Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-16
Daily kennebec Journal.
56,h CONGRESS-
Continued from page -

now said Lindsay, and then later |
the courts should decide otherwise, we |
shall be in the position of having |
simply made a donation of s., 095, 600 tot
these people"
Mason. ILL.,, did not believe the
amendment was germane to the appro- |
priation bill, particularly as the pend
ing bill was distress legislation" and
every hour of debate was adding to
the suffering of the people for whom
the relief was intended.
Spooner, Wis, said he had hoped no
senator would endeavor to place on the
bill any amendment about which there
would be a division of opinion. The
measure was one of mercy, of human
ity, of generosity. He vigorously OPP
posed the amendment offered by Jones.
Turkey. Tenn, asked Spooner why it
would not be we'll for Congress to wait
until the courts had passed upon the
question before appropriatng this
money.
Yves replied Snooner. yehemcntlv
wait. Let the people Of Puerto Rico
starve until the courts have determined
whether we shall pay back the money
collected as duties to the sugar and to-
bacco trusts | cannot believe the sena-
tor would stand by any such PROPOSE
ton"
Clay, Ga. inquired if it was not true
that in the midst of their distress. we
had collected this burdensome tax from
the people of Puerto Rico.
NO. it is not" replied SpOoner. The
duties were paid by a comparatively few
people, and these are not the poor people.
We were right in imposing the tariff and
oil n q a
ton"
Cockrell, Mo. said that nobody could
question the statement that a serious
emergency existed in Puerto Rico. 1t was
due to the transition from the control Of
one country to that OF another ana To
the destructive cyclone which did untold
damage on the island. He believed the
appropriation ought to be made at once
to help the people He opposed Jones
proposition to pay the duties collected to
the persons who had paid them.
Jones inquired upon what COckrell
based his objection to the amendment
Cockrell-"I base it upon the great
economic theory in which l have always
believed, that the consumer of an import
ed article pays the tax"
Jones suggested that many of the
products brought from Puerto Rico had
been sent here on consignment but Cock
rel maintained that the consumer must
necessarily pay the tax.
Bacon, while he favored the bill, said
he did not shut his eyes to the fact that
the measure was intended, not much
as great humanitarian project as to
afford the Republicans an egress from a
serious political dilemma. He said that
after the action Of the House had raised
- T.; III
had suddenly been sprung in order to as
sist the Republican party in its political
maneuvering.
Allen offered an amendment declar-
ing the Paris treaty had the effect Of
extending the constitution over Puerto
Rico and it's inhabitants. He annOunc-
ed his determination to vote Tor the
bill. but stated that the measure was
being used as a subterfuge to permit
the Republican party to escape an I'M
pleasant situation on the Puerto Rican
question. He said that if newspaper
reports were to be relied upon the bill
provided for a form of government for
Puerto Rico was to be practically
abandoned and allowed to drift with
out rudder or compass.
Spooner-"The senator is mistaken
about that The bill will have both Il
rudder and compass and the senator
from Ohio Foraker) will be both
Foraker said it was his purpose still
to press the governmental bill.
Pettigrew opposed the passage of the
bill. He thought the bill did not pro
vide any money for the relief of the
suffering Puerto Ricans. He contend
ed that the only reason for urgency in
the passage of the measure was to al
lay the political clamor.
Pettigrew admitted that the situation
was embarrassing. IF you don't put a
duty on tobacco and fruit" he said.
the tobacco raisers of Connecticut and
the fruit raisers of California are LA
BILE to vote against the Republican
ticket. while if you do provide for a
duty you violate the pledge made to
the Puerto Ricans when we took pos
session Of the island.
Fairbanks. Ind, expressed amaze
ment over the statement that there
was no distress in Puerto Rico in view
of the testimony taken before the Sen
ate committee on Puerto Rico. He
read a letter from the director of the |
posts for Puerto Rico in support Of his |
contention that there was great need
for assistance. 1t was no time. he |
said. to play politics in the Senate. |
Fairbanks concluded with a motion for |
an executive session.
penrosc was granted a few moments |
To make a statement. He asked that |
the resolution in regard II seating Quay |
rs a senator from Pennsylvania be |
taken up. saying that he was satisfied |
there We're senators who We're seeking |
so to delay the resolution as to render |
il impossible to secure vote during |
the present session. Pennsylvania was |
being deprived of its just right of two
votes in the Senate. As he took his
seat Penrose cast his eyes in the di-
rection of Gallinger asking that a time
be fixed for a vote and remarking: II
look squarely at those who are Gre
ating these obstacles"
Gallinger stated that he had been
trying for six days to get an opportun-
lty to speak in opposition to the Quay
resolution. but had been prevented by
other business. He still desired to
speak and knew many other senator's
VINO wished to be heard
Penrose replied that Galinger had