The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-30
SENATOR DAVIS SUMMING UP OF THE
PORTO RICO BILL.
TIME FIXED FOR VOTE ON BILL
Debate Continued I'm Senate-The Nor
gan Free Silver Amendment De-
feated-senator Davis Argues Against
the Inconsistencies of the Biu-The
House Discusses the Army Appro-
priation Bill-Extravagance I'm Lux
urious Fitting OF Army Transports.
SENATE.

Washington, March 2S.-A success
full effort was made by Senator Foraker
to fix a time for a vote on the Porto
'Rican tariff and government bill.
Senator Bacon, OF Georgia, suggested
tomorrow and Senator Proctor, OF Yer
mont, next Tuesday afternoon. The
latter was agreed to.
The Alaskan code bill was taken up
and Senator Carter's amendment offer
ed yesterday, was adopted without
division.
Consideration of the Porto Rican bill
was then resumed, the pending ques-
ton being upon the free silver coin
age amendment offered by Senator
Morgan. The amendment was defeated
II to SO.
Senator Davis then spoke. He said
he thought it unnecessary, in view of
elaborate arguments already made to
discuss the constitutional -eatures. The
question, he said, should be nonpar-
tisan. He referred to the antagonistic
feeling the measure had aroused
throughout the country, a righteous
He maintained that a tariff could not
be levied as between Porto Rico and
the United States, although ii was
perfectly competent for congress TO
provide for the collection of internal
revenue on the island. This, he said,
was indubitably constitutional. He rid
iculed the argument as to the protec-
tion the Is per cent. tariff would af-
ford to. our products and labor. No
protectionist, he said, would contend
that 10 per cent of the Dingley rates
would afford adequate protection for
anything. Adverting to the Philippines
| Senator Davis said: When we come to
! will take care of that. Sufficient unto
| the day is the evil and good thereof.
| Porto Rico is little more than 700 miles
| from our coast; the Philippines are
! 5000. The island of Porto Rico is nat
! urally a part of the North American
! jurisdiction, the Philippines is a part
| of the domain of Asia. Against the
! product and people of the Philippines.
| when the time comes the rights Of
| American labor will be protected by
| any party that may be in power"
! Senator Davis said it was inconsist-
| ent to extend our laws relating to the
| coastwise trade to the island and not
! extend our tariff laws. AS to the feel
| ing in the country upon this question
he said the issue is we'll understood by
| the people, and the sentiment speaks
out to US week after week in constant
ly swelling volume. They understand
Wei too, hat upon distilled spirits anC
tobacco there is not an imposition OF
a mill of taxation by this bill Wha
are the people going to say if this bill
passes? They will say: Free rum anc
a tax on the flour the people eat "
Senator Davis said that no man coulC
tell half the tariff would yield, and a.
no man could say that the export ia,
was constitutional, it seemed to hin
that there ought to be no hesitation al
to the course to be pursued, the path
way of plain duty.
The senate then at 450 o'clock D. m
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
The house, after passing the senate
bill to approve an adjustment Of the
sales of Otoe and Missouria lands IL
Kansas and Nebraska, made to set
tiers in 1888, and agreeing to the con.
| ference report on the pension appro
priation bill, devoted the remainder o.
the day to the consideration Of the ar
my appropriation bill. Several minor
| amendments were adopted and abou
half the bill was covered.
Mr.. Mahon, Of Pennsylvania, moved
an amendment TO prevent the secre-
tary of war from employing clerk:
from outside the pale Of the civil ser
vice in his department.
Speaking to pro forma amendment
Mr.. briggs, of New York, called at
tention to a newspaper article de-
scribing the luxurious fittings Of the
transport Sumner, which, he said
was remodeled at enormous cost. He
said the enormity of the extravaganza
in the fitting of the ship was beyond
credence. An $4,000 silver service hac
been placed in her, he said, with cu
glass tumblers which cost Is cents 6
piece. The palatial furnishings Of the
Sumner were such as could be found
nowhere except upon a millionaire's
yacht. He contrasted the condition oi
this transport with those employed by
the government when the soldier:
were being sent out to fight theil
country's battles during the Spanish
war. Mr.. briggs said he proposed tc
Introduce resolution to investigate
the extravaganza in fitting up the
Sumner.
Without completing the considera-
ton Of the bill the conference report
on the urgent deficiency bill was
agreed to and at $40 o'clock p. m. the
| house adjourned.