The age-herald., 1900-02-24
.LITTLEFTELD MADE
 HIMSELF FAMOUS
Great Speech Opposing the Porto
 Rican Tariff Bill.
VOTE TO BE TAKEN TUESDAY
Underwood Has Wired All Democrats to Be Present and Strong Force is Expected--Burnett, of
 Alabama, Spoke.

Washington, February 23.-An agreement was reached in the house to-day that the | vote on the Porto Rican tariff bill be taken
 up at p. m. next Tuesday, general debate | to close Monday. Formal announcement
 was made that republican conference would be held at D. m. tomorrow. The | leaders continue to express the belief that | the bfl will pass, but the impression is | growing that motion to reeommit the bill | to the committee ways and means wfE commend strong support and may prevail. MT. Underwood, the democratic whip" | to-day sent out telegTams to all absent democratic members to be present on Mon | day, when the voting may begin. | The speech of MT. Littefeld of Maine | was the feature of the day. He added to his laurels won in the Roberts debate by a | speech against the bill. which for bril- | liancy, wit, and logic rivals the best ef- forts of the recognized orators of the house. He made profound impression, and when he concluded it was several minutes before the demonstration that followed could be "quened." Among the others who spoke to- day were Messrs. Jones of Virginia and
 Maddox of Georgia, against the bill, and Messrs. Russell of Connecticut. Bartholdt of Missouri, Gardener of Mfehlgan, ana Lacy of Iowa, for 1t.
 The debate continued at a night session. LittIeheId's speech MT. Littlefield of Maine spoke in part as follows:
 "I oppose this btn," he began, .tbecause it is unrepublican, un-American, unprece- dented, unwarranted, and unconstitu- fional"
 He occupied a painful position He was compelled to diSseEE from the policy ad- yanced by distinguished men of his party, whose long experience in legislation made them worthy leaders. He was "a republican
 and should support republican doctrines, but when a great question of right and wrong was presented he should do right as God gave him to see the right. CDeino- cratic applause). Moreover, he submitted that there were reasons why the pending bill should not receive the approval of the republican party. He was not aware, he said, that amy action of the republican party at any spot or place had justified it. Proceeding MT. Littlefield argued that the regeneration of the island of Porto Rico could be brought about by loan which the United States could authorize it to raise In 1893 Porto Rico had emanci- pabed 5000 slaves without tumult or blood shed, the people paying SIP 900 to free the bondsmen. Could not these people, he asked, be trusted to repay a trifiing loan to be used for the relief of the is.and. All the people of Porto Rico asked was a stable government and hands off. Porto Rico could repay a loan of $10,000, 600 If op- erating under free trade in free markets. ~i'r Against Advice of Davis .'T assent" added Mr. Littlefield that
 this Dill is drawn against the advice of
 Mr. Davis, governor general of the island, against the protest Of the people of Porto
 Rico, against the recomm endations of the president, and against the original recom- mendations of the chairman of the ways and means committee"
 MT. Littledield charged Mir. Payne with not making public the resolutions for his change of heart. He Thought he knew the reason, but he would not suggest it. But the gentleman from New York and the gentleman from Connecticut CRusselD. he said had declared that the importation of sugar and tobacco from Porto Rico would not interfere with our industries If that were true, tt would be interesting to know
 who suggested the oG9ange of base. He yie-ded to no man in his devotion to his party, and it was better for his poEtical friends ito hear these things now than later
 on the stump, where they would be judged oy- the enlightened conscience of the Amer ican people
 The greatest calamity which overshadow- | ed the republican party, he said was the | calamity involved in the pending bill. (Ap- | plauSe). MT. Littlefield said he would waste | mo time in quoting Jefferson, Jackson or ! Benton.
 Grew Sarcastic
 | MT. Lttlefield directed his sarcasm | against the bin, taking as an illustration
 case of shipping lumber from Maine to | Porto Rico. At San Juan the duty was col | lected by the United States. Therefore it had as well been collected by the United 1 States when 1t left Maine. He assadled as a. | pretext the theory that this tariff for Porto | Rico was framed to raise revenue when a | duty toh nroc | coffee, of which the production was greater than both the other articles together was l to be imported free. This was the cheap | ph1hanthropy Which cost nothing He
 argued that if the industries of the United l States were to be protected against the ir1- l dustnes of Porto Rico and later against | those of the Philippines the industries of | those islands could never prosper. Ameri-
 can capital would never go to them for in- 1 vestment. Porto Rico would remain "an | orange for us to squeeze, the hewers of 1 wood and drawers of water" for the 75, 000,- 900 inhabitants of the United States General Miles, when his army invaded 1 Porto Rico, had promised the natives the immunities and blessings of our govern ment aSd they had crowned him with gar lands and kissed the flag. He would never l vote, he said to violate the pledge that l great soldier had made"
 MT. Payne had asked unanimous consent l to close general debate Monday with l debate under the five minute rule on Tues | day up to D. m., when the final vote shall | be taken.
 l MT Richardson, the democratic floor lead | CT, consented to this and the agreement was l formally entered into. It was part of the | agreement that committee amendments and | substitute could be presented.
 , Before the adjournment is was announced 1 from the clerks desk that a republican con- l ference would be held at p. m. tomorrow l The house then, at 4:55 D. m, took recess | until D. m.
 | Stops the Cough 1 Ard Works Off the Cold