The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-22
THE PORTO RICBN DEBATE
Discussion of the Pending Tariff
Bill in the House.
Mr.. BromvcIl the First Republican
Member to Speak i'm Opposition TO
the presidcnt-Argumen Of Rep
representatives. Henry and Long.

demand for time an agreement was made
TO begin daily sessions of the House for
the balance of the week at II o'clock, and
tonigh, and tomorrow night sessions will
be held for debate only. No arrangement
has been made for closing the debate and
there is a possibility that it may extend
into the middle of next week. The speak
ers yesterday were Messrs. Ray of New
York, Brorawell OF Ohio. henry OF Texas,
and Long of Kansas. Mr.. Ray was the
first speaker He earnestly supported the
bill. He argued at length that the meas
ure was within the bounds OF the Consti-
tuition. His conclusion was that goods
sent from the United States TO Porto
Rico, the latter being territory of the
United States, could not be considered as
exports, that term applying under the
general rule of construction and Of de-
cisions TO goods sent from one country TO
a foreign country.
The next speaker was Mr.. Bromwell of
Ohio. the first Republican to announce his
opposition TO the bill. He said:
: 1T is never an agreeable thing for a
member of this House to take an active
stand in opposition TO his own side. 1t is
much easier to drift with ones own po-
litical associates, but in a matter oil SO
great moment as the present measure
believe that every member of the House
upon his solemn honor should investigate
these questions for himself and vote as
conscience dictates. 1t is duty which he
owes TO himself that he may merit the
approval of his own judgment and sense
of right, to his party that he shall not as
sist it to commit an error which may
affect its future domination in the Gov
80 hfe s~tr baf / m
stand as the exponent CT all that is just
and honorable in its treatment of Its cit
izenr AS result of much careful and
conscientious thought, ] oppose portion
of the report of the Committee on Ways
and Means, having preference for the
bill originally introduced by the gentle
man from New York (Mr. payne). Upon
the other important feature of the bill,
which will probably excite the greatest
debate and be the dominant issue before
the House in connection with the bill, /
am happy to say that l am in the main
thoroughly in accord with the majority.
The points in which he was in accord
with the committee, MIR. Bromwell SAID,
were the power and authority OF Congress
TO legisiate as il may see proper for Porto
Rico. and the justice and equity of the
legislation proposed. He wanted TO know,
compared with the provision of the Con-
stitution, which says that no tax or duty
shall be laid upon articles exported from
any State This he said, was restriction
upon the powers of Congress, and 10 this
he devoted the greater part OF his speech.
At one point during Mr.. Bromwells re-
marks Mr.. Dalzell of Pennsylvania arose.
whereupon Mr.. Bromwell said:
Now, ] presume the gentleman who rs
about to interrupt me is prepared TO
say, as am informed he has said 10
others. that the President is in favor OF
this bill ] do not dispute that, but say
that no longer ago than day before yester-
day a representative Of one Of the great
Republican papers OF this country was sent
TO the President of the United States by his
paper for the purpose OF ascertaining the
views Of the President. The paper wanted
to support the Presidential policy, they
wanted TO know whether they could con-
tinue editoriaily the support Of the posi-
zion the President had taken in his mes
sage and the representative OF that paper
was assured at that time. no longer ago
than day before yesterday, that the Presi-
dent was of the same opinion still, and
that his paper should go on as it had been
doing.
Now, IL the President of the United
States, since his message 10 Congress in
December. has obtained information which
shows that conditions are different TO-DAY
from what they were then. ii is solemn
duty that he owes TO this House, and the
other House of Congress- that he should
communicate that additional information
TO us. that we should not be dependent
upon conversations and interviews OF IN
dIyidual members OF this House with the
Executive for the information upon when
we as legislative body are TO act.
THE Constitution provides that the
President OF the United States shall give
TO Congress such recommendations as be
NAV think proper for the information oil
the members in the proper discharge oil
our duties. Let the President send mes
sape to this House. Let him say TO US,
Conditions are different today in Porto
Rico from what they were in December.
Let him say, i have additional informa-
tiop that did not have when i wrote my
message In December, and the recon-
mendation of the President Will receive al
the hands of every member oil this Rouse
and ! am sure, speaking for myseii, tha'
Il will receive at my hands that consider
alton that is due to that able, consclen-
tious, and honest Executive. But We ee'
no such information at first hands. II
comes TO us through half dozen channels
and we are advised that IL We Will cal
personally upon the President, he VIII as
cure us that he wants US 10 vote for this
BILL"
Mr.. Henry of Texas. occupying the tint
of his colleague Mr.. Cooper. member o
the Committee on Ways and Means. wa
the next speaker, also opposing the bill
He said that the bill proposed by the com
vntttee was more damnable than the bill
which the British Parliament proposed 10
,be residents OF the American colonie
nrior TO l776. The Presidents recommends
lion In his message last December, tina
free trade should be established betwee
IN, United States and Porto Rico, Nj
Henry said. was made out of his conscleh
t,ops belief that IL was right and IN
sneaker did not believe, notwithstandln
the assertions that had been made on ID
other side. that the President had change
Ms mind. when the Presidents messag
was received the gentleman from Ne'
York (Mr. Payne) had hastily introduce
a bill TO carry the recommendations lnt
effect. What had changed his mind an
the minds Of the other members OF tn
committee?
As a member OF the Committee on In
sular Affairs, Mr.. Henry said he knew tina
when the Payne bill was introduced III
sugar and tobacco interests hocked her
declaring that the bill would ruin them
enacted into law And now IL was sal
Mat the present bill was proposed that III
people of Porto Rico might have FIRE