The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-20
THE PORTO RICAN
TARIFF BILL
Debate Opened In the
House on Yesterday.
INTENSE INTEREST
Democrats are SoIid|y Arrayed Against
the Measure
GREAT DEMAND FOR TIME.
The Most Important Measure That
will Come Before This Congress
as it Involves tho Question OF
Constitutional Power to Gov
crn the Newly Acquired
Island Possessions.
GREAT DEMAND FOR TIME.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE debate
upon the Porto kican tariff bill, wh1ch IS
70 continue throughout the week ana
noss>b,y longer, opened in the House To-
day. On all hands it is agreed mat thi9
bill. although it applies only TO Porto
Rico. Involving as it does the iues''o'
of the power to govern our new pooae'-
eions outside the limitations OF the cen
sritution is the most important measure
which, will come before this Congress.
Interest in the bill is intense among
members OH both sides. and there IS a
general demand for time. The Demo-
Gratis are solitIly arrayed against the
measure. and they will have powerful
support from the Republican side in Mr..
Mccall. of Massachusetts,. and Mr. Little
field nj Maine. both able and forceful
debatcrs.
How far the Republican dissatisfaction
will extend. or whether it VIII endanger
the btll. il is impossible to say at TINS
time.
MIR Payne. the floor leader of the ma
iority, refused TO agree that vote should
he taken upon a substitute to be oHercu
by the minority. This substitute when
has not vet been framed. Will be in sub
stance the bill originally introduces by
Mir. Payne providing for free trade with
Porto Rico by the extension of the Gus
toms and revenue laws Of the United
States over the islands.
The debate to-day lacked exciting Tea
lures. 1t was in the nature of long
range bombardment before the clash or
the contending forces in battle. M".
Payne opened with general argument IN
support OF the bill gong largely into
the material side of the situation. which
the bill is designed to relieve.
Mr. Richardson. the Democratic leader
joined issue upon the power of Congress
TO enact the proposed legislation, and
Mr.. Dalzel. Of Pennsylvania. backed up
Mr.. Payne with constitutional and legal
argument.
SOP TO RICH BREWERS.
The bill to amend sections 33ag-4l of the
revised statutes, whose chief object is to
abolish small packages of beer. the one
sixth and onc-eishth barrels, was passed
after debate in which Mr.. sulzer.
DemD of New York, charged It was a
sop to rich brewers.
Mr.. Bartlett (Dem.). of Georgia. said
the humble asking OF relief from war
taxes should first be heard; and Mr.
Terry. (Dcm) of Arkansas, said a secret
understanding with Great Britain made
expression of sympathy for the Beers
by this government impossible.
Mr.. Payne. of New York, the tloo- Lead
er Of the majority. then moved the House
to- go into Committee of the Whole. to
consider the Porto Rican tariff bill.
Pending that motion, NIr. Payne offered
to make an agreement by which general
debate should close on Saturday next
l,in tf,1-
minute rule on Monday next. and the
final vote TO be taken at o'clock.
Mr.. Mccall of Massachusetts. asked if
such an agreement would preclude a vote
upon the bill originally introduced by Mr..
Payne for free trade with Porto Rico.
Mr.. Payne replied that was for the
House and the committee to decide.
Mr.. Richardson, the minority leader in
sisted that there should be 4 definite un-
derstnnding that the minority could offer
| a substitute. To this Mr.. Payne declined
| to agree AS Il matter of privilege, Mr..
Hit, of Illinois, reported back from the
Committee on Foreign Affairs the Wheel
er resolution. calling upon the State De-
| partment for information as to the truth
| OF allegations of Mr. Macrum eX-Consu
| at Pretoria, concerning the tampering
| with his mail by the British authorities
| and it was adopted without debate
The House then went into Committee
of the Whole, with all questions relating
| to the close of the debate open.
MARKED ATTENTION.
Mr.. Payne in charge of the bill, in
| opening the debate, received marked at
| tention
This bill, by its terms" he explained
relates only to the island of Porto Rico
1t cannot be taken as. a precedent of any
legislative action in reference to the
Philippine Islands, when the present in
Surrecton shall have been overcome, eN-
cept so far as we assert our view OF
our power under the American Constitu-
ton
The original bill, introduced on the 10Th
day of January last. provided that the
customs laws Of the United States and
| the internal revenue laws be extended
| TO Porto Rico. The idea was to give the
producer of sugar the free entrance OF
this staple into the United States, savins
a duty of over $50 a ton. Under that bill
| the duty saved upon tobacco would be
50 cents per pound for tie main portion
| of the crop, and for the wrappers SIS
per pounds,
After consultation with General Davis
| the present Military Governor, it was
found that this acion would not produce
| sufficient revenue to meet the expenses
of the government He estimated tha,
not more than a million dollars could be
! collected from both customs duties and
interna l-ravenue tax. The substitute was
then brought forward. which imposes !,
! duty equal to our own tariff upon all
| articles imported from abroad other than
: those of the United States into Porto
Rico. and a duty equal TO 25 per ce.ltu1n
of the rates OF our own tariff laws on
all articles imported into Porto Rico from
! the United States or from Porto Ricc
into the United States. The best estl-
mates that can be obtained show thai
| this will produce a revenue Of S115O,Gct
! from customs duties, which,. added to the
| internal revenues OF the island. will pro-
| duce S2,3C0.0OO, a sum sufficient to pay
! all the expenses of the government in
clud:ng the postal service and s-3s9. .tct
/ Cor. he nublic schools The total. esI /.