Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-20
EZ.CONSUL MACRUNI.

MIR. Richardson, the minority leader,
insisted that there should De u def
mite understanding that the minority
could offer q substitute. TO this MIR.
Payne declined TO agree. AS II matter
OF privilege. Mr.. Hitt, of Illinois. re-
ported back from the Committee on
Foreign Affairs the Wheeler resolution
calling upon the State Department for
information as to the truth OF the
charges OF Afr.. Macrum, eX-consul AT
Pretoria, concerning the opening of his
mali BY the British authorities. and it
was adopted without debate
The House then went into committee
Of the whole with all questions relating
to the close of the debate open.
THE DEBATE BEGUN.
Mr.. Payne. in charge of the BILL In
opening the debate. received marked
attention.
This bill. BY It's terms" he explain
ed, relates only to the island of Porto
Rico. 1t cannot be taken as a prece-
dent of any legislative action in refer
ence to the Philippine islands when the
present inSurrecton shall have been
overcome. except i'll SO far as we as
sert in 1t our view of our power under
the American constitution.
''The original BILL introduced on the
18th day of January last. provided that
tho customs laws of the United States
and the internal revenue laws be cX-
tended TO Porto Rico The idea was to
give the producer of sugar the free en-
trance of this staple into the United
States, saving a duty of over $40 a ton.
Under that bill the duty saved upon to-
bacco, would be SIS cents per pound for
-tlse-i ertieife -tlieereP,- and fer
the wrappers S1.S5 per pound.
ESTIMATES.
after consultation with General Da-
Wis. the present Military Governor, 1t
was found that this action would not
produce sufficient revenue TO meet the
expenses of the Government. He estl-
mated that not NOR than /, million dol
lars could be collected from both GUS
toms duties and internal revenue tax.
The substitute was then brought for
ward which imposes Il duty equal to
our own tariff upon all articles import
ed from abroad, other than those of the
United States into Porto Rico, and n
duty equal to % per centum of the rates
of our own tariff laws on all articles
imported into Porto Rico from the
United States or from Porto Rico into
the United States. The best estimates
that can he obtained show that this will
produce n revenue of $l,7S0.000 from
customs duties which, added to the in
ternal revenues OF the island, will pro-
duce $2,S00000, Il sum sufficient to pay
XII VIC cN pSliScS " Stic NrOScFlblltelll, Ill
GLIDING the postal service, and also
SS25000 for the public schools. The to-
tai estimates of General Davis for the
expenditures is S1,950.000. The original
bill, therefore, il would seem. means u
bankrupt Treasury. the substitute Il
surplus of 100000. which will meet
some of the pressing needs for the es-
tohlishment OF common schools.
The remission OF scvcnty-iive per
cent of the duties on sugar and tobac-
co. which are now paid, means an an
nual increase To these people of $780,
600. This means the lifting of II mort
gage from many a small plantation,
better wages for the laborers, more
money IN circulation and greater gen
eral prosperity. Nor Will this bin In
jure any interest in the United States.
The American tobacco grower does not
need fear the importation OF this 4,0O0.-
900 pounds of tobacco. 1t will furnish
a new market for the wrapper which
he produces and will bring him gain
instead of loss.
QUESTION OF POWER.