The Portland daily press., 1900-02-24

Washington, February 90 An agree
ment was reached In the HOUSE today
that the vets on the Puerto Rican tariff
shall be taken at sp. M. neIt Tuesday.
General debate will CLOSE Monday and
short speeches under the tive minute rule
will follow up to the time of the vots. AT
the close of the day formal annou ncemsnt
was made that Republican conference
would be held st 8 p.m.. tomorrow. The
leaders continue to express the belief that
the bill will pass. bnt the impression Is
growing that q motion to recommit the
bill to the COMMITTEES on ways and means
will command strong support and may
prevail. MIR. Underwood the Democratic
"whip" today sent out kilograms to all
absent Democrats to he present on Mon
day when the voting may begin.
The speech of Mr.. Littleteld Of Maine
was the feature Of the day. Today he
added TO his laurels won In the Roberts
oase In o speech against the bill. which
for brilliancy, Wit and logic. rivals the
best efforts or the recognized orators OF
the House. He made q profound imprss .
sion. When he concluded 1t was several
mi ties before the demonstration that
followed could be qusllsd. Among the
others who spoke today were Messrs.
Jones of Virginia and Maddox OF Georgia
against the bill and Messrs. Russell of
Connecticut, Bertholdt Of Missouri and
Gardiner of Michigan, Lacey Of Iowa Tor
it
The debate continued at q night ses-
sion.
MIR. Payne of New York. the floor lead
er Of the majority, gave notice that on
Monday he would move to close general
debate. Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee,
the minority leader. appealed to Mr..
Payne not to close dictate on Monday.
He said 1t was impossible for thoss on
his side Of the House to express their
views this week. Mr.. Towers Of Yer.
mont Joined with Mr.. Richardson In the
appeal Tor more time. MIR. Payne replied
that there has been q general understand
ing that the debate should run q week.
MIR. Jones of Virginia. mem sr Of the
insular COMMITTEES, was the first regular
speaker today. He discussed the condi-
ton which existed upon the island OF
Puerto Rico which led to the President q
recon- Of free trade for her
goods, and quoted from the testimony
before his committee to prove that the
conditions were far worse now than
when the President made his recommen-
dalton. He pictured the distress that
H. nd al raS haf
only immediate relief could prevent the
actual starvation OF many of the inhabt-
tanth Speaking Of the motive behind
the bill, he charged that IL was disclosed
by Mr.. Moody Of Massachusetts, yesterday
when he declared that he was unwilling
that I0,OOc, GOO Asiatics should enjoy the
immunities OF citizenship in the United
States which had been his birthright al
an American citizen.
MIR. Maddox of Georgia followed In op
| position to the bill.
Mr.. Bartholdt, Republican of Missouri
supported the hill. There is room II
the United States for millions yet-sx
pansion is the shibboletn of the hour. Il
has taken hold Of mems minds. As Law
makers and politicians you must reckon
with 1t ana II existing laws and oonsti
tutions do not cover It, they must give
way.
"Ths material warfare of,ths American
people depends upon commerce ane
l trade, and In the International struggle
as much as philosophers and philanthro
piGts may deprecate 1t, political isyttem
are questions of no consideration.
Mr.. Bsrtholdt in closing, referred Il
the remarks OF Mr.. Clark OF Missouri q
few days ago. saying the Democrats were
pr opagating the insinuaticn that secre
Angle alliance existed In orde
to arouse the resentment Of the Irish and
Gsrman voters. Secretary Hays rspl,
to the Macrum resolution, he said. males
that lie.
Mr.. Russell of Connecticut. dsfsnde'
the bill In q careful argument on th
commercial as well a. the legal phss.
Of the controversy. He believed FIRE
trade with Puerto Rico would do n
| afsrfal tniurv IN thu fuduatrios az IL