Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-04-02
FIFTY.SIXTH CONGRESS-.
Washington, April 2.
SENATE.


Washington, April 2.
SENATE.
10 order to give additional time for
the consideration of the Porto Rican
bill the Senate met this morning at
II o'clock. The Interest people ger
erslly are taking 10 Porto Rican legisla.
tion was evident by crowded galleries.
By unauimons consent the Senate will
meet at IL o. m. tomorrow, and, after
p. d., speeches on the Porto Ricsn bill
will be limited to ten minutes.
A resolution was passed direct ng the
Secretary of the Navy to send to the
Senate q statement showing the condi.
ton OF the various navy yards and sta.
lions.
At the close of routine business on
motion of Mr.. Foraker the unfinished
business, the Porto Ricsn bill, was
taken up and Mr.. Bate addressed the
Senate. Mr.. Bate said that the Porto
Rican question could be easily disposed
of were it not for the fact that the Phil
ippins question was behind it. He b, =
lieves that it is the pol cy of the lead
ers of the majority party to fight out
their Philippine battles at the expense
OF Porto Rico.
Mr.. Bate was followed by Mr.. Cal
lom. He called especial attention TO
the fact that the tariff legislation pre-
posed was only temporary. He un.
derstood that it was the studied inten
ton OF the framers OF the bill pro vic :
ing a civil government for Porto Rico
to avoid any impression that it was the
intention of Congress 10 extend the
constitution to and over the island. 10
bis opinion it was optional with Cor
gress what kind of government was
given to Porto Rico. Absolute free
trade, said Mr.. Cullom, between the
United States aud Porto Rico will
eventually come.
Wnen Mr.. Cullom concluded Mr..
Depew, alluding to the fact that quite a
political storm has been blowing on &C.
count of this question, said the measure
was one OF revenue and relief, and
should not be obscured by Juggling 10
the constitution. The democratic party
accepted the other view, that the con
slitution does extend by its own force
into the territories, from the moment
that 1t was invented by John c. Col.
noun for the purpose OF Carrying slavery
into the now territories, when IL Was
impossible against the aroused con-
science OF the country 10 secure legisl,.
tian to that effect. Porto Rico, ht
maintained, could not be dealt with az
fit we're Massachusetts.a Connecticut,
or an Iowa, populated by an intelligent
and educated people who had instantly
grasped the problem of government
and the institutions OF the Uniteo
States, and we're already fitted to take
place among the States of the Union.
10 round nun ers q million peop.e
lived on the island, and it was more
thickly populated than any country o
Europe. Only 100 600 could read or
write; about $4,000 could do both.
Seventy thousand were negroes, $780,
600 Of mixed negro AMI white blood
and about 700, 900 were the result OF tie
settlement by the wild adventures OF
al races aud nations, who 10 the four
teenth ADD fifteenth centuries, sailed
and fought on the Spanish Main. Nine
hundred thousand were in absolute il |
nOrance.
Immediately after the meeting of the |
House at noon, Mr.. Payne republican
leader, forestalled the democratic plans |
by introducing and procuring the ador.
ton OF resolution, calling upon Il o
Secretary OF the Treasury for iDforma-
ton az to the amount of revenue re-
sulting from the war taxes and the
probable receipts up to the end of the
present fiscal year.
Mr.. Richardson, the democratic q Dor
leader, asked whether this resolution
did not include 10 part the RESOLUTION
ne had introduced some time ago.
y Mr.. Payne replied that be did not
now that Mr.. Richardson had intro
1uced any such resolution.
Mr.. Grosven0r offered resolution
Ealing upon the Secretary of the Tres
'ury to report the names of persons,
firms, and corporations who have paid
iuties on goods which have entered the
United States from Porto Rico.
Mr.. McRae proposed an amendment
.sking also for information as from
whom these importers purchased their
goods.
Mr.. G:osvenor said that the Treasury
Department niece s,ariIy could not furn-
SO that information and opposed it's
.doption.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The McRae amendment was defeated
" a vote of SO to 81, and the Grosve-
Tor resolution was then adopted
The Postofioe appropriation ILL
vas reported from the committee and
placed on the calendar.
The House then proceeded with bust.
less relating to the District OF Column
,ia.