The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25
Mr.. FORAKER'S REQUEST
The Porto kican Government Bill
Returned 10 0mmittee.
The senate Agrees to Reconmii II
Tint Amendments May Re Made
To sIcePJ BtiI the Tarin Question
L. Disposed OTTO separate the
Issue. Mr.. MurEnn'~ Suggestion.

that committee the bill to provide a civil
government for Porto Rico.
When the motion Was made it at first
created the impression that the Porto
>Rican Tariff bill. which is the unfinished
business. was to be recommitted but Mr..
Foraker explained that ii was only the
measure reported several weeks ago pro-
viding a civil government for Porto Rico.
which he desired TO have returned to the
committee.
What is the necessity for the recon-
initial OF the bills' asked Mr.. Allen. NO
necessity. perhaps. replied Mr.. Foraker,
but in view of what happened in this
Chamber the other day I think it desira
BILE that this action should be taken.
want the bill recommitted so that the
committee may place upon 1t certain
amendments already agreed to by the
Senate on another bill. We may deem it
necessary to separate the government and
the tariff features OF the pending bill. and
in that case the civil government measure
would be in the committee. and could be
reported back to-the Senate"
Mr. Allen-COuld not that De done in the
Chamber?
Mr. Foraker-lt might be l ain not ask
ing To separate the two bills now.
Mr. Allen-Whst about the tariff?
Mr.. Foraker-That viii be voted on in
the House bill. My idea was TO separate the
House bill entirely from the Civil Govern
ment bill.
Mr. Allen-Aud the Civil Government bill
will remain in committee until the Tarin
bill is acted on?
Mr.. Foraker-Yss.
Mr. Allen-Then this Government bill IS
10 sleep until the tariff measure shall have
been passed?
Mr. Forakor-Yes il will sleep. but it
Will sleep only three four days. If a.
an early date we cannot get a vote upon
the tariff measure. il is my purpose to re-
port back the Civil Government bill and
press its passage.
Mr. Bacon asked Mr. Foraker if he could
tell when be would repeat his request 10
have the Tariff bill acted upon. He said
in this connection that be regarded the
matter as one of the utmost Importance.
and one that ought 10 be disposed of inyi
some way at the earliest possible time. To
understand the necessity for prompt action.
Mr. Bacon said that one need only refer TO
dispatches from Porcs in the daily news
papers. which indicate that business is
Iaralyzed. and tina; even people Of means
are suffering for the ordinary necessaries !
Of life
Mr. Foraker said hs- was already familiar
with the information contained in the des-
patches. and that il Was knowledge of this |
kind possessed by the members of the /
Porto Riean Committee that had induced I
them TO prepare and press the measure
which they believed would relieve some Of
the distress Oh the island.
The House bill. h continued will be
reraT rgf hack in th=a.z aT fnigs davs
week. | cannot be specific as TO the time /
Ny idea is to have the Civil Government Z
bill re2ommitted until the House bill is I
disposed Of Then / will ask the Senate I
c allow me to report the Civil Government |
fill and take vote upon il some time dur
sag next week. Wednesday. if Senators /
Will agree TO that. and ! hope not later !
ihaB Thursday in any event
After some further discussion Mr.. For
aEer's request that the bill be rec0mmitted /
was agreed to by the Senate. and a free .
coinage amendment 10 ii was proposed BY 1
Mr. Morgan. who stated that he was glad /
that an opportunity would be given the /
committee to make report on that sub I
ject.
During the morning hour a bill was re
ported fayorably from the Committee on ]
Commerce. and passed authorizing the I
President to appoint a commission 10 study .
and make a full report upon the CONNER ,
cial conditions of China and Japan. and ap- |
propriatiEg $4,000 for the payment OF the /
expenses of the commission.
Mr. Berry in the course Of some remarks 1
on the subject, said that he was the only ,
member of the committee who was OPP !
posed to the bill. but that he would inter /
pose no objection to Its passage
Mr. Cockrell said that he was opposed 10 1
the measure. and in this connection re- /
ferring To the position of the minority Of I
the Senate on legislation. he said;
The Republican party is in absolute |
control. and We on this side of the Cham |
ber are pOwerless to prevent the enact |
meni of any legislation coming from that !
party and deemed necessary by it. ! will |
Rot antegonize this bill although ! do not /
agree with il in principle. ] want IT dis /
tinctly understood that hereafter absa-
lutte responsibility must rest upon the ma
jority fof The passags Of all resolutions and
bills
MIR. Galinger. member of the Commit
ice on Commerce said that the President
had in twO messages recommended the ap- /
pointmeut of the commission. Germany
had sent two commissioners TO the Orient |
fur the purpose of studying trade condi-
tions. France ore. and Great Britain one
or two. and it was thought by the Presi-
dent. and by the great commercial bodies
Of the country that his was an opporune |
time for the United States TO send IAN in
expensive commission to China Japan
and adjacent cOuntriee 10 see IL increased
markets cannot be found for the products
OF American farms. mills and workshops.
In response to an enquiry by Alr. Hale as
TO whether the appointment Of any mem
Der OF Congress on the commission was
Mr.. Gallinger replied in the
negative. He said he was positive the
President would not for a moment think Of
appointing member of either house OF
Congress. Mr.. Hosr made some remarks
in opposition 10 the appointment of Ssna-
tors or Representatives on commissions.
and after some further colloquy the bill
was amended by inserting provision that
no member Of either house OF Congress
shall hereafter serve under any appoint
ment made by the Executive Department
Of the Government while holding Office as
such member
After further remarks by Mr. Bacon in
support Of The bill /, WAS passed without
further objection
The bill provides FOR the appointment of
five commissioners. one each from the
Eastern. Middle Southern. Western. and
Pacific Coast States who shall spend al
least one year in China Japan and adja-
cent countries. Investigating their com
mercial conditions and needs with a view
to promoting the expansion of American
commerce by the enlargement of the mar
kets there for raw and manufactured prod
ucts OF the United States
An effort was made by Mr.. Carter to Sc
cure unanimous consent 10 have the Alas
ka bill taken up for consideration tomor-
row. but objection WAS made by Mr. Cock
rell on account Of there being so few Sen
ators present Thereupon Mr.. Carter made
a statement as TO the necessity for the
passage Of the bill and spoke of the great
I