The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-13
SENATOR Jones' f POSITION ION
He Replies to Charges Made by
Representative DOlliver.
His Attitude Regarding the Refund
ing of Customs Duties Collected
From the People of Porto Rico-He
Declares He Cannot BE Justly Cen
sured - The Senate Proceedings.

In the Senate yesterday Mr.. Jones OF
Arkansas, Chairman Of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee, rising to a question OF
personal privilege, read from the Rec
ord the following extract from a speech
delivered by Mr. Dolliver in the House on
Tuesday, during the discussion of the
Porto Rican bill:
Il accuse the chairman of the Demo-
cratic National Committee of being In the
same conspiracy, If you will permit me SO
TO speak. | hold in my hand proposed
amendment. offered by Senator Jones OF
Arkansas, to the bill, now to become a
law, TO give the proceeds OF the present
Porto Rican customs to the people of Porto
Rico-aD amendment which, If 1t had been
passed, would have given TO the American
Sugar Refining Company s1.S00000, which
they have already paid in cash into the
Treasury of the United States on sugar
imported from Porto Rico"
LAS a rule said Mr. Jones. Il pay no
attention 10 aspersions of this character,
butt may be possible that some honest man
may have been misled or might misjuuec
what has been done by me. When the
Porto Rican bill was presented In the Sen
ate | offered an amendment proposing TO
refund the duties that had been collected
from the people of Porto Rico to the peo-
pie who had paid those duties. | did that
from the conviction that the Government
of the United States had no right to levy
any tariff duties upon products coming from
Porto Rico, and if We had no such right
it was common honesty that We should
give the money back TO the people from
whom had taken II.
Not I'm the Trusts Confidence.
Il had never looked TO see who had paid
these revenues nor where the money would
go. l am not in the confidence of the
Sugar Trust They have not come to me
to complain of the duty by which they paid
81. 500 geo. did not know that such was
the fact Men who are more familiar with
the doings OF the Sugar Trust were, of
course, better able than l TO know that
they had paid million and half into the
Treasury of the United States. What i I'M
derstood the facts to lie were that protests
were made when these duties were levied
and that the case was pending in the Su-
preme Court, and I believe that when the
question is decided this money will be re-
turned 10 the men who paid it.
II believe in doing justice, no matter
W
devil his due, and il we have no rigat
under the laws 10 levy this tax and tee
Sugar Trust has paid part of it and the
money is due 10 them. il ought 10 be re-
funded.
Il have no fear OF being misjudged ty
any member of this body. 90 net believe
any motive of this kind has ever been at
tributed to me by a man who has sense
Of justice and desire TO be fair and just
to his fellow men.
Il offered this amendment in the course
of the debate here. 1t was stated that
large part Of the money that had been paid
was paid by the Sugar Trust and the To-
bacco Trust | withdrew the amendment.
No vote was ever taken en- it. Ar er dis
cusson made up my mind that the proper
thing to do was to leave the matter to be
settled by the courts. That having gone
to the length we had it was better TO let
the courts say whether or not this thing
should be done. There is nothing that l
think nybody can justly ce1sure ne with"
The senate Proceedings.
The following calendar bills were taken
up and passed. ao,,f .,st-
Amending an act fixing the fees of Jurors
in the United States courts in certain
States and Territories; for the relief of
AAt iDaOShis II - Npihpsih1 VI -Nt" II n
Mr.. Morgan then asked unanimous con-
sent to have the Nicaragua Csnal bill
made the regular order of business after >
O'Clock on April 80.
Mr.. Lodge do not see how l can cen
sent to that, in view of the bill which l
have in charge (the Philippine bilD.
Mr.. Morgan-I shall feel bound to an
tagonize that bill with the Nicaragua Ca
nal bill
The Quay resolution was then laid be-
fore the Senate and Mr.. Burrows delivered
tiCn to the seating OF Mr.. Quay. His re-
marks are referred TO elsewhere.
Mr.. Morgan then moved to proceed to
the consideration Of the Nicaragua Canal
bill but as the success of this motion
would displace the Philippine bill. Mr..
Lodge demanded the yeas and nays The
motion was defeated-yeas, Is; nays, 80
as follows:
Bacon, Bate, Berry Clay Culbcrson.
Daniel, Foster. Harris. Heitield. Jones Of Arkan-
sas, Jones OF Nevada, Money, Perkins, TaliaieTlo.
and yest--l5.
Nays-AIlison, Baker, Bard. Carter. Cuilom,
Davis, Deboe, DePew, Fairbanks, Foraker, Gal
linger, lIansbrough, Hawley, Kean. Lodge. Nc
Comas. McCumher, Mcmillan, Martin, Nelson,
Pettgrew. Plat OF Connecticut. Plat OF New
York, qulrles. Ross, Scott, SeweIl Shoup Stew
art, Teller, Thurston, TillmIn, and Wafr,n.-33.
The Alaskan bill.
A motion by Mr. Carter to take I'D the
Alaskan bill was also defeated-yeas %.
nays "a.
On motion of Mr.. Allison. the Senate
agreed to adjourn over Good Friday Ito
iay) and 20 meet tomorrow.
Mr.. Pettigrew addressed the Senate in
avor of his resolution extending sympathy
% the people of the South African Repub-
les in their struggle for independence 1t
vas evident, he said, that so long as the |
Administration was in power |
England would have at least the moral |
support of the United States in whatever |
,he might do. In no other way could he |
explain the course and the conduct of the |
President Mr.. Pettigrew hoped to see the |
lay when England would be driven from |
very foot of the South African soil and !
When free Republics would be established |
N the ruins of her despotsm. because Eng
and had conquered no people but to rob |
hem.
Without finishing his speech Mr.. Petit
rev yielded the floor and Mr. Morgan
ave notice of an amendment to the Philip
line bill directing the President in con-
ucting the government OF the Philippine
Stands. to execute In favor of the Fill
limos, the pledges of the Spanish Govern
nent in a treaty with the revolutionary |
arty in Luzon, so far as such treaty is
onsistent with the change of sovereignty.
After an executive session the Senate at
50 o'clock, adjourned until tomorrow.
The Adjutant Generals Rank.
An amendment to the Army Appropria-
ion bill was submitted to the Senate yes