to make an aeresment by which gen
eral debate should close on Saturday
| next. the bill to be taken mp under the
| Hve- minute rule on Monday next and the
| hnal vote to be taken at 3 O'Clock. Mr..
McCall Of Msssaoh use,ts. asked II such
| an arrangement would preclude vote
| upon the bill originally introduced BY
Mr.. Payne for free trade with Puerto
Rico, which was in line with recon-
msndAtions of the Prssident In mis- annu-
| sl message. Mr.. Payne replied that that
was matter for the house and the COM
mittss to decide
| insisted thas there shauld hs q definite
understanding that ia minority oould
offer substitgts. To this MIR. Payne
declined TO agres. As matter OF priv
ilsgs. Mr.. Hits Of Illinois. reported back
from the committee on foreign Affairs
state dspavtmsnt for Information as 70
the truth Of the charges Of Mr.. Macrum,
| sx consul at Pretoria, CONCERNING the
opening Of his mail BY the British autho-
| rites. and 1t was adopted without dsbate.
The House then went into committee
VI INC WnuxD WltV III QuU8tiOua IoA4ttnk
| to the closs Of the debate open. Mr..
Payne, In charge Of the bill, opened the
debate with an argument In support OF
the measure.
Representative Payss OF New York.
chairman Of the ways nnd means commit
the debate on the Porto Rican tariff.
He said, In part:
| "An incident to the late war with
Spain was the Invasion Of Porto Rioo.
From the moment that the American
army 1set it's foot on Porto Rioan soil
dem onstrations of joy. and the flag OF
the United States was received with de-
light. Whatever difference there may
have been as to the policy OF annexine
the Philippine Islands. know Of no op-
position any where to the annexation of
"Thi, bill by Its terms relates only to
the island Of Porto Rico. 1t osnnct be
taken rs precedent Of any legislative
action in reference To the Philippine
islands when the present resurrection
shall be over their except In 80 far as
der the American constitution.
"An agree that the first and most Inn
portant duty We owe TO the people OF
| Porto Rico Is TO open up markets for
thsm. In no other way can we allay
the feeling of discomfort likely to arise
| hhuuuk p~OPtu WaV nave Nchfl1ou NJ
tie In the change from Spanish oppres-
sion Of 400 years, 10 the prosI Gritty and
| liberty which follows the American nag.
| "Ihe original bill introduced on jan
uary 10Th last, provided that the GUS
toms laws OF the United States and the
| internal revenue laws he extended Co
Porto Rioo The idea was TO give the
pi oiuoer Of sugar free entrance of this
staple into the United states, saving q
duty Of over $50 ton. Under that bill
the duty upon tobacco would bs $50 per
pound and the main portion Of the crop
and for she wrappers 81. SO per pound.
| "After consultation with Gen. Davis,
| the present military governor Of Porto
| Rico, 1t was found that this action
would not produce sufficient revenue to
meet the expenses Of the government.
| Tie substitute was then. brought for
ward. which imposes q duty equal TO
cur own tariff upon all articles imported
| rom shToad, other than those of the
United States into Puerto Rico. and q
duty equal TO 20 per cent Of the rates OF
our own tariff laws on sll articles i'm
ported into Puerto Rico from the United
States or from Porto hioo into the United