The age-herald., 1900-03-30
Does Not Necessarily Indicate
 Final Passage of Bill.
SEVERAL SENATORS WERE ABSENT
Pettus Says if the Republicans Oar . Have a Free Hand in Mutilating the Constitution the
 Bill Gan Pass

i. Washington, March 2s.-A direct vote was taken by the senate today on the proposi- taon to strike from the Porto Rican meas ure the provision levying b per cent. of tIhe Dingley la duties on Porto Rico prod ncts. The proposition was defeated by a vote of 16 to 33. While the vote is regarded as presaglng the passage of the pending measure, it is not regarded as indicating the final vote on the bill.
 The feature of the debate today was the speech of MT. Beveridge of Indiana. While he advocated reciprocity between the United States and Porto Rico, he announced that If all efforts to secure free trade should Rail he would support the pending bill The bill was under discussion throughout the session, several important amendments being agreed to.
 The conference report of the diplomatic and consular appropriation bill was agreed to by the senate soon after it convened. A concurrent resolution offered by MT. Curberson of Texas, directing the secretary of war and secretary of the navy to keep 'seasonably advised the families of the wounded soldiers and sailors and of the condition of the men was agreed to.
 
 in support of the proposition for free trade between the United States and Porto Rico. MT. Beveridge closed his speech saying:
 MT. President. the great movement on which the American people have embarked Is a movement of conscience as well as of power, of civilization as we'll as commerce. Directly or indirectly, it affects all hu- nYanity. We go forth on a world career; we must conduct it with a world states manship-a statesma nshp that considers the effect of every law we put upon the peoples over whom our influence is ex- tending, and upon the world at large as well as upon ourselves.
 Means More Balance Sheets
 Sir, administration of government means more than balance sheets, more than weights and measures. It means this, but 1t also means the weighing the hearts of men and the balance sheets of the affec- tions of the governed people. The Ameri- can masses, in whose breasts dwell the pur- ity, power and hope of the republic and of the world, understand this well. They feed and deeply know that we are henceforth the master people of the world. They doubt not that human progress is one vast and swelling harmony which not even all the discords of history can destroy, and they mean that in all that divine and splendid composition, fhe nobles, the highest, pur- est, tenderest note shall be that struck by the American people the sovereign pow CT of earth"
 Mir. Foraker then asked that the senate proceed with the consideration of amend ments.
 The first amendment was one Imposing duty of cents pound on coffee imported into Porto Rico
 MT. Pettus of Alabama, moved to strike out the amendment, which motion involved the question whether tax could be impos- ed on products imported into Ponto Rico which were not imposed on the products inn ported into "other parts of the United States"
 MT. Gallinger defended the amendment of the committee. During the Spanish regime he said, tariff had been imposed on coffee imported into Porto Rico because the coffee raised there is regarded as the best in the world, and 1t was decided to prevent it from being spoiled by being blended with infer for brands.
 Would MiIit ate Constitution
 ''M you have a free hand to mutilate the constitution" said MT. Pettus, "then YOU can pass this bill: but if the constitution means anything when it says that taxes and duties shall be uniform then you have no such right"
 The amendment was defeated 13 to 32.
 Mir Bacon of Georgia offered an amend-> ment in the form of a substitute for sec fions 2 and of the committee bill, estab- fishing the regular Dingley tariff rates of duty on articles imported from foreign countries into Porto Rico, and providing that no duties shall be levied on articles imported into Porto Rico from the United States ortiQto the United States from Porto Rico Mir Bacon explained that 1t was his purpose to establish in Porto Rico the tar1n system in vogue in this country.
 MT Lindsay, Kentucky, offered an amend ment to MT. Bacons amendment, provid- ing for absolute free trade between the United States and Porto Rico. saying:
 .'I offer this amendment because Porto Rico is an American island, because it's in- habEtants are American citizens. because the people were promised the rights of American citizens by General Miles, and be- cause the president and secretary of war declared 1t was our plain duty to give the Porto Rican people free trade"
 Mir. Bacon accepted the amendment, and at his request the amendment went over un- til tomorrow.
 Pettus' Motion Defeated
 MT Pettus then moved to strike out the provision in section providing for duty of 15 per cent. of the Dingley law rates on products of Porto Rico imported into this country
 The motion of MT. Pettus was defeated, d8 to 93, as follows:
 Yeas--Messrs. Bacon, Bate, Berry, Clark oi Montana, Clay Cockrell, Culberson, Har-