New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-25
ROUTE NERO EXPEDITION

ever as soon as members came in who had been
busy in conferences between the Speaker and
other Republican leaders and Messrs Powers,
Crumpacker and Lorimer. representing the Re
publican opposition to the bill. Mr.. Tawney, of
Minnesota, who spoke first in favor Of the bill,
paid his respects to Mr.. I4ttlefeld. of Maine. IN
a lively fashion, and then proceeded to deliver
carefully prepared argument in favor Of the
proposition that the Constitution does not auto
matically extend to newly acquired territory.
He contributed new and pertinent facts
and strong arguments TO that phase OF the sub
ject. and rewarded by close attention and
generous applause.
The chief speech in opposition TO the bill was
that Of Mr.. Powers. of Vermont who has con-
stitutfonal scruples respecting the authority of
Congress TO legislate for newly acquired terri
tory irrespective of the provisions of the COnsti-
tuition Mr.. Powers commanded the attention of
the House, by the members of which he is highly
respected. Whether his scruples will prevent
him from voting for the bill or lead him to vote
against 1t, after his speech of to-day. is
garded somewhat uncertain by some Of the
leading advocates of the bill.
Among the other speakers to-day was Mr..
Tompkins. the young Representative from the
XVIIth New York District, who privately sug-
gested yesterday that the pending bill should
one. expiring by limitation at the end of two
years. Mr.. Eddy, of Minnesota. who has been
claimed as member of the Republican opposi-
| ton to the bill, made a speech in favor of It,
| Mr.. Clayton, of Alabama, and Mr. Broussard
| Of Louisiana also spoke did Mr.. Thayer of
Massachusetts. a Gold Democrat who defeated
| Joseph H Walker, former chairman of the
Banking and Currency Committee, for Congress
| In 1898 Mr. Thayer is an ardent anti-expan-
sionist' and of course. will vote against the bill
THE DEBATE IN DETAIL.
| Mr. Clayton OF Alabama. the first speaker Of
| the day, presenting a legal argument against the
| bill He maintained that Puerto Rico was as much
| a part Of the United States the Territory of
| Arizona.
TAwNEY ARRAIGNs LITTLEFIELD
| Mr. Tawney. of Minnesota a member Of the
| Ways and Means Committee. enlivened the debate
| by sharp attack on Mr. Littlefeld for his speech
| of yesterday against the bill
| Il have been profoundly impressed" said Mr.
| Tawney, with the great importance of the ques-
| lions involved in this discussion Until yesterday
| these questions had been considered by gentlemen
| on both sides of the House with the utmost sin
certify with earnestness and with that dignity be-
| coming questions of so great Importance and the
! dignity Of the forum in which they are to be tried
| regret that 1t was left for the gentleman from
| Maine to play in this great debate the part of a
eu1oon for the benefit of the Democratic party and
| for the amusement of the galleries
| THE Democratic applause with which that pecu-
har ahectation OF voice was received on yesterday
| would not have greeted a speech made unon the
pending bill by that late peerless American states
I man and always loyal Republican Predecessor of
the gentleman from Maine. The hope of notoriety
or the existence OF legal technicalities would not
have induced that gentleman (Nfr Dinglev) to have
left the ranks of the Republicans and Joined the
ranks OF the Democrats simply because his tudg-
| inert did not coincide with the Judgment of his
associates upon the Ways and Means Committee
or upon the floor OF this House respecting marty
policy. Nor could he have been Induced TO have
exhibited that want of decent courtesy toward the
members OF that committee or his colleagues upon
the floor of this House which the gentleman CIr
Littlefeld) exhibited in the of his remarks
What is the which the gentleman has
for this unusual and, / might say unprecedented
course? What is his justification? He tried to
make this House believe that it is because we are
attempting to impose tax upon the people Of
Puerto Rico. and also because according to the
peculiar logic of this backwoods lawyer. as he
calls himself. this bill IS unconstitutional In the
course of his remarks he told this House that IL
this bill is enacted into law the spruce lunber
men OF Maine. carrying their lumber to Puerto
Rico, would be obliged pay a duty OF 30 cents
a thousand all the rough lumber which they
take to that island Who is II that is complaining
OF that tax OF 80 cents thousand? Not the people
Of Puerto Rico blu. the lumber barons OF the
State Of Maine. That is the reason why the gen
tleman is here saying that he cannot agree with
his party associates in imposing duty upon Amer
lean products going into Puerto Rico when he
knows that every dollar of that duty Is paid
10 the people of that island for their benefit.
And IL this theory. which ne has always advo-
Gated and which the Republicans have always
claimed TO be correct-if the theory that the man
who imports pays the duty-then all OF this tax
upon the products going to Puerto Rico from the
United States is paid by the people of the United
States. 1t is not. therefore the upon the peo-
pie of Puerto Rico that constitutes his real objec-
ton, but because the fishermen OF New-E England
and the spruce lumber men Of Maine want 10 get
their products into the ports of Puerto Rico for
% per cent OF the existing tariff on goods when