Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-29
FIERY WORDS
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but his reasoning was so close and
cogent that he crowded into small
space an immense amount of we'll di-
gested information and careful
thought His principal proposition was
that the necessary money to be raised
by taxation should not be raised by a
duty levied upon Puerto Rican pro-
ducts, but by an internal revenue tax
levied upon rum and tobacco produced
on the island. This system, he thought
would better suit the people of the
United States and those of Puerto Rico
than the proposed tariff and would be
just, equitable and constitutional. The
amendment offered by Carter to the
Alaskan civil code bill relating to the
mining for gold under the waters of
Cape Nome was agreed to but further
than this no progress was made with
the measure.
A House bill providing that the sec
rotary of the treasury shall provide
regulations concerning the boarding
of vessels, was passed. The conference
report on the urgent deficiency appro-
priation bill was agreed to.
In presenting a resolution providing
for additional help for the committee
on pensions, Gallingcr, the chairman,
said that there were now 1850 Senate
bills before the committee and nun
dreds of House bills yet to come. one
senator, he said. had asked the com
mittee to investigate AZ cases and it
was physically impossible to do TINS
work without additional help.
A successful effort was then made by
Foraker to fix time for vote on the
Puerto Rican tariff and government
bill, next Tuesday afternoon being
agreed to, on the suggestion of Proc
tor, VT.
Bills were passed as follows: Au-
thorizing the adjustment of rights of
settlers On the Navajo Indian reserva-
ton in Arizona; providing for the in
PRODUCTION of testimony in behalf Of
the defendant in all preliminary hear
ings of a criminal nature.
Consideration of the Alaskan bill was
resumed, the pending question being
the substitute offered by Wolcott for
mining of gold in the sea off the Alas
kan coast.
Jones, Ark, made a sharp attack
upon the secretary of war for issuing
permits to miners to dredge the Cape
Nome sands supposed to: DE rich in
gold. He denounced the secretarys
action as an outrage and plain usur-
patton of authority"
The Wolcott substitute was defeated,
81 to %. The amendment of Garter
was then adopted without division
Consideration of the Puerto Rfcan
bill was then resumed, the pending
question being upon the free silver
coinage amendment offered by Morgan.
The amendment was defeated, 10 to 80.
Davis. Mimi. who is one Of the lead
erS of the movement against the prop
osition to impose Il tariff upon Puerto
RiCan products, was recognized for
speech. He received undivided atten-
ton. After the elaborate argument OF
Lindsay, Davis said. he did not think
it was necessary for him to enter upon
q constitution discussion Of tthc sub
ject. While he deemed the question
very important, he regarded it as en-
tirely non partisan. HIS remarks, ne
said would be directed to the House
bill. which had become part of the
Senate measure. He said that 1t could
not be denied that from the time the
measure was reported to the House I'M
til today there had been rising til"
of protest against it and that protest
had eliminated in righteous indigna-
ton. 1t had come from every part Of
the country and from every walk Of
life and was based upon the principle
that Puerto Rico, under all the circum-
stances, should have free trade with
the United States. although it was
perfectly competent for Congress t.
provide for the collection of internal
revenue taxes on the island.
Davis contcndcd that the amendment
that he had proposed would 81 far -
appc%sc the storm Of protest ana in
dignation which had arisen ana would
satisfy the people Of this country and
the Puerto Ricans themselves. All
sorts of arguments, Davis said, had
been urged in support of tariff on
Puerto Rican products. First it wa
charity, but that had been swept away
by the passage of tn" $4,000 600 apprn-
priatiOn bill. Then it was that he
You'd Puerto Rico lie the Philippines
"As 70 that" said he, II believe that
sufficient unto the day is the evil ana the
good thereof. The Philippines will pre-
sent their problem in time
The next argument advanced to sup
port the tariff. he said. was the protec-
ton the 10 per cent. would afford to our
products and labor. lie ridiculcd such I
proposition. as no protccticnist would
contend that Is per cent. Of the Dinglcy
rates would afford adequate protection
for anything.
Davis said It was Inconsistent to extend
our laws relating to the CDastwisc trade
to the island and not extend our tariff
laws. As to the feeling in the country
upon the question, he said: II think |
would be as firm as anybody under sud
den. trausitory public manifestation of
feeling. but when that sentiment speaks
to US week after week, in constantly
swelling volume. we must take heed of
it, This question is well understood by
the people.
"They understand well. too. that upon
distilled spirits ana tobacco there Is not
an imposition OF mill Of taxation by
this bill The subjects of taxation upon
which we place heavy burdens 20 SEQ,
free on the island Of Puerto Rico. And
what do they propose as an exchange Tor
that kind of taxation? Why, the imposi-
ton of 4 tariff Davis said that no man
could iell how much the tariff would
yield. and as no man could say that the
export tax was constitutional IL seemed
to him that there ought to be no heslta-
ton as TO the course to be pursued.
In conclusion he said: In my Judgment
the only course for us is to abandon this
perniciOuS moCkery of a tariff between
Puerto Rico and the United States and
return to the pathway OF plain duty.
The Senate then went into executive