The times., 1900-03-23

terdsy. and Nr Bacon made an eloquent
denunciatory attack upon ii. iu which be
was followed and supported br Messrs.
CockreIl and sullivan. In beginning his
remarks Mr. Bacon explained that he had
not intended TO discuss the report at that
time but that he would do so al the re-
quest Of Mr. CocbreH. the disagreeiug
member Of the Senate Conference Commit
zee
The Georgia Senator began with an en-
phauc statement Of his objections to The
changes in the relief bin that were made
in conference. He declared that though
the general wording Of the report would
indicate that mutual concessions had been
made on behalf OF both the Senate and the
House. an analysis Of it would show that
the Senate had yielded practically every
thing and the House nothing The prOvi-
sion Of the conference report to which Mr.
Bacon made especial objection. was the
one striking cut the Senate amendment 10
the bill which limited the appropriation OF
revenue 10 that collected up to January 1.
1900 instead Of permitting il TO apply TO
that collected up to the present time, and
TO future collections. as provided in the
House bill This he declared, might ap-
pear a very harmless change. but beneath
il was deep-laid scheme to secure radical
action without appearing to do SO. His Oh
lection 10 striking out the amendment was
based not only upon the contention that
the appropriation bill should be definite in
its terms. but upon his belief that that ac-
tion had been taken for the purpose OF
providing for the contingency that The
tariff bill now pending may fail.
Means n TnrfH Will
The adoption Of the conference report
and the passage cf the bill, Mr.. Bacon
asserted, mean the continuance OF tariff
wall between Porto Rico and the rest OF
the United States. tariff wall not only
OF Is per cent OF the DinEley rates. but
Of 100 per cent of those rates. Those who
did not believe there should be a tarif
wall between Porto Rico and the rest Of
the United States should not close their
eyes to the fact that the adoption OF the
conference report and the adjournment Of
Congress without further legislation on
the subject would leave the tariff wall
standing. thus permitting the apparently
innocent appropriation bill TO accomplish
more than the regular Porto Ricon tariff
measure would accomplish il passed. He
described the storm OF Indignation"
which has burst over all the country
against Porto Rico. and said that the
bill to restore the amount collected thus
improperly was "a peace Offering 70
appeRse the indignation of the people"
The tariff policy had not only stirred up
trouble in the country at large. but had
stirred UP trouble in the Senate. II bad
led 10 the institution OF a committee which
he had never before heard Of "a peace /
committee" TO make peace between Re
1fr1 ms an hat inn m "a
country at large was divided and on which !
the Republican party was necessarily di- /
yided
An this talk about charity and benevo-
lence' declared Mr. Bacon. "Is mere
afterthought The bill was drafted sim
ply for the purpose Of making peace with I
an outraged people" He dwelt upon Z
the insistence OF the House c0aferees Z
upon the language continuing fhe col /
lection and return OF the tariff under I
existing law and repeated that the con- I
ference report involved the question I
whether or not there should be continued. I
not a moderate tariff bill. but the present \
Dingley act between Porto Rico and the /
rest OF the United States.
The House could have accepted the 1
Senate amendments. and be Insisted that /
there could have been no such failure i
but for the intelligent direction o. the I
bin by the interests which were ady0cat-
ing a tariff on the exchange OF our CON-
merce with Porto Rico.
what Porto Rico Needs.
Mr. Bacon declared that not only does
he want free trade with Porto Rico but
he wants it quickly. The great need OF
the islands people he said. IS to have
such legislation as will put them in a
position 10 help themselves. and this can
not be done by the course now proposed
lie also coutended that the money 10 be
returned would not go to the people from
whom II had been collected and that is
what the people of the island want, free
intercourse with the people Of this coun-
try. and not misdireCted charity.
Mr.. Bacon said the provision Of a gov
eminent for the Porto Ricans should not /
he difficult They were in the main an
intelligent people and could be assimilated
without difficulty.
He presented proceedings OF a mass
meeting recently held in san Juan Porto
Rico. to show. he said. how utterly
parslyzed is the business OF the island by |
reason Of the fact that We have erected
this tariff wall, and on account Of the
doubt as to how We are going to leave the
island at the end OF this session"
The paper having been read Mr. Bacon
said that Congress should not turn a deaf
ear to that appeal, but should make a
most immediate response TO IT, Il was
the pressing duty OF the day TO make
declaration that would put an end to
Of affairs such as was portrayed
in the appeal OF that unhappy people"
II the dominant party would agree there
would be no difficulty ia Immediately
passing a bill giving Porto Rico a Terri
tOrial government on the same basis as
Oklahoma. Alaska New Mexico. or Ar-
zona and above all giving the most un-
limited right Of free trade with the other
parts OF the United States"
Position of the Democrats.
Mr Bacon declared that whenever the
were ready to give the island
hat kind OF a government the Democrats
would vote in favor CT it without hesitation I
"Nlil you agree. asked Mr Foraker 30
TX time for a vote upon the governmental
lili now pending
Mr Bacou-les. a0 far as ara rrr-
.erned
Nr. Cocireu-yys will wait uatr We r-t
through with The aprrarrIatIaa h.T before
.z.ug time f0r vote 0l alo.lal meas.
lrs
Nr. Foraker -uf oaarss If -Lr-r De- 5t|..
Jon Ac cannot IusIst at ffIH rue
Mr Bacon Sou Will uei rrf ans aHIar.
iou ta uamllE "a time far "a rs.. alrl I.1
1mplc.. your ldl ar. Ue vii. rEree IH a
Iate as early as ls rarsisrrrr urh Ir-
.eCess. .t of ur0rarerar .rafIHH af amend.
neuis Ne aGe dlsf1rlf. tT uE.sHarI.es T .
hat BE- is rat ere iafraUnr rf fte l1rfr .r
lover t1 s.te thf 'arE gare..r and us
10 noi want to leave fhH matter fh.re
Mr Fartlrr We have heard nothing af ,
hat kind over here arl aFa.u assure SOU I D
= our Intention t0 ask Cor ar esflF vote