The evening times., 1900-04-03
TO Vote THIO AFTERNOON
Close Of the Debate on the Porto
Rican Bill.
Senator'S Mason Wellington. and
Bacon HeRrd-The Early Speeches
in Opposition To the TarIH PrOPO-
sition-The Final Roll Call en- the
Measure Set for FOur O'Clock.

The closing days debate on the Porto
Rican bill In the Senate begaa al u o'clock
this morning, al OF the first part Of the
session being devoted TO speeches in OBJ
position 10 the measure. The galleries
were crowded and there was a large at
tendance OF members Of both houses on
! the floor, the most intense interest being
manifested in this last fight before the
vote is taken az o'clock this afternoon.
Mr. Mason was the first to address the
Senate. being followed by Messrs. Culber-
son, Wellington, and Bacon. BY rnani-
nous consent given yesterday each speech
after o'clock was limited TO fifteen min
utes duration
Mr. Mason, in opening. said he was in
favor OF free trade between the island
7 and the United States. He also opposeI
the resolution authorizing the President
10 govern the Philippine Islands until Con
gress should otherwise provide, which ne
considered legitimate part Of the dis
F.. cussion Of the Porto Rican question. He
said he had waited in silence for more than
year. hoping against hope that something
might happen that would relieve the ter
rible situation in the Philippines. For
more than a rear he had been denounced
by the ignorant as a traitor 20 his party
and 10 mis- country. simply because he had
convictions and had not hesitated 10 state
them. He could not hope for much better
treatment tomorrow than he had received
fourteen months ago. He did not even eN-
pect in the same quarter 10 be even ac-
credited with acting from sense OF duty.
He did not expect TO escape that class Of
men who would assassi nate Character 10
make more sure official salary and make
more easy the pichings from the pot Of
patronage.
He did indulge in the hope however.
Jtat II view Of the pre- ent situation some
Of his friends and constituents. who had
failed 10 see before. would now see Why
he was opposed 20 the annexation and per
msnent governmeut o. the Philippine ISL
ands. He was opposed % &. he said fTSJ.
because under the law Of nations the
United States had not title and never
could have complete title except By con
quest OF the iuhabi-1uts Backed by de-
cisions Of the Supreme Court OF the
United States he claimed thar the title on
the United States 10 soyereigat, in The
Philippines could no. be pe.fect4l with
CIT the consent or their people.
As he had said before he did not wish
the Coo eco cF Filipinos for citizens ueith-
er did he wish them for slaves. IN either
case they would compete with American
laboF. ana 20 that ne was opposed. He
acknowledged that he was an ezpansiouist.
but was against taking any territory by
conquest against friendly people or any
territory that brought a cheap class o.
labor into free and open competition with
mericau laborers. Unless the Supreme
Court changed It's decision. o. the Cogstitu-
tion were amended no protection could be
raised against that labor sny more than
the tariH vail could be put I'D between
California and New York
Referring TO the change OF front on the
question Of expansion. Mr Mason said.
Many people are OF this opinion. Eow.
WhO we're not OF this opinion year-ago.
Many OF the papers. labOriug men. and
statesmen. who six months ago we're
shouting so loud for expansion. with a
string 10 &c. are willing nov 20 Iet 90 OF
the string and say a kind word 20 thc I1en
they called traitors a few months since,
and even from the grand old Common
wealth OF Connecticut that drank so deep
from the inspiring spring OF expansion.
and whose Senator's spoke 50 eioquentlY OF
government by consent CT some of the
governed. nov speak Of expansion in a
more mellow tone and notify US that they
are still willing 10 do Gods service and
carry out our high destiny, II Il does not
interfere with the Connections wrapper
At I O'Clock the vote viii be taken on
he bill and all amendments OF which no
tice has previously been given.