Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-30
Seth CONGRESS
Continued from page ~

object in view and that was to so leg
is,ate for the Puerto Rican people as
to render them happy, contented ana
prosperous
After discussing the pending amend
ment Lindsay, Ky, announced his pur-
nose of offering an amendment TO Ia
cons amendment in order to AFFORD the
Senate an opportunity to vote directly
for free trade between the United
States and the island.
"I offer this amendment" said he,
because Puerto Rico is an American
island because its inhabitants are
American citizens, because the people
were promised the rights and immuni-
ties Of American citizens by Gen. miles
and because the President and secre-
tary OF war declared it was our plain
duty to give the Puerto Rican people
free trade"
He then offered an amendment to
Racons amendment, providing for an
solute free trade between this country
and the island.
Bacon accepted the amendment.
Pending action upon the Bacon
amendment, Sections and ) OF the
bill were perfected by the committee.
Pettus. Ala. then moved to strike out
the clause in Section providing for a
DUTY of Is per cent. of the DinGley law
rates on products of Puerto Rico i'm
ported into this country.
The motion Of Pettu5 was defeated
16 to SO, as follows:
Yeas-Bacon. Bate, Berry. Clark, Mont,
CLAW. CockreII, Cubcrson. Harris, Jones,
Ark. Kenney. Lindsay, Morgan. Pettus,
Sullivan. Turley, Wellington-l6.
Nays-Allisoni Baker Bard, Bard, T Gnher
Fairbanks. Foraker. Foster, Frye, Cal
lnger. Gear. Hale, Hanna. 1ianSbrough,
Hawley kean. Kyle, i-odEe McBrldt 7
McComas Mcmillan; Perkins, Quarles,
Ross. Scott. Sewell, Shuup, Spooner,
Warren. Wctmore-33.
The following pairs were announced.
the last named being opposed 70 thc
amendment: Martin and Jones, Ncv.:
Daniel and Penrose; McLaurin and
Pritchard; Hoar and McEnery; ITALIA
ferro and Mason: Turner ana Aldrich;
Rawlins and Wolcott; Money and Teller;
Gallery and Burrows, PetugreW ,i ann
Platt. Conn; Simon and Depew; Chiffon
and Elkins; Hetfeld and Platt, \. T.;
Butler and Beverage.
No announcement Of pairs was made
of the 10 senators who were absent
from the chamber when their names
were called: Allen, Davis. McCumber,
Mallory, Nelson, Proctor, Stewart,
Thurston. Tillman and Vest.
At the request of Bacon, his amend
ment was passed over until tomorrow.
Foraker. in charge of the bill, offered
a substitute for Section of the House
bill in relation to goods already i'm
ported and the substitute was agreed
to.
The next committee amendment
which provided that the Spanish or ma
tive inhabitants of Puerto Rico and
their children should be citizens of
Puerto Rico and as such entitled TO
the protection of the United States
Morgan maintained that the people of
Puerto Rico were citizens Of the United
states and as such We're entitled to
the rights and immunities prescribed
by the constitution. The amendment,
he said, was a vain and empty decla-
ration"
1t became evident that the amend
ment could not be disposed Of, today.
and it was passed over until tOmor-
row.
Morgan offered an amendment to tho
section of the bill which proposes to
redeem the Puerto Rican silver coins
in United States money. giving 50 cents
of American money for the Puerto
Rican peso. The amendment propos-
ed to pay 100 cents for the peso. Nor
gan held that in the proposed exchange
of coins the United States was taking
advantage of the Puerto RiCans. be-
cause the peso contained the sam"
amount of silver as the American dol
lar. The Puerto RiCans, he said. Wcr"
entitled to 100 cents for their y sos.
because the amount of silver in money
would be worth 100 cents on the dol
lar. Jones, Ark, and Bacon, Ga, took
the same position.
Foraker maintained that the position
of the Democratic senator's was MT
correct There was no intention Ia de
prive tn" Puerto RiCaus of any value,
as the American dollar now was worth
in debt paying power practically tive
pesos in Puerto Rico. He believed tn
proposition Of the bill was entirely lii
cral t. the Puerto RicanS.
The discussion Of tn" amendment
took a wide range and had not beer
concluded when the Senate adjourned
IN THE HOUSE.
Army Bill Passes National Homes 0pcnCI