The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-20
THE DAY IN THE HOUSE.
Debate Over the Bill Returning I'M
n"rt Duties TO Porto Rico.

The bill providing that import duties col
Iected on Porto Rican goods at the ports
of the USited States since the evacuation
of the island by the Spanish shall be re-
turned to Porto Rico caused a spirited de-
bate in the House of Representatives yes
terday. When Mr.. Cannon had called up
this bill under unanimous consent, he
moved to non concur in the Senate amend
ments, his main objection being to that
amendment limiting the amount Of import
taxes returnable to those collected up to
January ], 1900 Mr.. McRae Of Arkansas,
moved 70 concur in the amendments.
Mr.. McRae said the Senate bill did not
support the contention that the United
States had a right to enforce the Dingley
bill against Porto Ricans.
Representative Bell followed in favor OF
the concurrence.
Mr.. Bell said he did not believe the in
teryiew on the Porto Ricau bill given out
as from a member OF the Cabinet, was au-
thentic as he did not believe that any
member Of the Cabinet was so lost to de-
cency as TO characterize the gentlemen who
voted against the bill as cracked poll
ticians playing on the sympathies Of the
country
Mr. Moody Of Massachusetts supported
Mr. Cannons motion on the ground that
it would support the House proposition to
turn to the account of Porto Rico every
cent Of duties collected under the Dingley
law. The conflict Of the two houses had
absolutely nothing to do with the question
Of free trade between the United States
and Porto Rico.
Mr. McCleary, In supporting Mr.. Can
mons motion, said that it was proposed to
treat the people OF Porto Rico better under
the pending bill than the people of any
other Territory in the United States were
treated.
Mr.. Swanson made a spirited and aggres-
sive attack on the Porto Rican policy Of
the Administration. Mr.. Hemenway Of
Indiana supported the motion to non-con-
cur, and Mr. Cannon closed the debate
Mr.. McRae demanded the yeas and nays
upon his motion, which was lost by Sc to
116. The motion to non-concur then pre-
vailed without division.
The Speaker appointed Messrs. Cannon.
Moody. and McRae conferees on the part Of
the House.
The House during the merning hour
passed bills to constitute South Manches-
ter Conn. a port of delivery; to authorize
c. Z. Mari and E. II. Pearce TO accept sill
yer watches awarded to them by the Do
British sailors and to authorize c. R. Dob
bins to accept a gold watch from the Do
minion Of Canada for similar services. The
Pension Appropriation bill was sent to
conference. Messrs. Barney, McCleary, and
Bell were appointed couferees.
The Senate bill to appropriate $50. 000 for
repairing the revenue cutter Thetis was
also passed.
Representative Mcclellan introduced a
bill for the reorganization Of the Army. 1t
provides for a lieutenant general six
major generals. twelve hrigadier generals.
a corps Of artillery, thirty regiments OF in
fantry and fifteen regiments OF cavalry.
The Fortifications Appropriation bill was
reported to the House by Mr.. Cannon. It
appropriates s7O93, ,4ss for carrying forward
the plan Of seseoast defences begun in 1885
The principal items are. Gun and mortar
batteries, $4,000, 600; pneumatic dynamite
batteries, slS0,000; installation OF range
ard position finders S150,000; sites for for
tiicatious, 5000, 600 preservation and re-
pair Of fortiications. S100 O00 sea walls
and embankments. 5000 coo; torpedoes for
harbor defence, $50, GOO; armament of forti-
Hcations, s4,O02, 5Ss.