Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-08
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.

(rep.. \. " addressed the senate on
the Philippine question. His Grafton
was beautiful in thought and diction.
He strongly upheld the policy Of the al
ministration and in connection there
with pictured 50 brilliantly commerce
and civilization moving hand in hand
for the happiness and uplifting OF the
people of the philippines as we'll as
those Of this country that the galleries
were swept by storm Of applause.
After Senator Turley had concluded
his speech on the Quay case, the Ha-
waiian government bill was again
taken up but little progress was made.
Senator TurIey discussed the prece-
dents maintained from 1925 to the pres
ent time and said that not one case
could be found in the supreme court in
/ Quay's support. After Senator Teller
| (sil. rep, COLI had made an explana-
ton of his vote in the Mantle case and
had declared his purpose to stand by
the senate's action in the Corbett case,
the Quay case was laid aside and con-
sideration of the Hawaiian government
bill was resumed. Senator Butler
! (dem., n. c. Withdrew the postal saw
ings bank amendment. Senator Pet
tigrew (sil. rep, S. D. offered an
amendment providing that all contracts
for labor entered into since August -,
1898, should be declared null and void.
| 40
Washington, Feb. 27.-The general
! debate on the Porto Rican tariff bill
closed in a blaze Of glory. The gal
leries were banked to the very doors.
and every seat on the floor was filed
when the rival champions of the re-
spective sides Mr.. Deliver rep, Iowa)
and Mr.. Bailey (dem., Texas, made the
closing arguments. Each spoke for
an hour and half The speech OF
Mr. Bailey, devoted as it was almost
exclusively to legal phases of the con-
tr0versy, while profound and impress
sive, did not arouse the unbounded en-
thusiasm which swept galleries and
floors while Mr.. Dolliver was speaking.
The Iowan was at his best. and his wit,
| elOquence and sarcasm in turn drew
salvos of applause from his republican
associates. Before these closing
! speeches were made Mr.. Cannon (rep..
Ill), chairman of the appropriations
| committee, made an exceptionally eff
tecuVe speech in support of the bill
while Messrs Carmack (dem., Tenn J
Clayton tdem, Ala.), Kleberg (dem
Tex and Pearce and Dearmond (dem.
Mo- made speeches in opposition The
republican managers are now confident
that with the notifications agreed up
on at the conference the bill will com
mand a narrow majority. Turning di-
rectly to the bill, Mr.. Cannon secuted
the cry that had been raised that trusts
had dictated it. He charged that both
the tobacco and sugar stored in Porte
Rico already were owned by sugar and
tobacco trusts. They had put forward
some natives as stool pigeons to bee
for free trade so that while the demo
Gratis cried out against trusts they
would be voting for them. Continuing
MIR. Cannon said: In my judgment
| my democratic friends are not really
at heart opposed to this bill. They
see that if this humane and proper
measure is passed and goes into effect,
it will tell all the country and all the
world that the American congress with
| its American civilization, with its laws
and legislation, has power to be practi-
cal" Mr.. Bailey declared there was
involved in the bill a question of law
and question of morals. He made an
exhaustive argument against the con-
stltutionaiity Of the bill. Mr. Dolliver
in closing for the majority said:
lhls Dill is merely temporary meas
ure to provide revenue for Porto Rico.
Yet 1t has been magnified in this de-
| pate until 1t has been made to include
the whole problem of government of all
territory acquired by the United States
by the treaty of Paris The president
recommended that congress abolish all
duties on Porto Rican goods that the
inhabitants OF the stricken island might
rebuild their fallen fortunes and regen-
crate their shattered industries. De-
spite the abuse heaped by the press up
on this bill I am prepered to show it
VIII DO exactly what the president rec
commended should be done" Mr.. Dol
liver declared that the sugar trust and
tobacco trust want free trade. Syndi-
Gates had piled up the wharyes in San
Juan awaiting the rich harvest when
free trade came. He denounced in
scathing terms the man who would
seize such miserable opportunity to
harass the government for political
purposes. Yet such a man, leaving his
uniform in Florida, fastened to Wash
ington to rally his supporters for the
ratification of the treaty in order that
ne might subsequently turn it TO po-
Htical account" In the heat and dust
OF the coming campaign, he said, the
moral characteristics Of such a man
would not escape the attention Of the
American people. Bryan bad advised,
not that we should abandon the archi-
pelago in which there was some sense,
but that re should remain there with
an army, reorganize the military lead
ership of the chief Of one of so tribes
and assume responsibility without an-
thority. In the history Of the world he
said no such blatant stupidity had mas
queraded for wisdom even in the an
nails Of forlorn political party At the
night session Iessers. Talbert (dem.,
5. O., Beilamy (dem.. \. c., Denny
Cdem.. Md, Burke dem, Texas),