New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-03
RELIEF FOR PUERTO RICAN.S.
DUTIES COLLECTED SINCE EVACUATION
TO BE USED FOR THEIR BENEFIT.

DUTIES COLLECTED SINCE EVACUATION
TO BE USED FOR THEIR BENEFIT.
Try TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE.l
Washington. March 2.-Instead of putting
the Administration in a hole" by defeating the
Puerto Rican Tariff bill, the Democratic minor
ity In the House of Representatives to-day dug
a deep pit and cast themselves into II by trying
to defeat another measure for the relief OF
Puerto Rico. There a good deal of squirn
ing before the plunge taken. but at last
every Democrat, thirteen. more or less re-
luctantly followed Bailey and Richardson.
Within two hours after a special message from
the President recommending the immediate pas
sage OF a bill TO place in his hands all the
moneys collected on Puerto Rican goods since
the Spanish evacuation OF the island. to be used
for the relief of the Puerto RiCans. had been
read. the House had passed and sent to the
Senate a bill TO carry out the recommendation.
The message came like bolt out of clear
sky to the minority They were at first inclined
10 hail II with delight reprOof OF the ma
tority for the passage OF the Puerto Rican Tarf
bill on Wednesday. The Republican leaders.
however. had a bill ready to carry the Presi-
dents recommendations into effect Mr.. Can
non asked immediate consideration for the BILL
and this given 1t only when the de-
bate opened il having been agreed that twenty
minutes should be allowed on side, that un-
der the lead Of Mr.. Bailey the Democrats be
gan lining up against the bill because ii placed
limitation upon the Presidents discretion in
the use of the money. The bill passed by
vote of 162 TO 100. thirteen Democrats. two
Populists and two Silver Republicans voting
with the Republicans in the affirmative.
The minority in the House then began to feel
their bruises and another for the
uncomfortable plight they were in. II is not
often that they place themselves I'm worse pre-
dicament than they did to-day.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The Presidents message follows:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.
Since the evacuation OF Puerto Rico by the
Spanish forces on October Is 1898 the United
States has collected on products coming from
that island TO the ports OF the United States the
duties fixed by the Dingley act, and amounting
to 5000 40 ~. and viii continue to collect
der said law until Congress shalI otherW Use al
rect ! had the power. ana, having IN mind the
best interests Of the people OF the island, used
it, modify duties goods and products en-
tering into puerto Rico did not nave the
power to remit or modify duties on Puerto Rlcan
products coming into the ports OF the United
States
In view OF the pressing necessity for mmedl-
ate revenue in Puerto Rico for conducting the
Government there and for the extension OF pub
lie education and in view. also, Of the provision
al legislation just inaugurated by the House
OF Representatives. and for the purpose OF max
ing the principle embodied in that legislation ap-
pCable TO the immediate past as we'll as the
Immediate future. | recommend that the above
collected and the sums hereafter col
lected under existing law shall, without waiting
for the enactment OF the general legislation now
pending. be appropriated for the use and bene-
1T Of the island.
Executive Mansion. March . 1900.
THE HOUSE ACTS on THE MESSAGE.
The reading of the message greeted with
House
Il hope the recomme nda ton will meet with favor
that side of the House. said Mr. Richardson.
the minority leader.
I'm see II II meets with favor on that side of the
House. retorted Mr.. Cannon sharply I'm now
ask for unanimous consent for the immediate con
sideration OF bill TO carry the recommendation of
that message into force"
The suddenness OF the request spread consterna.
tion the Democratic side. There was no time
for consultation. Mr.. Richardson stood hesitating
a moment. Better do II al once said Mr.. Cannon
before you change your mind" This raised a
laugh. Mr. Richardson said he would object
but wanted TO know how much time would be al
lowed for debate
Mr. Cannon replied that he hoped there would be
no debate. The bill contained exceedingly plain
proposition and needed no explanation. He finally
suggested twenty minutes on a side. To this Mr.
Richardson assemted. observing. Il do not suppos.
gentlemen on the other side be of one mind
longer than forty minutes. G.aughterJ We agree
If 1t Will help you out OF the hole"
TEXT OF THE BILL.
The bill was then offered and read 1t was as
follows
Be 1t enacted etc. That the sum of 81 O5 loo being
portations by the United States from Puerto Rico
since the evacuation of Puerto Rico by the SDansH
forceS on Cctober l6 1885, TO January 1860 together
with any further customs revenue collected on i'm
portatlons from Puerto Rico since january 1go
or that shall hereafter be collected under exstinl,
Jaw: shail be placed at the disposal of the Pres1
dent, To be used for the government and benefit ~,
Puerto Rico until otherwise provided bv law. and
the revenues herein referred to- already collected
appropriated for the purposes herein specified on,
of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise an
rropriated. "P
MT Cannon said there reason to make an
extended argument in support Of the bill The
brief message of the President covered all the
points necessary to Justify the passage the bill
1t appropriated all the money I'm the Treasury col
lected up to January l and such money as shall
be hereafter collected on imports from Puerto Rico
Tor the benefit or the people of the island Mr.
cannon explained that the sugar and tobacco piled
up IN Puerto Rico controlled by the sugar and to-
bacco trusts would be shipped the United States
II this bill passed ana every dollar OF duty paid by
these trusts would be devoted TO the storm swent
and starving inhabitants Of the island tRepuh
lican appauseD
CHANCE FOR THE DEMOCRATS
there" he said. Now come up and for this
bill. every man of you" Renewed laushter)
Mr.. Bailey of Texas. replying to Mr.. Cannon
evoked a round of Democratic applause by his first
sentence If he had known when the request for
unanimous consent submitted that the bill
placed at the absolute disposal Of the Fvg1lsnt