The Washington weekly post., 1900-04-17

the Philippine cable from some point Ike
Seattle, and proceed 10 japan By the
northern route.
A triumphant Republican majority We'd.
nesd4y consigned the Porto Rican bill "a
President Mckinley ard Insured It's en-
aciment into law. A margin Of eight
votes was mustered In the House at the
conclusion u the struggle that has ragged
within Congress FOR more than a month
and half. and which has been the DOM
iirant event Of the session without a
change IN a letter or phrase. the Senate
an endments 20 the original tariff bill were
adopted
The afternoon was occupied with a de.
bate unequsled I'm terseness and acumen
since the days Of legislation for the Span
ish war. There was a double battle. All
the resources Of advocates and opponents
were brought 10 bear in the prelimins ~
skirmfsh over the rule that fixed the time
for debate AID declared the manner OF the
vote upon the measure itslf. During forty
minutes Of speeches that were exceeding
~ partisan and sometimes almost per-
sOIal, the abiest Democrats in the House
We'd against the leading Republicans. The
attack and the defense were vigorous in
the extreme. and no opportunity for ad-
vantage, in argument or tactics, was lost
sight Of When the Republicans. BY a
majority OF sixteen votes. adopted the
rule and made plain their supremacy. a
three hours controversy over concurrence
was begun.
Cross-hring Was Frequent.
Richardson and De Almond and Dalzell
and GrosvenOr, who bore the brunt of the
preliminary debate, then gave way to
quite a list Of speakers, who were intent
largely uOon explaining their views for or
against the bill. as a means of informa-
,-"E f2r their constituents Less interest
was manifested for a time but the occa-
siOndl crOss-frirg served to command at
tention, and the audience, which crowded
the galleries 10 their full eauacity. was
never depleted. From the time the gavel
fell at noon till round of loud applause
followed Speaker Hendersons announce
ment of the final vote, the seats on the
floor were nearly all occupied by mem
bers. An occasional arrival, from a be-
lated train, swelIed the numbers. till 81
members were In their places When the
last reckoning was made by the clerks
every mnbCr was accounted for by pairs
or otherwise. saving only Representative
Stallings. of Alabama
Stirring incidents in rapid succession in
tensified the proceedings. Mr.. DalzeH, Of
pennsylvania, who is able to rise TO tn
occasion Of a great debate, aroused COM
ment by d vigorous attack on the press
that has made the country ring with cp-
position to the tariff principle. But when
he went so far as to denounce "a subsi-
died Republican press" there was alarm
among his party colleagues and ut the
same time elatiOn among the Democrats.
who regarded it as a Burchardism that
would give the administration trouble
Mr.. Dalzell, whose speech was very for
chile in behalf of the tariff idea, subse-
quently changed the offensive adjective
10 misguided" and disclaimed any Inten-
ton of applying il to the Republican
newspapers at all.
Aroused 10 Angry Denials.
Then Mr. Richardson. who led the de-
bate for the Democrats, revived the indig-
nation of the other side of the House. first
by renewing the charge of raising d cam
paign fund out of the Porto Rican tariff.
which again brought out angry Republi-
can denials. Hardly had the party fury
over this subsided before Mr. Richardson
once more put the Republicans on the de-
fensive by bringing up the legal decision
OF Judge Charles A. MagoOn in the War
Department, to the effect that the Consti-
tuition extended, without act of Congress
to Porto Rico. Afterward. as is we'll
known, Judge Magoon wrote advisory
opinions for the War Department revers-
ing his position.
While the orators were rolling the "ex
proprie vigore' morsel on their tongues
Mr.. Richardson had in store another sur
prise, for in the mean time COPY of the
original Magoon decision was presented
from the War Department, in response to
a resolution of inquiry from the House
in very dramatic fashion Mr. Richardson
read the important portions of this de-
cision for the edifcation of his Republi-
can brethren and for Incorporation in the
Congressional Record
Mr.. Watson, of Indiana, was a central
figure in the days debate. Formerly Mr..
Watson was a free trade advocate. but he
cnose TO stand by his party, and as re-
ward for his fidelity he was privileged
yesterday TO lead off in the debate. He
made very eloquent speech, over half
an hour long, and conducted himself in
very impressive fashion. Mr. Watson has
good voice, is experienced on the stump
and displayed assurance in his delivery
His argument was very ardent and when
he concluded his effort there was a long
line of members who crowded up the aisle
10 extend congratulations. Not only was
Mr.. Watson fortunate in his opportunity
before such an unusual audience but he
was equally so in having among those
who took him by the hand Mr.. Payne.
Nr. DalZell. Gen. Grosvenor, and other
prominent Republicans.
Lsrimer's Tilt at Steele,
Mr.. Lorimer, of Illinois, who has not
been a frequent speaker, also made an
excellent contribution to the debate of
the afternoon. Mr.. Lorimer was one of
the pioneers among Republicans in dis
senting from the tariff doctrine. He is
an Englishman by birth, but by his own
efforts has developed into one of the best
types of naturalized citizens. and in his
speech dwelt largely upon the peculiar
status Of the Porto Ricans. He asserted
that these people will be without a coun-
try as soon as this bill becomes law. They
must fOrswear allegiance to Spain, but
still have no sovereign. and are waits be-
fore the powers of the world"
We're glad of it," retorted Mr.. Steele,
of Indiana, who was thus drawn into
quite a controversy.
Inc StullcIldu from InQlana saws he
is glad of IT," replied Mr.. Lorimer. II do
not think, however, that, were the condi-
tions reversed, were he the victim of the
form of tyranny which we propose TO put
upon the people of Porto Rico, he would
be glad of it."
shout and yell went up on the Dem
ocratic side AT this answer. and Mr.. Steele
calculated, Il mean the Democrats would
be glad of it," A chorus of groans fol-
lowed this sentence.
Mr. Pierce's Pertinent Inquiry,
Stll another instance of the determined
resistance of the debate was during the
closing speech OF Mr.. Payne, chairman of
the Ways and Means Committee. The
New Yorker paced forcefuIly up and down
the Republican aisle, and presented in
compact form the argument for the
change from the free trade bill. Il want
10 say" said he. that the proudest act
of my life has been my connection with
this bill from start 10 finish"
Quick as a fash Mr.. Pierce, of Tennes-
see, shouted: Which end are YOU the
proudest of" and the handclapping swept