Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-27
A SHARP EXCHANGE
REPRESENTATIVES Steele and Pierce in
a Passage Of Words.
REPORTED DEAL over PORTO RICO
It is Again Brought to the Atten-
ton of the House.
SCIZER ON THE BOER WAR

The House today. without preliminary
business. resumed consideration of the army
appropriation bill. Mr.. TaIbert IS. c.. the
first speaker. complained of the vast ex-
travagance involved in the bill and replied
to some of the criticisms passed upon him
for his course in regard to private pension
legislation.
Mr. Pierce CTenn.). who stirred up some
thing Of 4 hornets nest last Saturday by
bringing 10 the attention of the House an
interview in local paper with an alleged
republican representative, charging that
the Porto Rican tariff the result of a
bargain for campaign funds, read that
newspapers affirmation yesterday of the
accuracy of the interview. He also read
Senator Hanna's denunciation of the story
that the Porto Rican tariff bill was framed
To- the purpose of raising republican cam
paisn fund and challenged an investigation
of the charge. Mr.. Steele Und-D engaged
Mr. Piece and there was sharp exchange
Would Not believe the Congressman.
Mr.. Steele said he would not believe the
snpnH nous republican congressman who is
alleged to have told the story on oath.
Mr. Pierce said he did not believe any
man employed on the newspaper would de-
lii rItelE miSrcpreseI the facts and from
surrounding circumstances he lPierce) was
Inclined to think the story WIS true.
Mr.. Steele wanted to know how the Porto
Rican tariff bill could be used to raise Il
campaign fund.
Mr. Pierce replied that he could not give
tlt exact steps. but that vast sums of
money had been raised by the republican
party in 1896 from various quarters could
I,nt be denied The contributors in one in
Stance had even logged the memory of
tE' Secretary of the Treasury, and he had
I,it dared TO resent the insult Democratic
sppIaUsp.I
Mr. Hepburn Gowa) said that If an in
- StgdtiGl Were ordered. in all human prob
ahilifv when the editor of the paper was
asked 10 furnish the name of the repub-
l.can credited with the statement he would
reduS" 10 give it. If he did. Mr.. Hepburn
asked Mr.. Pierce if he and his colleagues
would be willing to punish him for refu5
ing.
Believes Truth Was Told.
81 Will cross that bridge when l come
TO it.. replied Mr.. Pierce. amid republican
jesrs. but he added. Il believe the pa
per told the truth
Mr. Williams (Niss.J. discussing Porto
RicaH tariff questions chal enged the other
side tn name single reason for imposing a
tariff on the products of the island that
existed now which did not exist when the
President said it our plain duty and
manifest Justice TO give free trade to the
islands
Mr. Steele Grdy. accepting the challenge.
said Il mad been ascertained that the Brit
iSh consul. Finley, at San Juan, who was
exceedingly anxious for free trade, was one
~ tn largest sugar producers on the isl
and His interest had been purely selfish
MIR. " illiams ridiculed the explanation as
absurd.
Mr. Hulrs Allegations.
Mr. Hull GCwal, in charge of the bill. at
this point reverted to the charges raised by
MI Pierce earlier in the day. As a member
of IA" republican campaign committee he
said he was interested in the allegations
He said that no man worthy of belief
Woud make such charges and withhold his
naTnr from the public. He did not believe
IN" man would ever dare to avow himself
and lie branded q falsifier. He also ex-
pressed doubt as to the prOpriety of news
papers printing such anonymous state
nleIItS-
sulzer on the Boer War.
Nr- Parker On. j. discussed the subject
OF army reorganization at some length and
was followed by Mr.. Suzer On. " the
ranking minority member of the military
affairs committee. who consumed his time
in denunciation Of the attitude of the adj
minIstra ton toward the war in South Afri-
ca He called attention 10 the fact that all
the resolutions expressing sympathy with
the Beers introduced by himself and 9TH
srs sim slept in the committee rooms