The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-27
THE REPUBLICANS
WAN I MORE TIME
For General Debate on Porto
Rican Bill.
IHE TIVE IS 6R ANTt D
DISSATISFIED REPUBLICANS
WOULD NOT YIELD.
IHE TIVE is GR mid
THE TIME IS EXTENDED TO TONIGHT
The Republicans Again Co fer and Agree to
Reduce the DUTY Imposed by III Bill
from weny-Five TO Fifteen
FER Cent.

Washington, Feb. 26.-The general de-
bate ON the Porto Rican Tariff Bill in
the House today is extended until tomOr-
row night, on announcement of Mr.
Payne On. ", the floor leader, that no
compromise had been made with the dis
satisfied Republicans. The speakers to-
day were MeSsrs. BOutell llL), Brown
(Ohio), Mondell OWyo.), Graham (Pa.),
and Reeder tkan.), for the bill, and
Mossrs Bartlett (Ga.), Lanham (Texas),
Moon (Tenn), Williams Qll.), Johnston
CIV. Va). Sutherland (Neb), Jett (lll.),
Moon (Ill.) and Wilson (Arlz.l, against
it.
When Mr.. Payne preferred the request
for the extension of time, Mr.. Richard
son, the Democratic leader, said:
This is a remarkable request to come
from the majority. We construe it to be
frank and candid confession that they
have brought here a bad bill and an ad-
mission an open house to the country that
tliey have not enough votes to pass 1t.
The Democrats, he continued, were al
ways magnanimols. They would not
strike their foes when they were down.
He demanded. however, rs conditions 10
an extension n night session tomorrow
night and permission to offer a substi-
tute in the House ON Wednesday when
the final vote was to be taken. With
these conditions" he remarked blandly,
the minority would grant the 'entreaty'
of The majority.
Mr.. Payne smilingly replied that not
to be outdone in magnanimity he would
agree to the conditions.
Mr. Bartlett (Ga.) then took the floor
with a half hours speech against the bill.
He laid down as an elementary principle
of international law that whenever 4
country, whether empire, monarchy, or
republic acquired territory by conquest,
purchase or treaty, that Territory became
a part of such country and subject to
her laws. He pointed to the Supreme
Court for consolation on the conStitu-
tional question in case the bill passed
MIR. Lanhan (Texas) declared that the
Porto Ricans were either Americans or
aliens There could I've no such thing as
separating and dividing the communities
and privileges of American citizenship.
Mr. Moon (Tenn.) was opposed to the
bill. Mr.. Boutell Qll) followed in advo-
cacy Of the bill. The people of Porto
Rico, he said, had certain fundamental
rights, but not the rights of American
citizenship.
The fundamental rights of American
citizenship. he argued, would be en-
dangercd if the inhabitants Of ter
ritory acquired by conquest or perhaps
involunta1.ly, as result of war, came
into full fellowship with our people with
out the consent of the latter. He was
opposed lhe said. to admitting the Porto
Rcans and the Filipinons to free compe-
tition with American labor.
1t illIbecame the other side, Mr.. Boil
tell said. to taunt the Republicans with
imperialism The Democratic party was
the only party that had sold American
territory to foreign monarchy. In 1918
O Democratic administration. against the
protest of the people Of Texas, sold $50
600 square miles of territory with the
people on it to the King of Spain. Great
Cod" said Mr.. Boutell, IF we exercised
the prcrogatives of an earthly empire the
Democratic party exercised the preroga-
tives of the Almighty"
Mr. Sutherland Pop., Neb.) declared
that the anti-imperialists were anxious to
join their opponents upon the issue. The
people he said, would rally to the stand
ard of the great Nebraskan. who in 1898
had announced that imperialism would
endancer the life of the republic. There
was no disposition to dodge the issue.
The platform of 1896 would be reaffiIm-
ed with the Declaration of Indepen-
dencc added.
After other speeches, the House, at
5:10 p. m, adjourned.