Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-19
Congress May Not Adjourn Until
Midsummer
MUCH WORK YET TO BE DONE
after the Financial Bill, the Govern.
nent Of Puerto Rico Is Most Press
ing-subjects to be Discussed.
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
Washington, February 10, 19OO.-It
Is about this time in the session that
talk begins about an early date for ad-
tournament. have heard the same
suggestions during very long session
Of Congress, and the time fixed by the
early guessers Is from the middle OF
May to the last of June. Already those
who are anxious to see an early adj
jurnmcnt say there is no reason why
Consres' should not get away by the
middle Of May and affirm that the ear
ly vote on the financial bill in the Sem
ate makes It possible to dispose Of all
other business. do not agree with
them aud predict that the Fourth Of
July viii zee Congress still in session.
In the FIRST place, there will be quite a
long consideration Of the financial bill
when Il Is In conference between the
two houses. Then when the bill is
finally agreed upon, In must be adopted
In both bodies This will not take so
very much time in the House. but In
the Senate there Is likely to be more
debate on the conference report than
we have heard upon the bill reported
by the Senate committee. Besides the
financial bill there are a number OF
measures destined TO take time. The
Nicaragua canal bill, the bills for Puer-
10 Rico, Hawaii and Alaska are all TO
he nassed-at least that is the present
intention-and II looks as II a majority
OF both houses desire 10 stay here until
they are out Of the way
PUERTO RICO WILL LEAD.
Senator Foraker, chairman Of the
committee on Puerto Rico and the Pa
cihc islands, began Immediately upon
a measure for the government Of Puer-
70 Rico. The bill for Hawaii had been
referred before Senator Forakers
committee was organized and by mu-
tual consent remained in that commit
tee so that II could be in charge of SEN
ator Cu'lJm, who was chairman OF the
Hawaiian commission. Senator For
aker, ever active and Industrious, will
push his Puerto Rico hill at the earliest
possible moment This bill opens up
the whole matter Of island possessions,
and the legislation upon It VIII be with
due regard TO the effect upon the Phil
ippines and Cuba, II that island should
ever become a part OF the United
States. This means a discussion far
reachln. in Its range and important
In ITS bearing upon the future course
Of the United States. Already we have
had deal OF talk upon the Philip
pines. The Puerto Rican bill win bring
on great deal more. Thus far the
discussion has been upon resolutions
expressing the ideas Of individual SEN
atgrs which have been called up from
time 20 time when some senator desir-
ed TO talk. On the Puerto Rlcan bill II
VIII be a serious question, as the bill
10 PASS Is one which a majority Of the
Senate must agree upon. IL Is quite
likely that those senator's who have
discussed the subject In the abstract
VIII now 60 over the ground upon the
practical siSe Of the question as APP
Piled 20 proposed legislation. The bill
WIN not only call forth remarks from
those WHO have talked, but other sena-
tors will have a great deal to say.
SOME OF THE SUBJECTS.
Just think OF the topics 10 be
brought out by measure proposing a
a form OF government for the island. |
There Is first the constitutional power
to govern II as q separate territory
the rights Of the Puerto Ricans to be |
the tariff. that never ending |
source Of debate. for II Is the tariff ana |
prospective entrance OF the products OF |
the Islands into the United States that |
c".ses a great deal Of apprehension In
protective circles; then the various
Of territorial acquisitions.
beginning with the manner in which |
territory was first treated and the |
treatment OF all subsequent acaulsl-
tons. oh. there is enough In sight to |
keep the constitutional lawyers busy
Tor long time. II is a saying In the
Senate that any constitutional point
can always get half the Senate going
almost any time, Then, as the appro-
priation bills comes along there is GO
ng 70 be more talk, 80 that, all things
| think we can safely say
hat July viii be the month Of Ad- |
Iournment,
THE INDEPENDENT SENATE.
! am following the decision Of the
ooard Of geographic names In spelling
Puerto Rico. In the Senate and in all
documents Of that body Il is Porto"
Rico, The former Is Spanish and the
after Portuguese The name Porto"
vas liked and the stationery Of the
Committee so printed before the board
made Its decision. II is impossible 10
ight aaginst this board. II has con-
racted and punched together some old
historic names In this country, abso-