The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-24
FOR RELIEF OF PORTO RICO.
CONFERENCE MEASURE ADOPTED
BY THE SENATE.


Longer-Negro Question Brought
Up During the Observation-Disclosures
Between TilIman and Other sena-
tors Furnished the Senate Consid-
cradle Amusement.
Washington, March 23-The Senate to-
day adopted <he conference report on the
Porto Rican relief bill, by a vote of S5
to Is, practically strict party expression.
No Democrats voted for the report, but
Mr.. Stewart of Nevada voted with the
Repu bhcans.
The time of discussion was consumed
principally by Mr.. Tiilman of South Car
olina. who made a fierce attack upon the
measure as agreed upon in conference.
and accused the Republican senators and
the Republican party of indirechon. hy-
pocrisy and dirty work" His speech
was quite characteristic and was listened
to with interest by his colleagues on the
floor and the people in the galleries.
Mr.. Gallinger, Republican of New
Hampshire. followed with a temperate
statement of those who not only favor
the report, but the passage of the Porto
Rican tariff bill.
Mr. Spooner Republican of Wisconsin.
closed the debate with a forceful state
ment in opposition to MIR. Tilmans state
ment, in the course of which he took oc-
casion to sharply crfticise the South Car
olina senator for dragging the measure
into politics. His colloquial tilts with
Mr.. Tillman were immensely enjoyed by
the auditors
The conference asked for by the House
on the diplomatic and consular bill was
agreed to.
Mr.. Pettigrews resolution asking the
President for an itemized statement Of
sion, together with the amounts paid each
commissioner were agreed to.
MIR. TIIIman's Opposition.
The conference report on the Porto
Rican appropriation bill was then called
up by Mr.. Allison
Mr.. Tillman, who voted for the bill as
1t passed the Senate. and as a member
of the Committee on Appropriations, voted
to report it favorably, vigorously opposed
the conference report. He particularly
regretted that the Senate conferees had
yielded in agreeing to enlarge the pur-
pose 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 Mr. Till
man, you will have to feed them So
long as the freedmen's bureau was main
tanned in the South the colored race there
amounted to nothing. That's character
istic of the race"
In response to an inquiry from Mr.
Spooner, Mr. Tiliman said:
I'm in favor of free trade with Porto
Rico. | don't believe in protecting one
part of the United States against another
That's my position"
Free Trade with FiIipinOs.
Responding to an inquiry as to whether
he favored free trade with the FiIipinos
Mr.. Tillman said:
''If we are to continue TO hold the Phil
ippines, I'm in favor of free trade with
those islands. There is an old legal ak
iom that man cannot take advantage
of his 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 fol-
low the ratification of the treaty. And
you could not get the votes necessary
to make that treaty law until you had
bought some men to vote for il.
IF it is now proposed 10 send n horde
of carpetbaggers over there backed by
the bayonets of soldiers so long as i
have a voice, shall protest"
He charged that the recent speech of
Mr.. Beveridge had infused new life into
the revolution because it indicated the hy-
pocrisy and double-deaing which he said
the United States had resorted to in the
treatment of the Filipinos
Addressing the Republican side, the
people, he said, will teach you next No
vember that trade and the flag and lib
erty and the constitution go together.
Where Does President stand.
Further along Mr.. Tnlman said he had
asked before and would like to know now
whether the President was in favor of
free trade with Porto Rico.
'Is he for free trade to-day" he asked
'or is he following along behind the car
driven by the men who want protection
against the little island in the Caribbean
sea?"
After waiting an instant Mr.. Tillman
said:
"Of course, there is a dense silence in
the chamber, as a response 10 my inquiry.
The Senator from Ohio Foraker). TOO
is doubtful to his position. I'd like
to know If he is in favor of free trade
with Porto Rico"
MIR. Foraker replied that his position
had been set forth fully in the report on
the Porto Rican government bill. The
committee, he said investigating the sub-
ject became convinced that the people of
ton.
Mr.. Tillman said President Mckinley
was one of the most lovable men in pub
lie life but lacked backbone.
The Trust That Is Suffering.
Mr.. Gallinger declared that the legs-
lation pending in the interest Of the Por-
to Rlcans was right and just and gener-
Gus, and he was satisfied that on sober
second thought the people who are now
opposing 1t world heartily approve il. He
said is was also d familiar cry that trusts
were controlling the Republican admins
tration.
1.-THE trust which is suffering" contin-
ued Mr.. Gallinger. "the trust which we
are oppre ssed by in this legislation is
composed OF some gentlemen at the Ar
lington Hotel in this city, trust headed
by the British vice consul at San Juan
That trust Is suffering considerably
Those gentlemen bought up the sugar un-
der the full Dingley rates, and IL they can
get 10 into this country free of duty they
will make the full hundred per cent. OF
the tariff; but II we succeed in putting a
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