The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-27
ON THE PORTO RICO APPROPRIATION
BILL ADOPTED.
SENATOR TILLMAN ON THE FLOOR
He Makes a speech I'm His Usual style
I'm Opposition TO Adoption of the Re
Spooner-AH Vote in the
Negative-House TO Vote on the Re-
port Today Many Private Pension
Bills Passed.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Washington. March 23.-The senate
today adopted the conference report on
the Porto Rican bill by a vote of IS TO
Is. practically a strict party express
sion. No democrat voted for the re-
port. but Senator Stewart. of Nevada
voted with the republicans.
The time of discussion was consumed
principally by nat Tillman. OF
South Carolina, who made a fierce at
tack upon III measure as agreed upon
in conference and accused the repub-
lican lat and the republican par
~ OF ~indirection. hypocrisy and dirty
work" His speech was quite charac-
t~eristic and was listened 10 with inter
est by his colleagues on the floor and
the people in the galleries.
Senator Gallinger, republican, of New
Hampshire, followed with a temperate
statement Of those who not only favor
the report, but the passage Of a Porto
Rican tariff bill.
Senator Spooner. republican, of Wis
consin, closed the debate with a force
full statement in opposition to Senator
Tillman'S speech, in the course of
which he took occasion sharply TO crit
iciSe the South Carolina senator for
dragging the measure into politics. His
colloquial tits with Senator Tillman
were immensely enjoyed by the audi
tors.
The conference asked for by the
house on the diplomatic and consular
bill was agreed TO.
Senator Pettigrew'S resolution asking
the president for an itemized state
ment of the expenses of the Philippine
commission, together with the amounts
paid each commissioner, were agreed to.
The conference report on the Porto
Rican appropriation bill was then call
ed up by la Allison.
Senator Tillman. who voted for the
bill as it passed the senate and, as a
member of the committee on appropri-
ations, favorably to report it. vigorous
ly opposed the conference report. He
particularly regretted that the senate
conferees had yielded in agreeing to
enlarge the purpose of the measure by
providing for the aid and relief Of
the people of Porto Rico. AS long as
you continue to feed these people down
there" declared enato Tillman,
you may feed them. SO long as the
freedmen's bureau was maintained in
the south the colOred race there
~ - AAo - ma
istfc of the race"
In respons to an inquiry from Sena-
tor Spooner, Senator Tillman said: I'm
in favor of free trade with Porto Rico.
l do not believe in protecting one part
of the United States against another.
That's my position"
Responding TO an inquiry as TO
whether he favored free rad with the
F%ilipinos, Mr.. Tillman said: IF we are
to continue to hold the Philippines I'm
in favor of free trade with those is
lands. There is an old legal axiom that
a man canno take advantage of his
own wrong. Those who voted to bring
into the country those islands with
their cheap contract, peon and Malay
labor were told of the results that
would follow the ratification of the
treaty. And you could not get the
votes necessary to make hat treaty a
law until you had bought some men tC
vote for it.
IF it is now proposed to send q
horde of carpet baggers over there
backed by The bayonets of soldiers, Sc
long as / have a voice 1 shall protest
He charged that the recent speech
of Senator Beveridge had infused new
life into the revolution because it in.
Dictated the hypocrisy and double deal
ing which, he said, the United State:
had resorted to in the treatment of tn,
Il lIpllOS " Soil6 N"C
side, the people, he said, will teach
you next November that trade n tn
flag and liberty and the constitution
go together.
Further along Senator Tillman sal,
he had asked before and would lik'
to know now whether the presiden
was in favor of free trade with Port,
Rico. rs he for free trade today?" h
asked, "or is he following along behint
J the car driven by the men who wan
protection against the little island II
the Caribbean sea-"
After waiting an instant. Senate
Tillman said: 'Of course. there is
dense silence in the chamber as a re
sponse to my inquiry. The senator from
Ohio (Foraker) too, is doubtful as I
his position. I'd like to know if he is ii
favor Of free trade with Porto Rico
Senator Foraker replied that his Pc
sition had been set forth fully in tn
report on the Porto Rican government
bill. The committee, he said, in inves
tigating the subject became convince'
i that the people of Porto Rice coul'
not stand direct taxation.
Senator Tillman said President Nc
Kinley was one of the most lovabl
me in public life, but lacked backbone
In the course of the debate, Senate
Tillman said: W had some dare
here yesterday, but the bob~tailed fiusl
of my friend from Ohio (Foraker) di
no go through" (Laughter.)
Senators Spooner and Tillman becam
involved in a heated controversy owe
the terms used by h South Carolina,
characterizing the work Of the repub
lican senator's.
The discussion finally develope
some remarks hat Senator Tillma
had made a few weeks ago. in whic
he justified ballot box stuffing and tn
employment of the shotgun polio
against negroes Of the south.
did all these things" declare
senator Tillman. and I have no apo
ogy TO make for it here or anywher
else"
In reply Senator Spooner said re ha
never yet been able to find any justif
cation for the murder Of negroes in tn
south or for trampling upon thei
rights as American citizens.
The conference report was the
adopted on an aye and no vote and a
400 O'Clock p. m, the senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
vt