The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-23
OFFERED To THE PORTO RICO BILL BY
SENATOR BEVERIDGE.
4THE TWO PORTO RICAN BILLS
The Government Measure Taken Up
I'm the senate and Several Amend
ments Proposed - House Refuses to
Conou I'm the Senate Amendments to
the Porto Rican Tariff BfII-This and
the Pen ~ion Appropriation Bill Sent
to Conference.
SENATE.

washington, March 19.-Two meas
ures Of national Importance and many
of slightly lesser interests were passed
by n senate. The legislative, ex-
ecutive and judicial appropriation bill,
carrying more than s25, 200, 900, was
passed without debate. The commit
tee amendments were agreed to as the
bill was being read. The measure
providing for the appointment Of a
commission to adjudicate and settle
claims of citizens of the United States
growing out of the war with Spain
was also passed without opposition.
For a brief time, the Porto Rican
government and tariff measure was
under consideration. Senator Foraker,
in charge of the bill, submitted some
committee amendments. A few of
them were agreed to, but the import
ant ones are still pending. A free
trade amendment to the bill was offer
ed by Senator Beveridge, who gave no
tice he would address the enate
Thursday. The amendment is as fol-
lows
All articles coming into the United
States from Porto Rico or going into
Porto Rico from the United States
shall be admitted free of duty, but
this act shall not be construed as ex-
tending the constitution of the United
States or n part thereof, owe Por-
to Rico, and it is hereby declared that
the constitution of the United States
is not extended owe Porto Rico"
A request of the house for a confer
ence on the pension appropriation bill
was agreed to and conferees APP
pointed.
At 2 o'clock the unfinished business
the Porto Rican bill-was laid aside
temporarily and the senate took up a
cas- to carry into effect the stipu-
lations of Article VII of the treaty be-
tween the United States and Spain.
The bill provides for the appointment
by the president of three commission
ers to receive, examine and adjudicate
all claims of citizens of the United
States against Spain, which the Unit
ed States agreed to adjudicate and set
tie. The bill was slightly amended
and aSSed
Among the bills was one appropriate
ing $500, 900 for the erection of a public
building at Atlanta, Ga.
The senate agreed to the request of
the house for a conference on the bill
apprupriating $40 9 900 for the benefit
of the people of Porto Rico, and Sena-
tors Allison, Hale n Cockrell were
appointed as the senate conferees.
Senator Foraker then called up the
Porto ELlCdn government dlu ldIli Ul
for the purpose. he explained, of per-
fecting the bill. so far as possible from
the standpoint of the committee, in
order tina a reprint might be had of
the measure.
The first amendment suggested by
Senator Foraker related to the citizen
, ship of the inhabitants of Porto Rico.
} As exported the bill provides that the
inhabitants of Porto Rico shall be cit
liens Of the United States. The amend
ment offered by Senator Foraker in
serted some words after the term "citi-
zenS." making the paragraph read
-''sh4li he deemed and held to be citi-
zeus OF Porto Rico. and as such en-
titled t. 1H..e protection Of the United
States"
The amendment was objected to by
Senator Bacon. of Georgia, and went
over
Another mendmen eliminated en-
tireIy Section V of the original senate
bill and inserted in lieu the following:
The commissioner of navigation
shall make such regulations, subject
to the approval of the secretary of the
treasury. as he shall deem eXpedlent
for the naturalization Of all vessels
owned by inhabitants of Porto Rico on
April IL. 1899. and which continued to
be 81 owned up to the date of such ma
tionaIization. and for the admission OF
the same to all the benefits of the
cOasting trade of the United states;
and the coasting trade between the
United States and Porto Rico shall be
regulated with the provisions of law
applicable to such trade between any
two great cOasting districts"
This amendment was agreed to. Al
ter some further amendments, princl-
paIly changing the phraseolOgy of the
original measure. had been offered. the
senate at 4:45 o'clock p. m. ad-
iOurned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The house today refused to concur
in the senate amendments to the Porto
Ricau relief bill. The democrats sup
ported q motion TO concur on the
ground that il would avoid further de-
lay in extending relief to the inhaol-
tantS Of the island, but the republicans
stood firmly behind Chairman Cannon
IL his demand that the house should
insist upon it's original provision 10 APP
prnDriate. not only the money colIect-
al N Porto Rican goods up to Janu-
airy IS. but all subsequent moneys col
Iactad or to be collected. The remainder
Of the day was devoted to District OF
Columbia business.
The pension appropriation bill was
sent to conference.
When the Porto Rican appropriation
bill was called up. Mr.. Cannon moved
the house non-concur in the senate
amendments ana MI McRae, OF AT
kansas. moved concurrence.
Mr.. McRae said hat the essential
difference between the two bills was
that the house bill affirmed the right
OF the United States to impose the
Dingley rates against Porto Rico,
whereas the senate provision upon this
subject was indefinite. Members OF
both sides. he said. were agreed that
the duties collected on Porto Rlcan
goods should be returned. the Demo
Gratis taking the position that there
should he absolute free trade between
the islands and the United states.
Mr.. Bell. of Texas, said he was as
tonished to hear the gentleman NCan-
nOu) move nOn-concurrence IN tne sen
ate amendments. When the Dill was
originally before the house. MI. can
non and appealed for "storm-swept
starving Porto Rico" Concurrence VII
send TO the island immediate reheI
!On-concurrence will cause delay II
rba rNyrSa Of his ramarkS ne paid MS