The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-27
THE DEBATE CONTINUES.
Discussion of the Porto Ricnn Bill
StIfI Engages the House.

Discussion of the Porto Ricnn Bill
SuiI Engages the House.
The entire time CT the House yesterday
was taken up with the discussion of the
Porto Rican bill. Under the rules the day
belonged to the District of Columbia, but
in view of the pending debate on the Tariff
bill Chairman Babcock, Of the District
Committee, when the House met at IL
o'clock, asked that next Monday be set
aside for the consideration of District
business and it was ordered.
After the passage OF several private bills
Mr. Payne of New York, leaGer Of the ma
Iority. asked consent for 4 modification OF
the order governing debate on the Porto
Rican Tariff bill SO as to provide for gen.
eral debate today, the measure to be ie-
ported to the House Wednesday at o'clock
p m.
Mr. Richardson. leader of the minority,
agreed 10 the request with the condition
that there be a session tonight and the
minority be given the right to offer their
substitute cL Wednesday if they SO de-
sired. This was agreed TO.
Mr. Richardson, speaking CT Mr.. Payne's
request, said:
This is a remarkable request to come
from the majority. We construe it 10 te
frank and candid confession that they have
brought here bad bill and an admission
in open House to the country that they
have not votes enough TO pass it,
Mr. Bartlett of Georgia was the first
speaker of the day. He opposed the bill.
He argued that for constitutional reasons
it ought not to pass. He was opposed to
holding territory which was not 10 be in
corpcrated into the United States. He cited
the elementary principle of international
law that whenever country, whether an
empire. monarchy, or republic, acquired
territory by purchase or otherwise, that
territory became part Of such country
and subject TO its laws. He called atten
tion TO the consolation which those men
have who consider the bill unconstitu-
tional. II was that no matter what Con-
greSs might do, there was a court VIII h,
guided by precedents would see that the
Constitution should not be o7erridden.
Mr., Lanham OF Texas followed Mr.. Bart
lett, He made constitutional argument
against ihe bill. and said in Part:
We are now brought face to face, in an
intensely practical way. with conditions of
the utmost importance-that mark the
initial step in the inauguration Of a civil
policy in the administration of our insuar
possessions. The issues so well predicted
and the complications SO much dreaded by
so many OF the good and far seeing people
OF America are now actually upon us
enquiry which presses itself upon the at
tention CT every true American.
The time has ccne when. in Porto Rico
at least, in some degree. civil government
is TO be substituted for military rule. The
people of that island greeted our approach
and welcomed our sovereignty. We made
promises to them and ought to keep faith
with them"
Mr.. Lanham recited the historical incl
dent of the capture OF Porus, the Indian
king, by Alexander. and the treatment ac-
corded him by his conqueror, and enquired
IL the Porto Ricans were less deserving
than was Porus. and are we less magnani-
nous than was Alexander, the Greeian
warrior?
"Is there" asked Mr.. Lanham, with us
more of barbarism and less OF human toll
GRAFTON in the closing year OF the nine
teenth century than there was with the
heather in 327 B. CO" Mr. Lanham did
hot contend that the people of Porto Rico
were ready for statehood but that the ISL
and is as much part of the United States
as are New Mexico, Arizona, and Oklaho-
ma. and for purposes of the imposition of
or exemption from taxation, its people are
to be considered as the equals OF the in
habitants of any of cur Territories.
Mr.. Boutell of Illinois urged the pas
sage of the bill. dwelling at considerable
length on what he termed the diverse opin-
ions of its opponents. lie said that Mr..
BromweIl OF Ohio thought 1t was sound
enough constltutionally, but that IL was a
bad financial measure Mr.. Mccall, he said,
thought it was defective constitutionally,
but effective as a fiscal measure Mr.
Littlefeld thought il was bad in every
particular. The speaker took up the testi-
mony that had been brought before the
Insular and Ways and Means committees,
which, he maintained, showed that the
people Of Porto Rico were unit for self
government
He maintained that the fundamental
rights OF American citizenship would be
endangered If the inhabitants of territory
acquired By conquest or perhaps involun-
tarily, as a result OF war, came into suIl
fellowship with cur people without the con
sent of the latter. He was opposed he
said. to admitting the Porto Ricans and
the Filipinos to free competition with
American labor. He was in favor of doine
justice TO those people, but We must not do
wrong TO ourselves. MIR. 3outell said he
would not support the bill if 1t were to be
made permanent measure.
He declared that the Democratic party
was the only party that had sold American
territory 10 a foreign monarch. In 1919
Democratic Administration, against the
protest Of the people of Texas, sold $50, 600
square miles OF territory with the people
on t. to the King of Spain Mr. Boutell
exclaimed: IF we exercised the preroga-
tives of an earthly empire. the Democratic
party exercised the prerogat.yes Of the Al
mighty"
Mr. Cochran sought TO interrupt Mr..
bouten several times, but he declined TO
yield
Mr. Williams of Illinois. in speaking
against the bill. said he thought the Presi-