The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-03
Proposes Scheme o
Self Government.
Not Inconsistent With SOver-
ity Of United State.

Puerto Rioan tariff measure has now
heen transferred from the House to the
Senate. consideration Of the bill EN-.
bodying substantially the provisions Of
the House bill and In addition. provid-
Ing for q temporary form Of civil govern
ment for Puerto Rioo, as begun In the
Senate today, Mr.. Foraker, Republican
Of Ohio, chairman Of the comtnittee on
Pacific islands and Puerto Rico. being
in charge of the measure.
Mr.. Teller Of Colorado proposed an
amendment providing that the purpose
of the bill was simply to establish q
temporary government In Puerto Rico
for the purpose OF enabling the people
Of the island later to este blish perma-
| pent republican government in which
there should be accorded the people the
| right Of self-government. the adoption
OF . constitution and the establishment
of a permanent form Of government not
| interfering with sovereignty Of the
United STATES over the islands This
amendment was followed by another by
MIR. Stewart of Nevada, striking out the
provision levying a duty on Puerto Rican
goods and providing that they should
be admitted free into the United States.
A spirited debate was participated in by
Mr.. Foraker, Mr.. Tellsr, Mr.. Stewart
and others,
Mr.. Foraker oonten6sd that the duties
levied on Puerto Rican products were
necessary, because the island was in need
of the revenues. Every dollar levied as
duties would be turned into the treasury
of the island and the committee held that
this was tie only practicable means OF
securing the needed funds.
MIR. Stewart strongly upheld the policy
OF the President and announced in his
last annual message Of giving free trade
to the Puerto Rioans.
An horr ana half OF the session was
devoted to consideration of the Quay
case, Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts, pre-
senting an able constitutional argument
in favor of the seating of Mr.. Quay on
the ground, mainly, that 1t was the in
tention of the trainers of the constitution
that the Senate should at all times have
it's full quota of members.
|
petition for the California delegation In
Congress OF thirty five associations and
$1,000 people OF California against the
ratification Of the French and American
treaties. Mr. HoAr made the point
against the petition that 1t ought to be
presented In executive session and that
even thsr5 he would question the right of
. state congressional delegation to make
such petition. MIR. Perkins thought the
right Of petition was sacred at all times,
but the chair held that the whole matter
would have to go over to an executive SEES.
sion. MIR. PettiRrsw of South Dakota
secured the adoption of the following
resolution:
"That the President be requested, II
not Incompatible with the public interest
to send to the Senate statement OF the
number Of saloons that have been estab-
ilshed In Manila, p. l.. since the ocoupa-
ton of that city by ths United States
forces; who conducts these saloons; who
are their patrons and what kind OF
liquors are sold, and the quantity Of such
liquor. The President is also requested to
inform the Senate OF the number, II any,
OF the saloons run on the American or
English plan in Manila before we ocou-
pied the place. The President is also re-
qusstsd to inform tine Senate whether or
not 1t is In his power as commandsr-in-
chief of our military forces to suppress all
saloons and prohibit and prevent sale the
Of liquor TO our soldiers
1be Chair then laid before the
Senate the message Of the Prsaident
ooncerning the revenue collected on Porto
Rican products. The message was re-
ferred to the committee on appropria-
lions. The resolution offered by Mr..
Turner of Washington directing the sec.
Rotary of war TO inform the Senate OF the
amount of money expended in the pay.
ment Of travel pay and Communication Of
subsistence from thoss officers and men
returning from the Philippines and what
bounty or reward was paid for the rs-en-