The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-13
PASSED BY THE House
The Bill Providing for Insular De-
positories for Public Funds.
il Authorizes the Designation of
Banks or Bnnkers as Custodians of
Government Moneys-The PROPOSE
ton TO Elect Senators by Direct
Vote of the People Discussed.

The House yesterday passed the bill 10
authorize the Secretary OF the Treasury to
designate banks or bankers in Cuba, Porto
Rico, and the Philippines TO act as deposi-
tories of public money. An amendment
proposed by the Committee on Insular AZ
fairs which reported the bill limited Its
operation In Cuba to the period that the
United States occupied the islands, and it
was agreed to. Mr.. Brewer of Alabama
offered an amendment of the same puIport
applying to the Philippines, and it was lost
by vote of 121 TO 1876. The conference re-
port on the Legislative, Executive, and
Judicial Appropriation bill was agreed 10,
and a conference ordered on the Senate
amendments TO the District Appropriation
bill.
The rest of the day was spent in discuss
ing the Philippines, and proposition to
amend the Constitution to elect United
States Senators by the direct vote of the
people. A vote on its adoption will be
taken today after the journal has been
read.
The bill was taken up authorizing the
Secretary OF the Treasury for the safe
keeping and disbursement of public moneys
in the insular possessions of the United
States TO designate banks or bankers in
the islands as repositories OF public
moneys, as he does now in the United
States.
Mr.. Cooper of Wisconsin, Chairman of
the Committee on Insular Affairs, which
reported the bill, explained that tie
moneys comprehended in the bill were rot
those collected by the War Department as
customs, but the moneys forwarded from
the United States Treasury to defray ex-
penses in the islands. payment of troops,
and the like. The bill. be said. had come
TO be called the standard Oil bill but
why, an investigation of two or three weeks
had failed to disclose. The reasoning
seemed TO be this: The bill was introduced
by Representative Sibley; petroleum is
found in his district; the STANDARD Oil
Company has to do with petroleum; there
fore the bill is Standard Oil bill. The
origin of the bilL Mr.. Cooper said, was
letter written last December by Paymaster
kenney, of the Navy. who suggested that
for the relief and safety of the paymas-
tiers, repositories in the Philippines, Porto
Rico. and Cuba should be provided Sec
Rotary Gage prepared the bill and request
ed Mr.. Sibley TO introduce it. That was
the entire history of the bill.
The committee had added TO the bill
provision that it should apply to Cuba
only while occupied by the United States.
Mr.. Brewer of Alabama moved to insert
after Cuba and the Philippines" The
amendment, Mr.. Brewer said. was offered
for the purpose of intensifying the pro-
test against holding the islands perma-
nently.
Opposing the Bill.
Opposing the bill. Mr. Jones of Virginia
said that if Mr.. Cooper had investigated
more thoroughly he would have found a
better reason why the bill was called the
Standard Oil bill. 1t granted such privi-
lege as was demanded and received from
Secretary Gage by the Vice President of
the National City Bank, of New York, a
Standard Oil concern, on the ground that
its directors had rendered good service in
the campaign that brought about the Sc
lection Of Gage as Secretary of the Treas
ury.
Responding to questions. Mr., Jones said
that there were banks in Cuba, Porto
Rico. and the Philippines. The Cuban
banks. he said, were owned by American
capital. The debate was interrupted to
enable the Speaker to announce that the
House bill to temporarily provide revenue
for the island OF Porto Rico, and for other
purposes, had been enrolled. Chief Clerk
Browning carried it at once over TO the
had agreed to all its amendments thereto.
Mr.. Cooper, replying to Mr. Jones, said
1t was astonishing that plain business
proposition like this could not be dis
cussed in a business way, but that po-
Itical harangue must be INDUCED. The
bill conformed exactly TO the language of
the act authorizing the appointment of
national banks as repositories, and the
Secretary of the Treasury had stated his
intention TO accept nothing but United
States bonds as security. There was a
bank in Manila, capitalized at $40 600, 000,
with branches all over the world, incIud-
ing New York which had intimated its
willingness to deposit United States bonds
as security for moneys deposited with ii.
The bill was further opposed by Messrs.
OF Massachusetts, Gaines of
Tennessee, and De Almond of Missouri
who asserted that there was no need for
its passage. Mr.. De Almond said the bill
was an indication of a purpose to hold
Cuba, in violation Of the promise solemnly
made when the war was begun
Mr.. Brewers amendment making the bill
apply TO the Philippines only while they
were held by the United States was lost
by vote of 121 to 1875. The committee
restricting the operation of
the bill in Cuba 10 the period of occupa-
ton by the United States was agreed 10. !
The bill was then passed by a vote of 1873 |
TO 100.
Mr.. Bingham of Pennsylvania presented |
the conference report on the Legislative. |
Executive and Judicial Appropriation bill |
The report, he said was a final agreement !
on all subjects in the bill. The bill now |
carries S2s3,000 more than when it passed |
he House.
The report was agreed to-67 TO 49, The |
vote in opposition was said by Mr.. Under
wood of Alabama TO be a protest against
The extravagant expenditures by the Sen
ate
A conference was ordered or the Senate |
amendments to the bill making appropria-
lions for the expenses of the District Of
fer the year ending June 80, 1901 |
Election of Senator'S.
The call OF committee was resumed and |
Sr. Corliss OF Michigan presented the joint |
esolution proposing an amendment to the |
so as to permit the election OF |
by direct vote of the people /
Mr.. Rueker Of Missouri offered a substitute |
making obligatory the election OF Senators |
by the people.
Discussing the resolution, Mr.. Corliss
'aid that the change proposed in the reso-
ution submitted by him had been asked
or by the Legislatures of thirty-two States
u the Union. His proposition. Mr.. Corliss
aid, was that the people of the States
night choose the manner in which their
United States Senators should be elected.
That had been the idea OF Mr. Bryan in
he Fifty-third Congress, and he said he
Spring Fever