Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-28
56th CONGRESS-.
General Debate Closes on
Puerto Rican Tariff Bill.
Republicans Confident of Its Passage,
To-Day, by Narrow Margin.
Dcpcw's Speech Favoring Retention Of Phil
ippines Cheered in Senate.


hour and a half
The speech of Mr.. Bailey, devoted as
it was almost exclusively to the legal
phases Of the controversy, while 1t was
profound and impressive, did not
arouse the unbounded enthusiasm
which swept galleries and floor While
Dolliver was speaking. The Iowan was
at his best and his wit, cloquence and
sarcasm in turn drew salvos of APP
plause from his Republican associates.
Before the closing speeches We're
made. Cannon of Illinois. chairman of
the appropriations committee and ona
of the veterans on the Republican side.
made an exceptionally effective speech
in support of the bill.
Carmack, Dem, Tenn, Clayton,
Dem, Ala, Klebcrg. Dem, Texas.
Pearce and DeArmond. Dem, Mo-.
made speeches in opposition to the bill.
The Republican managers are now con-
fident that with the notifications
agreed upon at the conference, last
night. the bill will command a narrow
majority in the final vote, tomorrow.
The last day of the general debate
on the Puerto Rico tariff bill opened
d
Tenn, in opposition to the bill. The
alternative presented by the bill, he
said. was the abandonment of our
priceless principles or of our new pos
sessions. The country had been daZ-
zled with the gorgeous picture of en-
pire, yet at the very threshold of the
new departure, he said, gentlemen on
the other side had been appalled, lest
the trade which they had looked at
with covetous eyes would bring ruin
and destruction to American labor.
Therefore the new possessions We're
to become colonies and be turned over
to carpet Dagger adventurers. He said
that Grosvenor, the other day, had dis
played dense ignorance when he had
declared that this was the battle of
1860 over again. He read from the Re-
publican platform of 1860 to show that
it set up the very contention maintain
ed by the Democrats now-that the
constitution was supreme in the terri
tories and extended over every foot Of
ground over which the United States
had jurisdiction. THAT was the doe
trine of the Republican party and
Abraham Lincoln said he. and West
to defend the theory that slavery and
political despotism cannot be imposed
within the jurisdiction of our country;
that life, liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness are the inalienable rights of
all within our jurisdiction
Clayton, Ala, who followed Car
mack. created much amusement and
enthusiasm by reading letter written
by Chairman Payne to w. II. Curtis
of Palmyra, n. Y, Jan. "A, 1900 in
which he advocated free trade with
Puerto Rico on the ground that it
would give relief to stricken islands.
Clayton asked that this letter and
an extract from Payne's speech in sup
port of the bill be printed in parallel
columns of the Record.
Payne smilingly assented to the re-
quest and expressed the hope that:
there would be no objection.
kleberg, Tex, and Pearce, Tenn, al
50 opposed the bill. Dearmond. Mo-
said the administration had determin-
ed to hold the Philippines for what
could be made out Of them. 1t mat
terS little about Puerto Rico. The
Puerto RiCans We're to be crucified in
order that the cross might be raised
in the Philippines. We could withdraw
from the archipelago and leave 10000
900 of tropical people to work out their
own salvation.
In my opinion" said he that is
what we ought to do" democratic
applauscD But if they are held they
must be held under the constitution"
Cannon Ill. followed Dearmond. He
said he for one believed the constitu-
ton was made for the people and the
country and not the people and the
country for the constitution. CAP
plause). When he heard the gentle
man from Missouri announce the doc
trinc that we should forsake the Fill
pinos in their helpless condition he had
wondered that gentleman had not vot-
ed against the $20,O0OO0O appropriation
to pay Spain for these islands.
He did vote against it," interposed
Wheeler. Ky.
"Then he is one Of the 81 consistents,' 7
replied Cannon.
What is the administrations pol
icy?" asked Norton, Ohio
IN tell you" responded Cannon.
LAS to Puerto Rico, do the only thing
that can bring relief to the island
pass this bill AS to the Philippines,
continue to do as we are doing-put
down the insurrection and restore law
and order" Applause).
Taking up the legal question involved.
Bailey made an exhaustive argument
against the constitutonaity of the
Dill. He was listened to attentively
ana frequently ELECTED applause. Az
ne proceeded he aroused the lawyers
on the other side and was for a time
almost continuously engaged in cross
ing swords with one or the other of his
adversaries
Durlng the excitement of the Spanish
war, Bailey said he stood unmoved
ne warned his countrymen then. as he
warned them, today, that the consti-
tuition could not be applied to the gov
eihment OF the colonies. when emo
',orai statesmen" said he. in conclu
SION. were asking who would ha,,I
uown the flag, I dared to saw that 7
would take it down from any place
where the constitution could net follow
II. democratic applause). Do Won
uesre 10 present the ANOMALY of y
so.ernment restrained by the consti-
u.ioh IN one quarter of the globe and
possessed OF despotic power in the rest
vi ,he world? How long is the consti
tuition to shield us and our cbi,dre, :.
ats protection is withheld fro,, -,
humblest inhabtant. LET me- bows