New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-25
THE RELIEF BILL PASSED.
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED BY THE
HOUSE AGAINST ALMOST SOLID
DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION
IBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

tBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BUNE.l
Washington, March 24.-The Democratic
minority in both branches of Congress has
put itself record opposed to any measure
of relief for Puerto Rico. while at the same time
it declaims vociferously about the woful dis
tress among the inhabitants of that island 1t
fortunate indeed, for the Puerto Ricans
that the Democrats did not have power enough
to stay the hand of mercy, and 1t was peculiarly
characteristic of that party to accuse the ma
jority of Interior and base motives.
The majority in the Senate for the Puerto Rican
appropriation bill was 20 in total vote of 80:
in the House today it was 4S in total of I'D.
1t appears therefore that no fewer than 102
Democratic Senators and Representatives are
opposed to any appropriation from the National
Treasury to support any form Of government
in Puerto Rico, to build schoOlhouses or sup
port public schools to build public roads or
make any other public Improvements or keep
them in order, TO give employment to the unem-
poyed and suffering inhabitants. to furnish
them with seed to plant crops or implements to
cultivate and harvest them Most of these DEM
ocrats declare that the money appropriated by
the bin passed to-day was wrung from the
Puerto Ricans unlawfully and unjustly." Some
Of them, LED by Senator Jones. the chairman of
the National Committee and leader Of his party
in the Senate contended that the money ought
to be returned to the who paid 1t under
protest" and he offered that proposition as an
amendment to the bill The men who paid the
duties the representatives of the Sugar
Trust and the Tobacco Trust in the United
States, and are not in need Of the money, unless
for the purpose Of contributing to the Bryan
campaign fund.
Senator Jones and his party in Congress also
contend that Puerto Rico must be deprived of
any future revenue derived from customs duties
on the trade between that island and the United
States, and they have put themselves on record
against any future appropriations from the Ma
tional Treasury to aid in the support of the
government in Puerto Rico or for any other gov
ernmental public purposes whatever in the
island; and, having done that they continue TO
violent language in accusing the Repub-
party of corrupt and dishonorable motives
in bringing forward and supporting the pending
Puerto Rican legislation
In view of the facts the assertions and
cusations made by Democrats to-day in the
House of Representatives in the debate on the
conference report were as grotesque and absurd
as they were untrue and malevolent. Chairman
Payne of the Ways and Means Committee and
Chairman Cannon Of the Appropriations Com
mittee, who closed the debate in favor of the
appropriation, thoroughly exposed the absurdty.
untruthfulness and malignity of these assertions
exceedingly bad quarter of an hour.
DEBATE ON THE REPORT
Mr.. McRae, of Arkansas, a member of the
conference committee, spoke in opposition to
the report, and severely criticised the general
course of recent legislation toward Puerto Rico.
He read the resolutions of the Iowa House of
Representatives condemning the Puerto Rican
riff hin and those o4 the Nau,-yorl. Poard Of
Trade on the same subject
In every solemn crisis, he said, the American
a1-a OH
known in unmistakable terms. Such crisis
was now at hand. and Puerto Rico having
asked fulhiment of promises and an oppor-
tunity to relieve her distressed people, was to
have this opportunity in the form of relief bill.
rage?" he asked. IF the leaders of the party
in power believe the people, do not understand
this question, they will speedily realize their
mistake"
Messrs. Pierce. of Tennessee: Wilson, of South
Carolina; Cochran, OF Missouri. and Cox. of Ten
nessee, also opposed the report.
Mr.. Richardson the Democratic floor leader,
asked leave to print in The Record" some
editorial press criticisms the subject. When
Mr.. Doiver objected Mr.. Richardson declared
that this was most ungracious to which Mr..
Dolliver answered that he doubted the propriety
of reprinting the newspapers in The Record"
Mr.. Williams. Of Illinois; Mr.. Ridgeey, of
Kansas; Mr.. Levy, of NewYork. and Mr.. Fin
ley, Of South Carolina, followed in opposition to
the report. Several of the speakers made ref
erences to published report that the Puerto
Rico tariff bill was designed to secure cam
pafgn fund.
DEMOCRATIC CHARGES ANSWERED.
Mr.. Payne. chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee. spoke briefly in support of the
port and of the general course of Puerto Rican
legislation He denied the reports that any
campaign fund was involved in the question,
and denounced as false the statement that such
reports emanated from mem bers the Repub-
lican side of the chamber. He also combated
the idea that the trusts would be the bene1-
Charles Of the pending tariff bill. and declared
that the two great trusts in sugar and tobacco
hX craftj Tr f1Nair
their tobacco free of duty. So that, If there
any campaign DOODLE" it exerted against
the proposition of placing tariff on goods
coming from Puerto Rico
Mr.. Cannon closed the debate in support of
the conference report He declared that the
minority, like cuttlefsh. trying to muddy
the waters and divert attention from them
selves. But the people would recognize the fact
ure of relief TO the Puerto Ricans. For half
century the Democratic policy had been
which would have carried the Government to
anarchy and destruction. Now that party was
posturing and asking power under false pre-
tcEces
There great applause and laughter as Mr..
Cannon closed with the declaration that the
American people would not be deceived by this
pOsturing but would kick you OUT and send
you down to everlasting perditon."
At l o'clock the aye and no vote was taken on
the report, and If was agreed tO-ayes, 135; noes,
S1-present and not voting 20.
The vote was on party lines, except that a
number of Democrats and Independents voted
with the Republicans for the report viz. Bell
Colorado Chaner (NeW-Y York;. Cochran Mis-
sourt) Cummings (New-YOrk) Stanley Daven-
port PennsYlvania), Davey QIouisiana),
lands (Nevada), Scudder CNewYOrl), Shafroth
(Colorado). Thayer Massachusetts) Wilson
Qdaho) and Wilson (South Carolina).
Speaker Henderson at once signed the en-
crossed bill, and 1T went to the Senate for the
signature OF the president pro tempore pre-
Nminary to being presented to the President.
14ft ,-trr M