New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-01
island. So far the Merchants Association Of
New-York was concerned. II was interested in free
trade with all the world
verbal amendment to Section was adopted
TWO YEARS TIME LIMIT FIXED.

A verbal amendment to Section was adopted.
TWO YEARS TIME LIMIT FIXED.
Mr.. Payne then offered the following additional
section agreed upon the conference of Repub
cans Monday night:
This shall be taken and held to be provisional
in its purposes and intended to meet pressing
present need for revenue for the island Of Puerto
T. 1872 anu Sna" not continue IN i0F'e ai'e' AaF'
Mr.. Powers, of Vermont, the author OF the
amendment. supported it. With him. he said there
a question to the constitutionality Of the
bill, and one to its expediency. A case was al
ready in the courts which would eventually settle
the question of constitutional law. AS to the ex-
pediency, this section would make the measure
temporary and provisional 1t was, he understood,
satisfactory the President. and that being the
he willing TO give the amended bill his
support. Republican applause)
Mr.. Sibley, Of Pennsylvania, announced his in
tenton of voting for the bill. said that all the
testimony before the Insular Committee showed
that the people OF Puerto Rico in a deplor-
able condition. While debating the situa-
ton they starving. For himself. he considered
II his duty to support this bill. But Puerto Rico
was mere incident to the broader proposition.
The emergency interrupted Mr. Williams. OF
Illinois. is not in Puerto Rico but in the politics
of the Republican party" democratic applause.)
You have located the politics on the wrong side, :"
replied Mr.. Sibley. Republican appause.)
ut is pretty hard locate you," retorted Mr
Williams. Q1aughter.)
MIR. SHELLEY WITH REPUBLICANS.
Mr.. Sbley replied that he had said before. his
seat could be considered constructvely on the Re-
publican side. Continuing. he said that If X was
established that every foot OF territory owned by
the United States was absolute equality then
he was opposed to the whole policy of expansion.
If the bitants of the Philippines could compete
with American production and American labor he
was willing to give the archipelago to Aguinaldo.
Every dollar that this bill raised, he said, went
relieve w
existed in Puerto Rico. Mr. Sibley closed with a
scathng characterization of his Democratic critics.
Mr.. Tompkins. OF New-York who was one of the
original Republican opponents OF the bill.
nounced briefly his reasons for giving his support
TO the amended measure.
Mr. Hepburn, of Iowa. said he hazarding
nothing when he said that the treaty by which
Puerto Rico and the Philippines became ours could
never have been ratified without Democratic sup
port You gentlemen" he said, addressing the
Democrats ARE responsible And now you con-
tend that there is no power under the Constitution
by which American labor can be protected against
the competition OF the pauper labor of ten million
Asiatics.'
Mr.. Carmack OF Tennessee said that the Demo
Gratis had voted TO rat!fy the treaty because they
believed in the assurance OF Republicans, Mr.. Hep
burn among them. that the Philippines be
treated Cuba to be treated-that they were
to be retained only temporarily.
Mr.. Hepburn Indignantly denied that anybody.
speaking for the Republican party had ever offered
such assurance.
Mr.. Payne's amendment was then agreed to
without division and he offered the following TO
come in before the enacting clause:
Whereas. the people of Puerto Rico have been de-
proe OF and markets sH feT Large portion OF their
we're and unusual storms whereby they are i'm
poverished and are unable to pay internal revenue
Whereas. Temporary revenue is necessary for
their schools, their roads and their internal i'm
and the administration of their Gov
ernment; now. therefore. etc.
Mr.. CUMMINGS PLAYS A TRICK.
At this point Mr.. Cummings. Of New-York, threw
the House into Juror Of excitement. He said
he believed be the duty of every in great
crisis to rise above party and support the Gov
eminent he had done during the Spanish war
II believe should follow the lead Of the
President" said he emphatically, and will vote
This statement electrified the House. The Repub-
lioans without waiting for him to finish his sen
Gratis sat stunned and dazed. Mr.. Cummings
stood with his arm raised until the Republican APP
Il will vote for this bill" he continued, address
ns sss w m ave Of the
absolute free trade with Puerto Rico It was now
minutes they made the rafters ring
The excitemen, and confusion increased S as the he
oor Iied up until both sides showed fun repre-
esending GU, the
private gallery for the Presidents househoId ana
front row sat the Duke ARGOS. the Spanish Min
on the amendment of Mr. Payne to insert pre-
ambe besoTe the enacting clause the rising vote
Mr. i'' Payne then offered the last committee
Island s Of Puerto 1 Rico and for other purposes
Mr. Underwood. of Alabama, in a brief speech.
without fixed principles an opportunist party SELF
ing the chance of The hour nnsa,ad 20 b,s COL
leagues rally TO the suppoG Of the ob b Of Viz
the 1,s't reasons OF their opposition to the bill.
FREE TRADE SUBSTITUTE REJECTED.
As the hands ot the clock reached three the com
mittee rose and Speaker Henderson resumed the
Chair Mr.. Mccall. Of Massachusetts, on behalf
of the minority offered substitute the bill for
free trade with Puerto Rico, originally introduced
by Mr.. Payne
Without division the previous question was then
ordered on the bill and pending amendments. The
esnn ae on the demand of Mr. Mccall seconded
by the whole House rising en- nlasse, tne vote Oh
TT The poicaii was followed with intense Interest
Five Republicans voted with fhe Thers W aia
demonstration during the roiGs hnsn
Vote was i in doubt. voted with the Republicans
against the substitute: ,., 49,, -
s,tio oe foI the ssubsitute Heatwo
Lttehed Of Maine LormeT Of i III fbdia Mccall
- The following Democrats voted with the Repub-
Of dff1 oussna sbey Of and ves
of California. ,.u. $40 o. -. Thu o,va 81
the majority was q gratifying surprise to the Re
publicans. and they applauded the announcement
Rchardson the m9Sry leadsT then % %ss1
The motion was iost-le2 to IT, Mr., Fletcher. OF
substitute voted with the. Democrats and Mr.
speht Of Mississippi who failed ale TO gs' in his vote
The vote on the final passage of the bin was
10 to l61. The announcement was greeted with