The evening times., 1900-02-28
A Vote This AFTERNOON
Closing the Debate on The Porto
Riean Tariff Bill.
Nr. Payne Offers "a Substitute for OSe
Section. Reducing the Tax From 20
TO - Per Cent-Hfs Explanation
of the COmprOmise-Mr. Berry
Calls ID Case of Petit LARGE ny.

noon on the Porto Rican Tariff bill. The
fact that the bill would De considered in
Committee Of the Whole House and un-
der the ive-minute rule. subject TO amend
ment, drew large attendance OF Repre-
( sentatives and spect 5rs at the opening
OF the session this morning.
Just before the House was called to or
der. Chairman Payne. OF the Committee on
Ways and Means. expressed the opinion
that the bin. as il would be amended, would
pass. He gave no figures. The situation
was stiH unsettled. and the consideration
Of the bill was begun with the Repabl-
can majority deeply concerned ana dubious
/ regarding the outcome. Mr.. Tawney. the
Republican whip. stated that the majori-
! ty for the bill would be Eve. II they held
! all the votes they then had.
! When the House had gone into Com
mittee OF the Whole the bill was read,
/ and Mr.. Payne then offered a substitute
| for section 8 to make clear the meaning OF
the bill. that but one internal revenue tax
was to be levied on articles Of Porto Rican
manufacture. The amendment read;
The Amendment.
Section g. That on and after the pas
/ sage OF this act all merchandise coming
/ into the United States from Porto Rico
/ and coming into Porto Rico from the Unit
ed States shall be entered at the several
/ ports of entry upon payment Of 10 per cent
| Of the duties which are required t. be
/ levied, collected, and paid upon like ar
| ticIes OF merchandise imported from for
! eign countries; and, in addition thereto,
upon articles Of merchandise Of Porto
/ Rican manufacture coming into the United
/ States and Withdrawn from consumption
/ or sale upon payment Of a tax, equal TO the
| internal revenue tax imposed in the Unit
/ ed states upon the like articles Of mer-
/ chandise OF domestic manufacture; such
I tax TO be paid by internal revenue stamp
Z or stamps 10 be purchased and provided by
/ the Commissioner Of Internal Revenue and
! TO be procured from the Collector OF In
/ ternal Revenue at most convenient place
I TO the port Of entry OF said merchandise in
! the United States and 20 be affixed under
such regulations as the Commissioner Of
/ Internal Revenue. with the approval of the
Secretary Of the Treasury. shall prescribe,
and on all articles OF merchandise OF Unit
/ ed states manufacture coming into Porto
/ Rico IN addition 10 the duty above prOyid-
| ed, upon payment of q tax equal I'm rate
and amount 10 the internal revenue tax
/ imposed in Porto Rico upon the like arti-
Cies Of Porto Rican manufacture"
The new section. Mr. Payne said would
provide a customs duty Of l5 per cent.
Mr.. Payne said he had been compelled &c
offer the j. per cent proposition after con-
sultation with members on the Republican
side. He had, however, learned that there
was a larger amount OF goods stored in
Porto Rico than he had supposed when the
bill was presented-the stock amounting &c
about three millions.
Answering q question by Mr.. J. R. Will
, iams Mr.. Payne said that the bill as
amended would provide an annual rc.enus
OF about 81 250. 600. Referring 10 the letter
read yesterday written by him in January
| printed in the Record this morning in
| a speech by Mr.. Clayton. and favoring free
trade with Porto Rico. Mr.. Payne said he
was proud Of il and he stood b. &c. In the
| light Of the information he had then it was
| right; in the light Of later information the
/ bill was right and he stood By e..
Case Of Petit Larceny
NIr. Berry said that having whipped the
/ Republicans into line. Mr.. Payne today
| introduced a proposition that INTENDED
| petit larceny OF the Porto Ricans instead
OF grand larceny robbery Of 15 per cent
instead Of one Of ..
Mr.. Grow made his first speech On the
/ bill saying that a very general misappre-
| hension existed as 10 its terms and pur-
/ poses which accounted for the opposition
! TO it, The bill did not purpOrt TO legisIate
/ a territorial form OF government for Porto
! Rico. but merely 20 change the customs
! rates on business TO and from the island
| with the United States. syhile it was uu-
| der The military government and for the
! bneht Of the people Of the island. The
| revenue derived under the Iill would be
! paid TO the Porto Ricsns. so that they
/ would have free trade with the United
! States. And that is the robbery and out
/ rage that it Is proposed 10 commit against
| Porto Rico he added.
/ Brief speeches were made by MesSrs. De
/ Almond and Graft. the former reasserting
that the bill was a violation Of the Consti-
tuition. the latter announcing his inten tion
/ TO submit his judgment to that OF the ma
| jOrity of the Republicans as ne had done
| iu the matter of the recognition Of the in
/ dependence OF the Cuban Republic and
| expecting that the future would vpdicate
/ his action. He advised the Democrats to
| follow Thomas jefferson. who said u.Ure in
| favor Of strict construction OF the Con-
/ stitutiOn and more 10 carry out a liberal
| construction than any other man in the
| history OF the country.
| Mr. Fitzgerald said that II Il had not
| been for the Democratic minority in the
| Fifty-1fth Congress President Mckinley
would not have INTERVIEWED in Cuba when
he did. and had ne aSted when he should
/ the gallant boys Of the Maine would now
| be alive.
air. Bromwell. referring 10 Mr. Grosven.
or's remarks that he (BromwelD met in
| secret conclave to destroy the Presidents
| policy regarding Cuba, said that the gen
tleman had become so accustombed to vi
tuperation and abuse in dealing with Dem
ocrats that he had fallen into the habit in
his relations with the Republicans
That gentleman relegated the speaker to
the tender mercies Of the cigar makers Of
his district Had he been inclined to treat
/ his colleagues as he had him, Mr.. Brom-
well said, he would say that in Grosve-
nor'S district there were many old SOL
diers. lie had introduced a Service Pen
sion bill, which for three months had lain
in the committee-rOOm without. Grosvenor
| once asking for hearing on it, He might
relegate him 10 the old soldiers of his dis
trict. but he would not do it, Democrats
| applause and laughter)
Mr.. BrOmweIFs Position.
Upon the merits OF the bill. Mr.. Brom-
well said, that after talk with the Presi-
/ dent. he was convinced that those who
! three months ago recommended free ,rade
now favored the passage Of this bill. ana
| while he still believed that the people of
/ Porto Rico should not be taxed differently
I from other inhabitants of the United
| States. he had decided to support the Re
publican majority al this c: isis and vote
| for the bill.
Mr.. Grosvenor was recognized and ex-