The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-21
THE PlJBLICANS
GETTING NERVOUS
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tries of the island He then argued the
injustice of permitting the 30o,Oo0 tons of
| sugar in Hawaii to be admitted free
OF duty while at the same time the bill
J imposes a heavy custom duty upon the
sixty thousand tons of sugar from Porto
| Rico; that the difference in this treat
ment resulted from the fact that the
I sugar interest OF Hawaii was owned by
| a few millionaires. while that: of Porto
Rico was owned by several thousand
small farmers. He said that the present
| bill, denying, as 1t does, to the inhabi->
| tants of all Territories ard new posses
sfons any of the rights of citizens and
| imposing heavy penalties upon them
would have q tendency to give new life
| to the Instruction in the Philippines,
and make the inhabitants have little
faith in receiving justice from this coun-
try.
CONGRESSIONAL DEsPoTrsM.
| He argued decisions OF the Supreme
Court, that the Constitution extended
to all territory, and that there must be
everywhere uniformity in custom duties
and taxes. The wisdom of this interpre-
tation was then discussed, he maintain
ing that none of the restrictions of the
Constitution could be- a curse to Porto
Rico or to the Philippine Islands; that
those who upheld this new doctrine did
so because they knew that the quality
and justice of the Constitution would
prohibit them from exploiting the ne"
possessions for their own selfish ends.
He argued that if this new doctrine
prevailed there could be no expansion.
for no people would willingly unite with
US when they were told that they were
to be absolute chattels of a congressional
despotism.
He discussed at length the turmoil and
hot ar
created a difference in the taxes, tariffs
and custom duties in the various pos
sessions.
In closing he said: THE passage OF
the pending bill will end the story of
the Republic and open the history of the
Empire. It destroys constitutional gov
eminent and creates a congressional des-
potism."
Mr. Hepburn again sought an agree
ment to consider the canal bill March eth.
Mr.. Payne, Of New York. objected.
The House, at 6 O'Clock, adjourned.
Inthe Senate.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-Discussion of
the Philippine question was resumed for
time il the Senate to-day, Mr.. Kenny
speaking against the retention by the
United States of the islands and urging
that the FfIipinos be accorded the right
to govern themselves.
After the passage of fifty-two pension
bills and a number of bills on the general
calendar, consideration was resumed of
the Hawaiian Government bill. Some
amendments were agreed to, but consid-
GRAFTON of the measure was not CON
Guided.
The credentials of Thomas r. Bard, as
senator from California for the term of
six years beginning March I, 1889, were
presented and filed.
A resolution was adopted authorizing
the printing Of 4 special edition Of 5000
copies of the year book of the Depart
ment of Agriculture for distribution.
Mr.. Kenny, whose former colleague, ex-
Senator Gray, was a member of the
Peace Commission then spoke. He took
strong ground against the retention of
the Philippines, and argued that the
Fiipinos should be given their independ-
ence under the protection OF the United
States.
The general calendar of bills
taken up, and those passed included one
granting lands to the State of Alabama
for the use Of the Agricultural and Me-
chanical College of Alabama for negroes.
and the State Normal College of Flor
ence, Ala
Consideration of the Hawaiian bill was
then resumed.
Amendments excepting labor contracts
entered into since August y, 1898, from
the provision for continuing existing
contracts. and that no bonds should be
issued or Indebtedness incurred without
the approval of the President of the
United States. were agreed to.
CONTRACT LABOR
A long discussion enSued over q pro-
posed amendment to- extend TO Hawaii
in inhibition against contract labor i'm
4oortation which exists in the United
States. All Senators were anxious to
SO frame the law so as to eliminate abso-
lutely contract labor in Hawaii To
this end the section of the bill relating
to contracts was amended finally by the
addition of the following paragraph
framed by Mr.. Hoar ana perfected by
Mr. Spooner:
provided that no proceedings shall
be maintained for the specific perform
ance of any contract heretofore or mere
after entered into for personal LABOR or
service and there shall be no criminal
proceedings for the breach thereof
Mr. Spooner offered an amendment.
striking out the section providing that
the Supreme Court of the territory
should be the judge of the election OF
members of the Hawaiian Legislature
ard comforting upon each branch OF
the. Legislature the power to determine
the qualifications of its members. and
after some discussion it was adopted
After short executive session the
Senate adjourned.
y MInOO MEXICAN