The Ely miner., 1900-03-30
RELIEF FOR PORTO R|CANS.
Conference Report Agreed To by
House and the Measure Goes
to President for Approval.
ISLAND WILL THUS GET BACK DUTIES.
McRae (ArlS), Member of Conference
Committee, Speaks in Opposition to
Adoption of RepOrt-Criticises Re-
cent Course of Legislation In House
Towards Porto Rico.


Washington, March 26-The confer
ence report on the Porto Rican relief
bill was agreed to in the house Satur-
day-yeas, 1876; nays, 81; present and
not voting, 20. This completes the bill,
which now goes to the president.
House Proceedings.
Washington, March 26.-Porto Rican
affairs engaged attention in the house
Saturday, the conference report.on the
relief bill for the island being taken
up, with an agreement for final vote
at one o'clock.
Mr.. McRae (Ark.), member of the
conference committee, spoke in oppo-
sition to the report and severely criti-
cised the general course of recent legis-
lation toward Porto Rico. He read the
resolution of the Iowa house of repro
sentatives cordemning the Porto Rico
tariff bill, and those of the New York
board of trade on the same subject.
In every solemn crisis, he said, the
American people might be relied upon
to make their wishes known in unmis-
taxable terms. Such a crisis was now
at hand, and Porto Rico having asked
q fulfillment Of promises and an oppor-
tunity to relieve her distressed people,
was to he given this opportunity in the
form of relief bill. Will the American
people submit to this outrage, he asked.
If the leaders of the party in power be-
lieve the people do not understand this
question, they will speedily realize
their mistake.
The resolution of Mr.. Cummings
IN. W requesting of the secretary of
state information and correspond
ence related to the "open door" in
China, was agreed to. A bill was
passed appropriating $4,000 to secure
plans for a suitable memorial to
Ulysses S. Grant, to be erected in
Washington.
Cockreu Puts Burden on r. epublicans.
Washington. March 26.-At the be-
ginning of Saturdays session of the
senate the following bills were passed:
To equalize and regulate the duties of
the judges of the district courts of the
United States in Alabama; to pay James
G.. Drake s., ,529, money expended by him
authorizing the president to appoint Il
commission to study and make full re-
port upon the commercial and industrial
conditions of China and Japan and ap-
propriating $4,000 for the payment of the
expenses of the commission.
The bill aroused some debate. Sen
ator Berry (Ark.) registered his pro-
test against the measure, his opinion
being that too many commissions were
being created.
Senator Cockrell (Mo.) opposed the
measure and stated the position of the
senate minority oa legislation.
''The republican party is in absolute
control and we on this side of the cham
ber are powerless to prevent the enact
ment of any legislation coming from the
republican party and deemed necessary
by it, he said. 81 will not antagonize
this bill, although do not agree with it
in principle. 1 want it understood now
and understood distinctly that hereafter
absolute responsibility must rest upon the
republicans for the passage of all resolu-
tions and bills"
The bill was so amended that no
member of either branch of congress
shall hereafter serve under any ap-
pointment made by the executive de-
partment of the government while
holding office as such member. 1t
was then passed.
Porto Rican Bill Recommitted.
Senator Foraker CO.,, in charge of
the Porto Rican government bill,
asked that that measure be recon-
mitted to the committee on Pacific
islands and Porto Rico. Senator For
aker said he expected to ask the SEN
ate to separate the government meas
ure and the tariff proposition in the
unfinished business, and hoped to Sc
cure vote perhaps on Wednesday
next, and certainly not later than
Thursday.
The request that the bill be recon-
mitted was agreed to.
Senator Fairbanks then presented
a resolution accepting the statue of
Oliver P. Morton from the state of
Indiana. He said in part:
"Oliver Perry Morton was one of the
commanding figures of the United States
during the most heroic period of her his
tory. He impressed himself upon his state
and nation by the force of his commanding
genius, and the history of neither state
nor nation would be complete without the
story of his life and work.
1.-THE state of Indiana commits to the
keeping of the United States the statue of
oliver Perry Morton, to be kept and pre-
served so long as the fabric of our po-
litical institutions shall endure. She COM
mits it with affectionate pride, believing
that those who shall follow us in the state
ly procession of the years to come will
preserve in it perpetual remembrance of
one who gave his best years, yea, life
itself, in unselfsh, unceasing devotion to
the mighty task of preserving the unity
and honor of his country"
After Senator Beveridge had spoken
on the life and character of Mr.. Nor
ton the senate adopted the resolution
offered by Senator Fairbanks, and at
1925 p. m. adjourned.
Senator Allen Saturday introduced a
resolution, which went over until Mon |
day, directing the secretary of war to
send to the senate statement of the |
number of soldiers, volunteer and reg |
ular, who have been killed and who |
have died from wounds received in the |
Philippines since August 1, 1899; the |
number of regular and volunteer sol |
d,1T--