The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-16
SENATOR JONES AMENDMENT.
II Developed Decided Differences as
to Porto Rico.

Washington. March 15.-The debate on
the Porto Rican appropriation bill in the
Senate to-day developed a decided diff
ference Of opinion, as Mr.. Jones, Demo-
crat Of Arkansas. offered as a substitute
for the measure bill to return the duties
to those who had paid them and providing
for absolute free trade between the
United states and Porto Rico. The bill
had not been disposed Of when the Quay
case was called up.
When the bill approprlating for the benz
eft and government of Porto Rico reve-
nues collected on importatlons therefroms
was taken up, MIR. Jones of Arkansas Of
fered the following substitute for the
bill:
THAT all duties collected up to this
date upon articles imported into the
United States from Porto Rico since the
18th day of April 1899. the date of the ex-
change OF ratifications of the treaty OF
peace between Spain and the United
States be returned to the persons from
whom they were collected, and from and
after the passage of this act no duties
shall be collected on articles coming from
Porto Rico"
Mr.. Allison explained that the amend-
ments proposed had been carefully consid-
cred by the committee. They made the
bill simply a specific appropriation meas
ure, including moneys collected up to JAM
/, 1900
Mr.. Jones of Arkansas, inquired what
Mr.. Allison proposed to do with the duties
collected after Jan. l. 1900.
Mr.. Allison replied that that was
question for Congress to deal with in the
future.
Said There Was No Law for II.
81 regard this as a most important meas-
ure," said Mr.. Jones. II do not believe
there is any law for the collection OF
these revenues, and do hold that their
collection was violative of the fundamen
tal principles of our government"
Further he expressed his opinion that
the funds collected in duties ought to be
returned not to Porto Rico, but to tho
people from whom the duties were coli
lected
Mr. Lindsay OF Kentucky. suggested
that the amendment offered by Mr.. Jones
was a proposed settlement OF question
which was at least open to doubt.
"If we are 10 determine the question
now" said Mr.. Lindsay, land then later
the courts should decide otherwise. we
shall be I'm the position Of having simply
made a donation Of $2095,Ooo TO the
people"
Mr. Mason of Illinois. urged that every
hour of debate was adding to the suffer-
ing of the people for whom the relief was
intended.
Mr.. SpOoner of Wisconsin, said he hoped
no senator would endeavor to place on tho
bill any amendment about which there
would be division of opinion. The mea-
sure was one of mercy, OF humanity,
of generosity and had grown out OF
condition entirely new TO the American
people. He vigorously opposed the amend
ment offered by Mr.. Jones. This money
he said. had been collected largely from
the sugar and tobacco people who were
well able to pay It and he believed that
IL had been rightfully collected.
Duties Levied Properly.
why" said Mr.. Spooner,. should we
anticipate the decision of the courts in
the matter? Suits are now pending 10 re-
cover this money. In my judgment the
duties were levied properly and cannot be
recovered"
Mr. Tlrley of Tennessee asked Mr..
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