The Portland daily press., 1900-04-02

far made, 10 will require 81. OBJ, 600 for the
ordinary civil administration OF the
Island for the current year. The commit
tee recommends reduction In the exist
ing tariff duties Of 50 per cent leaving
In operation q duty Of fifteen FER cent.
teotive, but purely and simply q revenue
duty. The amount realized IL to bs used
for the support OF the insular govern a.
ment. Every dollar In to to given, fully
dedicated, to the benefit Of the Porto HI.
oan: not can't is to he retained and used
for toe benefit of the Unitsd States"
Advertinz to the provisions Of the pend
ing bill, MIR. Fairbanks said the stats
ment had teen frequently made that the
duties were modified and Imposed at th e
diotAtion OF the sugar and tobacco trusts
He showed that the sugar trust, being In
terested In the refining of sugar is nat
urally opposed to any duties whate yer o q
the raw product. He said there was
some 10, 000 tons Of raw sugar or more in
United States.
"And what Ia said with respect to The
sugar trust applies with equal force to
he tobacco trust"
''It has not escaped public attention,
said Mr.. Fairbanks, "thst lobby from
Porto Rioo has been maintained here
during the consideration of the peDdin &
bill. 1t Is headed by Q British subjso
who has been insistent for free trade be-
tween Porto Rico and the United Sta ties
and who is one of the largest producers
Of sugar In the island. having over $500,
600 invested In bis sugar enterprises. Ii
Is quite natural that he should desire that
bis product should reach the American
market without any duty whatever.
"We rest the justi noation Of the pend
ing bill upon the broad and simple prop
osition that 1t 10 the duty Of Congress 30
provide revenue for the territory belon e.
ing to 1t, and 60 provide IL n q Just and
equitable manner"
After pointing out that the proposed
tariff shall cease absolutely on March 1.
1902, and that a. soon a. the Por to Rican
assembly shall have put into operation u
system of local taxation the commerce
between the ISLAM and the United States
shall be free, Mr.. Fairbanks concluded.
"We should consider the subject before
us In no illiberal or dogmatic So irit. No
matter what shades of opinion there are
with res poet to the best course to be pur-
sued and the wisest measures to be adopt
ed with respect to Porto Rioo, there is
perfect unity OF purpose among all parties
here TO provide the most liberal form OF
government and just laws under which
may be prompted in the very highest de-
gree her welfare.
E''It Is not given TO finite mind to read
der the inspiration of Republican laws
and under the impetus Of A merican ex-
ample, her people will grow In know
ledge. strength and power and forever
bless the great republic"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Fairbanks
remarks, Mr.. Davis present ed oompilA-
tions of tariff statistics In support OF the
he made q few days ago, some
points In which, he said, had been chAl-
lenRed.
Mr. Chandler, chairman of the COM
mittee on elections. gave notice that he
would defer asking the Senate to begin
the consideration OF the case of former
Senator Quay on Tuesday next, In acord-
Bnoe with the unanimous consent agree
ment, but that he would ask the Senate
10 proceed with the case on Wednesday
next.
The consideration of the Porto Rico bill
then proceeded with. It was provid-
I'd. by an Amendments offered by Mr. Allen
and aocspted By Mr.. Foraker, that "ro
any municipality thereof, shall be au-
shorized or allowed in excess OF seven per
,snt OF the tax valuation of It's proper
~"
The committse had fixed the limit at
,sn psr cent Of the tax valuation.
The committee amendments, with the
Inception Of two-the one relating to the
question OF citizenship Of the Porto
Ricans and the other fixing qualifications
II delegate TO the House OF Representa-.
lives Of the United States-were agreed
%.
after brisf executive session, the
senate djou rned until II Q. M, Mon.
lay.