The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-20

to the people of Porto Rico taxes takes
from them wrongfully and ~unconstitu
tionally- The United Stafes has no
gwen the people of Porto Rico a cen
and IL Is high time" said he. " that we
give back to them the non we have
stolen from them"
Senator Tillman declared that the
government established now in Porte
| Rico was worse than that forced upon
the people by Spain. particularly as 10
the islands financial affairs. as. under
Spanish rule. the Porto Ricans had If
least a free market in Spain for their
goods.
This assertion Senator Galllnse- dis
puted, calling Senator Tfllman's atten-
ton to the fact that Spain levied a
duty Dol Porto Rican products. eSpe-
cially coffee. which constituted four
ffths Of the export product of the is
land
Senator Tillman thought the way to
help the people OF Porto Rico to get on
their feet was to give them a market
through the means OF free trade with
h United States. II a public soup
house was started men who might
earn their living with a hoe or an axe
would sit down n a for the soup
to be handed around. The result
would be to cut OF the very labor
necessary to rehabilitate the island as
it should be rehabilitated.
Senate Tillman referred 20 what he
said would be the monumental salaries
Of n officials OF the insular posses
sions. particularly noting the members
of the Philippine commission.
Senator Foraker informed Senator
T.liman that he had been told that the
highest salary of any member OF the
commission would be $40, 900 a year.
That may be disappointing to the
senator" suggested Senator Foraker.
No" replied Senator Tillman. I'm
gratifed. I'm always willing to trust
William Mckinley, but it's his bad
and wicked partners that I'm afraid OF.
He is a patriotic and noble man, al
though Just now he may be carried of
his feet by the dream of appearing in
history alongside of Jefferson and 9TH
ers who added largely TO our territory"
Senator Tillman urged Senators
Jones and Pettus to withdraw the
amendments which they had offered.
in order that the measure might be
passed without delay and just as Ii
came from the Senat committee.
Senator Jones withdrew his amend
ment, but Senator Pettus insisted Upon
a vote on his amendments, which. in
effect, were the making of a direct ap-
preparation for the relief of the Porto
Ricans without any reference to the
tarlff or customs duties collected.
The amendments were defeated.
The bill as reported by the senate
committee was then passed without
division, only a few scattering Noes
being heard against 1t.
Senator MaSon entered a motion that
the foreign relations committee be
discharged from further consideration
Of his resolution expressing sympathy
for the Beers. Under the rule the mo-
ton went owe n at 4:40 o'clock p.
m. the senate adjourned until Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
In the house today Saturday, March
oath, was set aside for paying tribute
to the memory Of the late Representa-
tive Sidney P. Epes, Of Virginia.
This was the first private bill day
in the house under the new rule and
after some minor business the house
went into committee of the whole to
consider private claim bills. The first
called up was a bill to pay RepreSen-
tative Claud A. Swanson, of Virginia,
81, .69, the mount of expenses incurred
by him in connection with his contest
in excess of the 49, 900 allowed by law.
Mr.. Swanson's seat was contested in
the last congress-, but the house twice
refused to consider the case.
!. Mr.. Otey, Of Virginia, urged prece-
dent in support of the claim. Mr..
Crumpacker, of Indiana, opposed the
an exception to the policy in such
cases. Some of the democrats, he said,
had favored the abolition OF any al
lowance, on the ground that the al
lowance to contestants foStered con-
tests, but he thought the law should
stand until there were fair elections
in the south. But a bad precedent
should lot be made by paying this
claim in excess of $4,000.
Mr.. Burke, of Texas, supported the
| claim. He thought in all justice the
expense to which Mr.. Swanson had
been put should be refunded to him.
| He denounced the law which gave con
testants $1,000 whether they were seat
! ed or not. 1t placed a premium upon
] wildcat contests. Since the law had
| been passed 167 contests a been filed
l in the house.
After some further debate, the advo-
| Gates of the bill agreed to its with
| drawal. Six bills of minor Importance
were then passed and at $40 o'clock
p. m. the house adjourned.