The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-01
4 PETTY LARCENY BILL.

ably would raise about S1.250,000 per
annum.
x PETTY LARCENY BILL.
Mr. Berry (ky) said the amendment
proposed petty instead of grand larceny
Of the people of Porto Rico. He rid
cHled the laborious debate through which
the House hod passed over the question
of what the IT s. meant under the
Constitution.
Mr.. DeArmond tMo) called attention
to the peculiar language of the suhsti-
tutc. The words coming into the
United States, ne said, were plainly
intended to eyade the Constitution. But
| he argued that the numbering of the
! tmeen's English, and the violation of
the canons of language" could not make
/ it constitutional.
Mr.. Grosvenor Ohio said that much
OF the opposition To the pending bin
| was due TO the fact that it was misIn-
derstood.
Mr.. Otey Na.) convused the House
and galleries by mimicking the manner
| ism of some of the Republican leaders,
concluding with parody upon the
speech of Mr.. Cannon llls.) yesterday.
SECTION ADOPTED.
| The Payne amendment was adopted
! without division
Many members on both sides Of the
| House made brief five minute sDeerbes
! explaining their position Mr.. Richard
son fTenn.) had read Il communication
from delegation from Porto Ricans ap-
I pealng for free trade
! Mr.. Payne in reply said the gentlemen
| who signed that communication were
all directly pecunarily interested in ex-
porting sugar and tobacco into the
United States.
n verbal amendment to section was
adopted. Mr.. Payne then offered the
following section agreed upon at the
conference of Republicans ON Monday
night;
This act Shall be taken and held to
be provisional in its purposes and intend
Ell 10 meet pressing, present need for
revenue for the island of Porto Rico
and shall not continue in force after
March 1st, 1902
Mr.. Powers. (Vt), was the author of
the amendment and supported it,
Mr.. Sibley, Pa.l. announced his in
tention of voting for the bill. But Porto
RICO he said. was mere incident to
the broader proposition.
\ BATTLE OF WORDS.
''The emergency" interrupted Mr:.
/ Williams, QllD, lis not in Porto Rico,
but i'll the politics OF the Republican
F., party" Democratic applause.)
4 Mr.. Sibley: "Yoa have located the
/ politics on the wrong side" (Repubican
applause.)
Nj. Williams: 1T is pretty hard to
I locate YOU Lauglltcr)
! Mr.. Sibley replied that as he had said
before, his seat could be considered con-
structively on the Republican side. Con-
| tinuing he said that if it was estab-
! lished that every foot of territory owned
by the United States was on an absolute
! equality then he was opposed 10 the
| whole policy of expansion. If the inhab-
itants fthe Philippines could compete
/ with American production and American
I labor he was willing to give the archi-
! lelago to AguinaldO.
! Mr.. Sibley concluded with scathine
characterization of his Democratic itics
/ Mr. Hepburn. QOwa). said that the
! treaty by which Porto Rico and the
Philippines became ours could never have
been ratified without Democratic support
/ Mr. Carmack, (Tem), suggested that
treaty because they believed in the as
/ Surance of Republicans. Mr.. Hepburn
among them. that the Philippines were tC
be retained only temporarily.
Mr. Hepburn Indignantly denied that
anybody speaking for the Republican
party had ever offered such an assur-
ance.
Mr.. Payne's amendment was then
! fN will h.a off
ed the following to come in before the
/ enactinS clause:
Whereas the people of Porto Rico
have BEEN deprived of markets for a
/ large portion of their products and have
lost property and crops by severe and
unusual storms, whereby they are i'm
/ poverished. and are unable to pay inter
nal revenue and direct taxes. and
Whereas temporary revenue is nee
! essarv for their schools. thefE roads and
/ their internal Improvements and the ad-
ministration of their government, now
therefore" etc.
| TIIEY CHEERED TOO SOON.
At this point NIr. Cummings. On "
! threw the House into Il furore of eX-
! element. He described how he believed
! it to Ibe the duty Of every man in a great
! crisis to rise above party and support
/ the Government as he Aad done during
| the Spanish War. Il believe now ~
/ should follow the lead of the President.
| said he enl9Jhatically. ''and | will vote
| for this bill"
! This statement electrified the House.
! The Republicans without waiting for
/ him to finish his sentence rose en- massc
! and cheered while the Democrats sal
! stunned and dazed. Mr.. Cummings
i stood with arm appraised until, the Re-
/ publican applause ceased. Il will vote
/ for this bill he continued, addressing
/ the Republican side, provided it IS
amended in accordance with the advice oi
! the President for absolute free trade
! with Porto Rico 1t was not the turn
/ with Porto Rico" 1t was now the turn
! eral minutes they made the rafters ring
THE INTEREST INTENSE.
/ TIE excitement and confusion in
! creased as the time for the voting drew
near.
! Ulon the amendment Of Mr. Payne, 10
! iGsert a preamble before the enactins
clause the rising vote was 16:' yeas to
/ lJ1 nays.
4 Mn. pavuc then offered tho last com