The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-02-23

several notable speeches. IN the house
today. including one by Representative
Grosvenor OF Ohio, who answered
number of questions as to the attitude
Of the PRESIDENT another by Repre-
sentative Mccall of Massachu- ettS, the
Republican member Of the ways and
means committee, who dissented from
the majority report, and Representa-
tive Moody, another Massachusetts Re
publican who sharply criticised the
position of his colleague. Mr.. McClel-
Ian ~, v and Mr.. Brantley (Ga,) also
spoke against the bill and Mr.. Parker
On j. in support of it. The debate
was continued at night session.
The house began holding early ses-
Sions today. meeting at IL a. m. owing
to the pressure for time in the Porto
Rico debate. Mr.. Mcclellan ~. V
opened the debate, speaking in oppOsi-
ton TO the bill, which he characterized
as the most outrageous OppOrtunism
that has been submitted to a govern
ment body at least since the days of
that prophet of OppOrtunism. Leon
Gambetta. He argued at some length
quoting great many decisions to
prove that the position of the majority
was untenable. and that the irhabit-
ants of Porto Rico are citizens of the
United States, within the constitutional
rights of citizens, and that the cOnsti-
tuition extends prOpTia vigOre over the
island Of Porto Rico, the United States
only holding IL in trust for the state
eventually TO be erected out Of its ter
TitOry.
Mr.. Mcclellan was frequently and
generously applauded by his Democrat
ic associates.
No Policy So Far.
Mr.. Brantley (Ga) spoke against the
bill, and particularly on the future of
year had elapsed since the treaty of
peace, and yet congress had failed thus
far to lay down a policy for the Phil
ippineS. II was this inactiOn by congress
he said, which spread uncertainty
among the Filipinos and nerved them
20 further opposition. He declared that
the new Philippine commission could
accomplish nothing. and that If it went
to the Philippines at all, il should go
with the authority and power which
congress alone could grant.
Mr.. Grogvenor fO) followed IN sup
port Of the bill, He said that any pO-
ltical party or Individual who took
Pert in ratifying and, supporting the
treaty with Spain was estOpped from
opposing any Of the legitimate effects
of that treaty. When that treaty hung
in the balance a certain Nebraska
colonel left his regiment and came to
Washington to aid in securing Tatifca-
ton. anC he did influence votes a. a
critical junCture. At that Mr.. GrOsYtn-
or said if there was one man in the
country who should shoulder response
bility for the treaty and its succeeding
responsibilities, that man was William
J. Bryan of Nebraska.
The Presidents Position.
Mr.. Grosvenor SAID there appeared to
be great seusitiveuess lest the wishes
CHI. !
cut and this sensitiveness was most
apparent on the Democratic side among
those not particularly active in sup
DO -ting the president. The president
had performed the constitutional duty
in presenting his view to congress.
Since then much official information
had been submitted, showing concIu-
sively that it was imperativeiy neces-
sary TO raise money for Porto Rico in
some way in C-der to restore the de-
pressed Industries and institutions Of
the island.
This information had been so con-
elusive that views had changed, both
in the senate and here. and, yielding
TO it, the ways and means committee
brought forward this BILL believing it
to be the best thing attainable for
Porto Rico and for this country. There
was only one alternative 10 this tariff
measure, and that was to so down in
our pockets and appropriate from the
treasury enough to sustain the island.
Mr.. Richardson (TennD at this point
asked: Il understand the gentleman
holds that the president did not under
stand the situation at the time Of his
message, Now / ask him if the preSi-
dent understands the situation at this
timer"
Not McKinley's Mouthpiece.
Mr.. Grosvenor responded that he was
not the mouthpiece of the president,
and that Mr. Richardson's question did
not correctly represent what had been
said. He added:
II think 1 know the president reas-
onably Wen, and, speaking as an indi-
vidual and knowing all the things in
VOWED in the situation here now,
think that nothing would give the pres
ideut greater sorrow than the defeat OF
this bin and the turning over Of this
house 10 the Democratic minority"
AIr. GToSveuOr said it was hardly 10
be supposed that the president az The
time he made his recommendation for
the relief of Porto Rico. appreciated
that such simple question would be
made the text for a constitutional issue
more grave than anything since the
Dredd- Scott case.
Taking up the broad right of congress
20 deal with the subject Mr.. GrosvenOI
said Daniel Webster had been the first
TO maintain the power of congress over
new territory. And yet it remained fOT
a Massachusetts member Of the house
a representative from Cambridge NC
CAM 70 call this right in question.
The reference TO Cambridge brought
Mr.. Moody (Mass.) to his feet with the
statement that Harvard university was
on the side Of the ways and means ma
jOrity.
Pleasant Political Raillery.
Mr.. GrosvenOr's discussion Of the
fiscal and constitutional question was
varied by good natured political raillery
with the members across the aisle
When Mr.. Neville (Neb.) asked if Mr.
GrOsvenor expected to embaIm the Fill
ipinOs along with the declaration of
independence in the Philippines, the
Ohio member answered that when the
Democratic party got through with the
Iilipin0s II would need embalming. Al
another point Mr.. Gr0svenor created
laughter by referring, ironically. to Az
dinald0 as the George Washington OF
the Philippines"
Mr. Mccall {8Iass.} followed N oppO-
sition ia the bill. His speech was fol-
lowed with great interest. as he was
the only member Of the ways and
means majority to dissent from tbs
majoritF report.
Mr Mccall said that he regretted
greatly thst ke could not agTee with