The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-12

MT. speaker, said ne, II Will ns ven
to consider for a moment, the course Jf
| events since the bill first came into the
house. The committee on ways and means.
OF which / have the honor TO be a member,
apparently misconstruing the message OF
the president voted to impose plain
duty Of 25 per cent The situation has ma
terially changed since that time. The duty
has been decreased to Is per cent. Instead
Of being permanent in form, it is self-re-
pealing inside of two years, and may tie
repealed by the territorial Legislature n
two months So much, Mr.. Speaker, for
what has been conceded upon the question
Of the tariff When we consider the argu-
ments that were advanced in supper. OF
the measure when Il was first presented
here and compare II with the constitutional
situation today we find an equally great
change. The bill was predcated upon the
proposition that congress was acting under
general powers OF sovereignty outside OF
the constitution and was subject % 10
limitations whatever. 1t may have &C.
Cured to you who have been reading
speeches recently delivered that 1t is now
sought to bring this duty strictly Under
the terms Of the constitution and 1t Is now
maintained that IL is constitutional. Some
cf my colleagues who do not agree with
me have deserted the doctrine which /
have asserted here, purely for ad captain
dunn purposes as the doctrine OF John Z.
Calhoun have disputed the despotic
power on the part of the congress. The
doctrine I favor is the doctrine or every
Justice who has spoken upon this subject
from our supreme court. II is the doctrine
OF the Republican platforms and l assert
n here in the presence of the gentleman
from Pennsylvania, who today made con-
trary assertion-it is the doctrine OF the
Republican platforms of 1895 and 1850 ana
IL is the doctrine Of Abraham Lincoln
In conclusion he said the proposal to tax
the PRODUCTS of Puerto Rico had aroused
Indignation everywhere.
n had transformed the whole country
into Boston tea party. Oemocrtc ap-
plause)
Swanson and Newlands opposed the Dill IN
very brief but vigorous speeches
The last named criticised the civil gov
eminent feature of the measure. He de-
cIared that II the house were untram-
meled It would vote Overwhelmingly TO
permit a delegate from Puerto Rico TO SIT
on the floor Of the house.
DaIseII Makes n Correction.
Dalzell arose at this point to correct an
,padvnrtent remark he had made earlier
in the day about subsidized Repupfcan
press"
He had not intended to use such re-
mark and he desired to correct 1t pub
lioly.
Other Brief Speeches.
Rhea said the civil government feature
OF the bill presented some novel PROPOSE
tons. 1t proposed to govern people not
citizens of the United states in territory
not a part of the United Statc., yet every
official was to take an oath to support ana
defend the United States
Hay also criticised the civil government
scheme proposed I'm the bill
| better Treated Than Any Territory.
Hopkins asserted that the bill when
enacted into law would be far more adj
vantageous to the people OF Puerto Rico
than the United States laws In force in
New Mexico Arizona or any territory or
the United states. No money was taken
from the treasury of the United states
| for building schoolhouses and roads in
any of the territories. The internal rev.
| enue laws of the United states were in fun
! force IN the territories He claimed that
| the bill was In strict accord with the hui
| name promises made by Gen. Miles.
| Richardson Closes for HIS side.
| Richardson, the minority leader, con-
| cluded the debate on his side. He aroused
| great enthusiasm among the Democrats
| by reading extracts from the original
| opinion of Charles r. Magoon. the legal
| adviser OF the insular bureau OF the war
department, in which he argued that the
| constitution was extended ex propria
| WHO'RE to Puerto Rico The opinion had
been sent to the house In answer to the
house resolution adopted on Saturday last.
| and arrived after Richardson spoke:
| earlier'in the day. The opinion was dated
| February o.
| He had no words OF criticism. he said,
| for Mr. Magoon changing his mind. He
| was but a subordinate officer, but what
would the country think, he asked, II the
| secretary OF war had demanded that he
reverse his opinion NProlonged Demo-
cratic applause)
/ DoTliver followed In all charity and
| generosity, he said. he conceded the right
| OF every man to hold his own opinion
| Much had been made of the fact that
| changes had been made in the opinion OF
| men on the floor and In the executive
| branches of the government. and the final
1 act of eloduenCe on the other side, he said
| had been the reading OF the opinion OF a
| law clerk who thought he could override
| the great lawyer who presides over the
| war department
| DolIiver Asks n Pointed Question.
| Dolliver said he would prefer the opin-
| ion Of LAWYERS like MIR Mccall or MIR. Lit
| ,leneld to the opinion OF a law clerk. Pro-
| ceedlng he asked Richardson potntedy
whether he would accept the opinion Of
| Gen. Davis
Which opinion asked Richardson
| give US both opinions and 1 will take my
| choice" u.aughter)
| This Is his official report said Dol
| liver
| ''Did he not in his sworn testimony be-
| fore the insular commission recommend
| free trade asked Richardson.
| poiiver read Gen. Davis OPINION and
also the opinion Of Or. Carroll. the pres
| dents confidential agent.
| did not pr. Carroll recommend FREQ
| tralce" asked Richardson.
| Ultimate frye trade responded Dolh-
| yer. Just IA this blll does
| In conclusion ne dismissed as beneath
| contempt the charge OF bribery as a mo-
| tive for this hill Re had as well accuse
| Richardson OF corruption Tor INTRODUCING
| a resolution 20 place raw SUGAR on the
| frea lst. This was a Republican rnea-
! sure. ne said. indorsed by the Republican
/ president and the Republican leaders
faynr's Vigorous speech.
/ Payne TIE hoor leader OF the majority,
/ closed the aehsNte with n Vigorous speech.
| IN vAt,h he SAID he was ready 20 submit
/ the issce involved In the pending bin 10
| the common peop3e % she country. The
/ p-r-slest aet OF ms life. said he. -