The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-17

The course We have pursued towards
these people" said Mr.. Jones, Is wrong
and indefensible What the Porto
Ricans want is not charity, but JUS
tee "
Justice to All.
In answer to a question by Mr.. Allen
of Nebraska. Mr. Allison replied that
under the military government in Porto
Rico all food products. farm iEpler eats
and many other useful and necessary
articles were admitted free Of duty.
He said il was proposed to pass a
Porto Rican bill here in the senate that
would be entirely just to Porto Rico
and to the United States.
Mr.. Allen-Does that include the tar
if provision?
Mr.. Allison-UndOubtedl
Mr.. Allen asked what rates of duty
the goods of Porto Rico were now pay
ing in the United States.
They are paying the rates fixed by
the Dingley act" replied Mr.. Allison
The bill we shall pass for Porto Rico
will be liberal and just TO all. I take
it there is no senator on either side
of this chamber who would propose
to continue the present commercial
conditions between the United States
and Porto Rico for any considerable
time. I want the matter FASTENED in
every possible way"
Mr.. Jones inquired where the money
came from that was being expended
in Porto Rico and had been expended
heretofore.
Mr. Foraker replied that a large
amount had been expended from the
war emergency fund. and that some
had been expended from custom re-
ceipts. The war department hoped
that relief would be afforded by con-
gress. but the relief had been delayed
so long that the present proposition
had been brought in.
Object of the Bill.
Remarking that he could not ascer-
tain just what the object of the bill
was, Mr.. Jones said he would content
himself with offering the following
amendment:
From and after the passage of this
act no duty shall be collected on arti-
cles coming into Porto Rico from other
parts of the United States, or no goods
coming from Porto Rico into other
parts of the United States"
Mr.. Pettus (Ala-) declared his oppo-
sition to the bill, holding such appro-
priations were dangerous as precedents
and ought to be abandoned.
Mr.. Tillman said there was evident
" so much division among the Repub-
him whether they would be able to
enact any Porto Rican legislation at
all He said it looked as if the Re
publican party had reached the end
of its rope and that the last hope was
now to contend that cOngresS was
without limitations in the government
of or in legislating for acquired terri
tory
Referring to the difference between
r,f lou -safT
and Porto Rico, as TO the admission
of their respective products. Mr.. Till
man said:
Duty of Senators.
Senators owed it to themselves not
TO show such discrimination on the
one hand and such outrage on the
other"
He was going to vote for the pending
bill he said, because the enactment of
the measure into law was the only way
to restore TO the people OF Porto Rico
taxes taken from them wrOngfully and
unconstitutionally.
THE United States has not given the
people of Porto Rico a cent, and it is
high time" said he, that we give
back 10 them the money we have
stolen from them"
Mr. Tillman declared that the govern
ment established now in Porto Rico
was worse than that forced upon the
people by Spain. particularly as to the
islands fiscal affairs. as under Spanish
rule the Porto Ricans had at least
free market in Spain for their goods
This assertion Mr.. Gallinger disputed
calling Mr.. Tillman'S attention TO the
fact that Spain levied a duty upon
Porto Rican products, especially coffee,
which constituted fOur-fifthS of the ex-
mort r1r-oduo.t of the island
Mr.. Tillman referred to what he said
would be the monumental salaries Of
the officials in the insular possessions,
particularly noting the members Of the
Philippine commission
Mr.. Foraker informed Mr.. Tillman
that he had been told that the highest
salary of any member Of the commits
sion would be $4,000 a year.
Bill Goes Through.
At Mr. Tillman's suggestion. Mr.
Jones withdrew his amendment in order
TO facilitate vote on the bill, but Mr..
Pettus insisted upon a vote on his
amendments, which, in effect, were the
making Of a direct appropriation for the
relief of the Porto Ricans without any
reference to the tariff or customs du-
ties collected. They were defeated.
The bill as reported by the senate
committee was then passed without di-
vision, only a few scattering nays" be-
ing heard against IT,
The following bills were passed:
Relating 10 the accounts Of United
States marshals and the clerks OF the
district courts for the territory of Utah:
TO amend the fevised statutes relating
to the signing of bills of exceptions.
Mr. Mason then entered motion that
the foreign relations committee be dis
charged from further consideration of
his resolution expressing sympathy for