The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-09
FOR AID OF INDIANIANS
MEASURES INTRODUCED IN THE
SENATE AND HorsE.
Features Of the Reports on the Puer-
to Rican Tariff BiII-Reciprocity
Treaty with Italy.

Special TO the indianapolis Journal
| WASHINGTON. Feb. S.-Senator Fair
banks's bill to increase the pension of Hiram
j. Reamer. Company a. Second Indiana
( Volunteers. war with Mexico. TO s25 month
| ly was to-day favorably reported 40 the
Senate by the committee on pensions. Also
his bill TO increase the pension of Mary T.
Law, widow OF Capt. Richard Law. United
States navy. 10 $50 monthly.
Senator Beveridge's bill TO increase the
pension OF Joseph Pope, captain and COM
missary OF subsistence. to 81 monthly, was
favorably reported 10 the Senate to-day
| by the committee on pensions.
| Representative Miers to-day introduced
resolution to set aside Saturday. Feb. IL.
for consideration of private pension bills.
ten minutes to be allowed for debate
each bill considered. 1t was referred 10
the committee on rules. of which Speaker
Henderson is chairman.
Representative Griffith introduced a res
olution authorizing the secretary of the
treasury to make contracts for the col
lection Of money alleged TO be due the
United States and withheld by any cor
poration, the compensation therefor TO be
| fixed by the secretary and paid out of any
4
The Indiana delegation will go over to
New York to witness the production OF
"Ben-Hur" John c. wingate will be here
| tomorrow to accompany them
Representative Lands will return to-
| morrow.
The reports on the bill framed by the
ways and means committee imposing d1-
| ties equivalent to % per cent. of the Ameri-
can tariff goods imported into Porto
Rico from the United States. and vice
versa, were submitted TO the House to-day.
The Republicans OF the committee, except
| Mr.. Mccall. of Massachusetts, agreed to
| report in support of the bill. devoting a
| considerable portion Of their argument TO
| sustaining the contention with the clause
\ OF the Constitution declaring THAT all Gu
| ties, imposts and excuses shall be uniform
| throughout the United States is not APP
| plicable to our new possessions, which. they
| say, are not United states territory within
the meaning of that declaration The Dem
ocrats, together with Mr.. Newlands, of Ne
| vada, took the contrary view. Mr.. Mccall,
| dissenting Republican. practically holds
with them. He made separate report.
| saying he cannot support the bill because
| it does not follow the rule of uniformity
| prescribed by the Constitution. a rule
which. in my opinion. governs Congress
| in legislation for the Territories OF the
United States" Mr.. Mccall is unsparing in
his denunciation OF the policy TO which the
bill will commit the government The ma
jority report concludes as follows:
| "First-That upon reason and authority,
| the term United States, as used In the
| Constitution, has reference only TO the
| States that constitute the federal unions
and does not include Territories.
"Second--That the power of Congress.
with respect to legislation for the Terri
| tories, is plenary.
"Third-That under that power Congress
may prescribe different rates of duty for
Porto Rico from those prescribed Tor the
| United States"
Specia, rlenipotentiary Kasson, for the
United States, and Baron Fava, the Italian
ambassador. for his government. at the
State Department to-day signed reciproc-
ity arrangement under the third section Of
the Dingley act. This arrangement does
not require the action of the Senate. but il
does need ratification of the Italian Cham
bers Until that has been obtained IL is
| deemed well to withhold the text OF the
| agreement from publication. III It stated
] however, that the United States gains
| considerable reduction on cotton-seed OIL.
of which Italy Is heavy consumer, anu
| other staples while Italy In turn secures
| the abatement of duties on still wines. ar
gols and works Of art, permitted by tie
third section of the tarif act
1t is said at the War Department tfat
the purpose of Mr.. Porter I'm visiting Cuba
at this time is not to prepare new tariff
scheme for the island. but simply to cor
| rect certain imperfections and inequalities
that have developed In the existing tanH
The changes, 1t is said: VIII be lew In num- NJ
Der and I'm the direction of reductions OF
duties on imports of foodstuns and the
necessaries of life.
| The New York sailed to-day from Celon.
on the isthmus, for Culebra island. to make
Dff hat MS
| coaIing station The Navy Department
has had in mind the possibilities of ttiliz-
ing either Culebra island or Brab island.
near Porto Rico. as coaiing statim Tor
deep-draught warships for the pas. TWO
years. San Juan harbor has Deen round
unsuitable for heavy -draught vessels. un-
less expensive improvements are made. so
that otherwise there would be no United
States coaling station nearer than EaVana-
There will be no exchange OF -atihca-
ton of The Hague treaty. and owing to
the peculiar conditions under which the
convention was prepared all that will be
necessary for the United States TO do to
complete its adhesion TO the arbitration,
convention will be to deposit at Tfs Hague
| the final ratification of the Unitd States
Senate, signed by the President OF the
United States. The convention In itself re-
| quires that is shall be ratihed as soon as
| possible, so II is likely that the PRESIDENT
will sign the treaty at once and send IL TO
the United States minister e.. The Hague
| for deposit.
Senator Nelson, to-day. was authorized
to report his substitute for the bill provid-
ing for a Department of Commerce with a
| Cabinet officer An amendment was made
| to take the Patent Office from the Interior
| .partment and include IL in the new de-
| partment. The other provisions Of the bill
have been published.
The Senate. in executive session. to-day
ratified the extradition treaty with Peru
| and the Mexican boundary treaty. The Sen
| ate also ordered printed a number OF old
documents bearing on the Clay-on-Bulwer
| treaty.
| The House committee on labor to-day
| reported favorably the bill to interdict in
| terstate transportation OF prison made
| goods.