The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-16

A long discussion relative 20 Porto Ries
was rrerpltated in 'be sersta yrSfg-dl.
by request Of Nr. Allison for iwmC-
diate consideration of th- bill q. nr0priaji-g 6
for the bcncft Of the island the reyennas
collected on importaueus thcrefrom. The
niH WIS read together with the amend
rneuts reported from the Committee on Ap-
propriatiors. which strike out The clause
appropratirg revenues collected ait I
January ], 1900, "and all revenues which
may hereafter be collected" and specify
the uses to which the money appropriated
by the bill shall be put.
Mr.. Allison said that these amendments
had been carefully considered by the com
mittee. and had been proposed lor the pur-
pose OF making the bill specifically an ap-
preparation measure.
Mr. Jones OF Arkansas obje ted TO tie
bi.l. aud after a short discussion with Mr..
Aldrfch proposed the following as a sub
stitute for it:
That all duties collected 10 this C-ate
upon articles imported into the United
states from Porto Rico since the l1th day
of April. 1899 the date Of the exchange Of
ratifcauons OF the Treaty Of Peace be-
tween SPAIN and the United States be re-
turned TO the persons from whom they
we're collected, and from and after the pa
sage Of this act no duties shall b. collected
On articles coming from Porto Rio.
TnIawfuuy collected Revenues.
Mr.. Jones said that be could not vote for
a bin providing that these unlavful!y col
lected revenues shall be returned, not 10
ia, people who paid them but TO the whole
island. 4 should. however. De pleased. %
he continued. ITO vote for the clause which
was stricken out Of the House bill and
winch provides that no more duties shdi.
hereafter be collected on imports from
Porto Rico.
No doubt" said Mr.. Allison. the 'cn5-
tor would be glad to do that but l trust
he Will not raise that question. which ls the
very one that has been debated here from
day to day in connection with the reIal
subject Of Porto Rico. The object o. the
appropriation was TO avoid any question IS
resnects matters which are continually
suD'ccts Of debate. We all agreed that il
would be unNise to involve these Questions
in the consideration Of this bin
/ do not believe there is any law for
the collection OF revenue on imPortations
coming from Porto Rico said Mr. Jones
and so I believe &c is the duty Of Congress
20 return what has already been collected.
II should be returned to the men who paid
it. When We collect these duties from GER
tain individuals and then psy them back 10
the Government Of Porto Rico we are guilty
Of a double injustice. This ought no. to
be done
Il do not know how the matter should
he remedied. but it seems to me that this
hn rlf hI1
duties 10 the men who paid them. and
should also provide that there shall be no
more duties collected on importations from
Porto Rico I offer an amendment to that
effect as q substitute FOR the pending bill. Do
This bill in no sense deals with the
complicated questions suggested by the
Senator from Arkansas" said Mr.. Allison
He gives il as his opinion that these duties
ought not to have been collected. I think
The opinion OF the law officers Of the Gov
ernment and OF the best lawyers in the
country is that under existing law. these
duties may be collected until Congress pro
vides otherwise II is known that the sit
uation in Porto Rico is row such that that
people require en- appropriation in order 10
carry on their governmental affairs. do
not wish TO make a point OF order on the
S-nator's amendmeut-thsti it il new legis-
lS3ion and has no place on an appropriation
bill"
1t viii not be on an appropriation bill
81 my amendment prevails to strike out all
after the enactiug clause and substitute
what J have suggested. " replied Mr. Jones.
Mr.. Lindsay suggested that one part OF
the proposed amendment would amount 10
q donation 10 the people who paid the du-
ties. and he thought that that question
ought 90 be left to be determined by the
courts.
Plea for the Amendment.
Mr.. Spooner said he hoped that no Sena-
Cor would feel bound to propose an amend
ment to The bin which would raise a ques-
lion concerning which there was differ
ence o. opinion ia the Senate. He hoped
shst on reflection the Senator from Arkan-
sas would not press his amendment. The
bill he added. was really one Of mercy. OF
generosity. CT humanity. Il might be said
Ihst 10 was without precedent. but the sit
uation was unprecedented. General Davis
had reported that the condition Of Porto
Rico was ineNpressbly distressing. After
coming out from under the tyranny Of
Spain. the island had been devastated by
The forces Of nature
General Davis was using. and had the
power to use tas military commander
theTel funds 20 relieve the people from
starvation. The proposed appropriation
was to be used for the government now ex-
tstirg or hat may hereafter be established
in Porto Rico and for public education
public works. and other governmental and
public purposes therein. And the diversion
of that money for the benefit OF those who
had paid II. he declared. was not a purpose
that ought 20 commend itself to the popu-
lar judgment or to the judgment OF the
Senate.
Continuing. Mr.. Spocner said that Of the
8 0q5 000 that had been collected on i'm
portations from Porto Rico. some 81 SOC. 600
had been collected from the duties On
sugar. contributed by very few men and
some S1s0. 600 from tobacco. why" Mr
Sp0oner asked. should a decision by the
courts -ef the suits FOR a return of that
money be auticipatod2" He thought that
the duties were properly collected aud
could not be recovered by those who paid
them
Mr. Turley-W not wait tin that quos-
zion is decided
Mr.. Spooner-And let the people OF Porto
Rico starve until these suits have gone
through the various Jourjs2 Is that
proposition which commends itself to the
Senate
Mr.. Coclsrel argued that the duties had
been paid not By the importers. but by the
consumers. and asked how The money could
be paid back to the consumers. The presi-
dent. ne said. had recommended that there
should be no duties levied on goods from
Porto Rico The Secretary OF War had
recommended the same thing. and so had
General Davis But the bill passed by the
House was a makeshift. manner OF eyad-
ing the question. His Republican friends
had found themselves in a dilemma. and