Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1900-05-18
PASSED BY EIGHT VOTES.
MIR. SEwL,xDs IN orrosIrIoS.
The Final Struggle Over the Porto
NSAn Biil.

NiSAn Bill.
From Warrington Star.
Tho long aud bitter struggle over
the Porto Rican tariff bin ended yes
teriay when the House ~ Represen-
tative. b. II vote OF lGl To- l53 concur
red IN all the Senate amendments.
AS tie bill originally passed the
House il was n simple bill, imposing
10 per cent Of OF the Dincley rates on
goods going into Porto Rico from die
United States and from Porto Rico
into the United States.
As amended by the Senste and
agreed 10 by 'nC House, Il complete
scheu:e Of civil government Tor tho
island is also attached Id the measure
Upon the final vote, nine Republicans
voted against the bill.
THE ROLL CALL
The roll was followed with intense
interest. When the Speaker
Ell the passage of the bill-ayes lGl,
noes l53, and present and not voting
1.-THE Republicans chcered for sew
cral MINUTES.
The Star also gives Il synopsis OF
Mr.. Nowland's remarks on the land
and labor questions III Uur new pos
sessions, to which Mr.. Newlands con-
fined himself. us he had made an ex-
hauslivc speech on the Constitutions
nj questions when the Porto Rice tar
iT bill was before the House. The
Star says:
AND QUESTION Considered.
Mr.. Nswlands took up those pro-
visions relating to the government OF
Porto Rico oulsiie OF the tariff feat
ureS. He insisted upon il that nm or
ganic act for the government OF any
and all Of our now acquisitions should
provide for obtaining statistical
information relating to the system Of
land tenure, the extent OF holdinge,
the character Of the cultivation, the
nationality of the labor employed,
the wages paid, hours of labor aud
the general Conditions from au educa-
tIoual and sanitary point OF view OF
labOrinG Glasses.
Tho tendency in all these islands
would I've toward an increase Of land
values, resulting from a commercial
union with the United States and the
vast markets afforded by this coun-
try for their products. This t~en:len-
cy would lend to Il Capitalization OF
the ownership of these lands, in the
hands of symdicatcs aud corporations.
Tho ownership of the land would III
yolvc tl!c absolute control OF the Ia.
hor employed on the land and the
tendency would he, as it always has
been in these semi.tropical countries,
10 the ~emp!oymer: u slave or OF
semi slave labor. U.e laborer being
regarded rs Il mere machine for the
production Of certain results, Ii will
therefore be necessary to legislate SO
as to restrain and prevent the nor.
oily nt land aud to restrain md pre-
vent the degradation of labor.
Republican institutions could mol
he sustained in II country where the
the land IL masscd III the hands OF the
few, and where the great mass Of the
population has no rights in soil save
such rs the land owners Yielded
them rs u matter OF convenience or
suffcradcc.
small holdings OF land are ESSENTIAL
TO tho develop mcnt OF free institu,
tlOns. Amendments had been pre-.
scented in the House TO the Hawaiian
bill which met these questions and
furnished the basis for cOmprehen.
siyc legislation, hut the Porto Rico
bill was silent on The subject and the
rule requiring Immediate action on
the Senate hin us u whole absolutely
denied the House of the opportunity
of considering these Important qucs.
tons and Of Offering amendments to
them. such II prccipitato action WA
Il bad augury for thoughtful action /
rpuuTliuU mr. iuEulur pncagcsiDno