The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-24
DEBATE is ABOUT COMPLETED
REPUBLICAN LEADERS EXPRESS
CONFIDENCE IN PASSAGE OF
THE MEASURE
RANK AND FILE DOUBTFUL
Many Think That the Safest wny
Out Is for the Measure to BE Sent
Back to the Committee for Mod
ification-Feature of the Day In
the House Was the Eloquent
Speech of Mr.. LittIefeId.

Speech of Mr. LittlefieId.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-An agreement
was reached In the house today that the
vote on the Puerto Rican tariff bill be
taken up al 8 p. NJ next Tuesday, gen.
eral debate to close Monday. Formal an
nouncement was made that Republican
conference would be held at 8 p. m. to-
morrow
The leaders continue to express the be-
lief that the bill will pass, but the i'm
preston is growing that a motion to re-
commit the bill to the committee on ways
and means will command strong support,
and may prevail.
Mr.. Underwood, the democratic whip"
today sent out kilograms to all absent
Democrats to be present on Monday,
when the voting may begin.
The speech of Mr.. Littlefeld, 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 brill
liancy, wit and logic, rivals the best eff
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 quelled.
Mr.. Russell Conn., a member of the
ways and means committee defended the
bill, saying that ii he felt apprehenslve
for his support Of the bill it would be be-
cause it would give to the island pro-
lection for the time being which would
initiate against the industries of the
United States, but he thought the island
at this time was entitled to some consid.
Grafton, in order that it might sooner or
later become fl to enter the American
Union The tobacco growers Of Connecti-
cut, he declared. had no interest in ex-
Guiding Puerto Rican tobacco.
ELOQUENT. APPEAL.
Mr.. Littlefeld followed, speaking
in the time yielded to him by Mr. Rich
this bill,' he began, because it Is un-
American, unprecedented, unwarranted
and unconstitutional"
lie occupied a painful position. He was
compelled to dissent from the policy ad-
vanced by distinguished men of his party,
whose long experience in legislation hal
made them worthy leaders He was a
Republican, and should support Republic
an doctrines, but when a great question
VI ll5H 1T anu WTOlS, ol prlEclpie was pre-
sented, he should do right as God gave
him to see the right. Democratic ap-
plause.) 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 any section of the Republican
party at any spot or place had justified
1T.
Proceeding, Mr.. Littlef1eld argued that
Tho 49,.
Rico could be brought about by loan
which the United States could authorize
it to raise In 1893 Puerto Rico had manu-
mitted $4,000 slaves without tumult or
bloodshed, the people paying So, 100000 to
free the bondmen Could not these peo-
pie, he asked be trusted to repay a tri-
fling loan to be used for the relief of the
island?
POINTS AGAINST BILL.
| All the people of Puerto Rico asked was
stable government and hands off They
| could take care of themselves Puerto
Rico could repay a loan of $10000,000 If
operating under free trade, in free mar
kets
II assert" added Mr.. Littlefeld, sthat
| this bill is drawn against the advice of
could take care of themselves. Puerto
| against the counsel of Secretary Root.
ident, and against the original recon-
mendations of the chairman of the ways
| and means committee"
| He argued that IL the industries of the
| United States were to be protected
| against the industries of Puerto Rico and
I later against those of the Philippines. the
industries of those islands could never
| prosper. American capital would never
go to them for investment. Puerto Rico
would remain an orange for us to
squeeze" the people hewers of wood and
drawers of water for the rs, 100000 people
of America.
Gen. Miles, when his army invaded
I Puerto Rico, had promised the nativvs
the 'immunities and blessings of our
government and they had crowned him
with garlands and had kissed the flag. .
| He would never vote, he said, to violate
! the pledge that great soldier had made.
Mr.. Payne asked unanimous consent
to close general debate on Monday with
debate under the fve-minute rule on
Tuesday up to 8 p. M, when the final
vote shall be taken.
Mr.. Richardson, the Democratic floor
leader, consented to this and the agres
ment was formally entered into. 1t was
! a part of the agreement that committee
amendments and substitute could be
presented.