The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-02-25

u
Porto Rico Bill.
Washington, Feb. Throughout
[ the debate on the Porto Rico bill in the
house of representatives today there
was an undercurrent of speculation on
the outcome of the efforts to bring
about united action on the part of the
majority Of the house. Frequent con-
/ ferences were held between representa-
/ tives of the various elements, in the
hope of bringing about a common
ground of understanding for consider
alton at the formal conference to be
held at .. m.
The debate brought out a speech by
, Representative Tawney of Minnesota.
scoring Mr.. Littlefeld of Maine for his
, speech of yesterday, and also two
speeches from the Republican side by
Mr.. TOmDkins of New York and Mr.
Powers of Vermont, opposed to the
bill Mr.. Thayer of Massachusetts,
closed the day with a defense of the
!anti-imperialistS-
The other speakers were Mr.. Eddy Of
Minnesota for the bill and Messrs-
I'D ltlll ~ -AAdDc4lAltA anu al DNss-A u VI
Louisiana against it.
Mr. Clayton (AIaD was the first
+ speaker of the day, presenting a legal
argument against the bill. He main
tanned that the United States military
/ forces held Porto Rice at the time of
the treaty and that the island became
as much a part of the United States
as the territory Of Arizona.
Mr. Tawney (MinnD. a member Of
the ways and means committee, enliven-
} ed the debate by severe arrangement
of Mr.. Littlefield of Maine for his
/ speech of yesterday attacking the bill
and its promoters.
Scores Mr. Littlefeld.
/ 7 have been profoundly impressed"
/ said Mr.. Tawney. with the great i'm
! pOrtance Of the questions involved in
/ this discussion. Until yesterday these
/ questions had been considered by gen.
/ tlemen on both sides of the house with
( the utmost sincerity, with earnestness
and with that dignity becoming Ques-
tons Of so great Importance and the
dignity of the forum in which they are
to be tried. I regret that it was sUffi-
cient for the gentleman from Maine 10
play in this great debate the part Of a
buffOOn for the benefit Of the Demo-
cratic party and for the amusement Of
the galleries.
The Democratic applause with
which that peculiar afectation Of
voice was received on yesterday would
not have greeted a speech made upon
the pending bill by that late peerless
American statesman and always loyal
Republican predecessor of the gentle
man from Maine. The hope Of nOtO-
riety or the existence of legal technical
tiles would not have induced that gen
tieman tMr. Dingley) TO have left the
ranks of the Republicans and joined
the ranks Of the Democrats. simply be
cause his judgment did not coincide
with the judgment of his associates
upon the ways and means committee
or upon the floor Of this house respect
ing party policy. Nor could he have
been induced 10 have exhibited that
want OF decent courtesy towards the
members Of that committee OF his col
+ leagues upon the floor of this house
I which the gentleman Gittlefeld) ex-
mblted in the course of his remarks.
An Unprecedented Course.
/ What IS the excuse the gentleman
has for his unusual and may say ln-
precedented cOUTSe2 What is his JUS
ufcation2 He tried to make this house
DelieNe II IS because we are attempting
70 impose tax upon the people of
Porto Rico, and also because. accord
ing 70 the peculiar logic Of this back
woods lawyer, as he claims himself.
this bill is unconstitutional.
In the course Of his remarks he told
TINS house that if this bill is enacted
INTO law, the spruce lumber men of
Name carrying their lumber to Porto
Rico would he obliged to pay a duty of
90 cents thousand on all the rough
lumber which they take to that island.
w no IS II that is complaining of that
TAX OF 3O cents a thousand? Not the
people or Porto Rico. but the lumber
I barons of the state Of Maine.
That IS the reason which the gentle
man IS here saying he cannot agree
with MS party associates in imposing
duty upon American products going
INTO Porto Rico, when he knows that
every dollar of that duty is paid over
to the people Of that island for their
benefit
And if this theory which he has al
ways advocated and which the Repub-
/ means nave ALWAYS claimed To be cor
rect, If the theory tht the man who i'm
ports pays the duty. then all of this
tax upon products going TO Porto Rico
! IIpHl lhe United states is paid by the
people Of the United States. It is not.
therefore, the tax upon the Dc0Dle Of
J+cu"n, but because the fishermen of
New England and the spruce lumber
men Of Maine want to get their pro-
( uucJs INTO the ports 81 Porto Rica for
- per cent Of the existing tariff on
goods Wnen imported iut0 he United
states from foreign countries"
Littlefeld Was Unmoved.
Mr.. Littlefeld listened to the speech.
but made no effort 20 answer.
Alter discussing the bill Nr. Tawnav
concluded as follows. Imperialism. in
the sense of despotic rule, can never
nave a place in our republic excert by
the destruction OF the republic i-eeie
ana It's eNtirpation of the American
ideal With such imperialism RepubIi-
canism is relentlessly at war
Mr.. Eddy CMinuD said mat an the
doloToUs predictions made against the
Dill would soon be releEated TIC the
Democratic chamber of Forrors Cor use
at some future time when q great
emergency arose He would supDo-t
the bill, h said, believing il to be the
Dest measure attainable to establish a
sound fiscal system in Porto Rico.
Mr.. Tompkins rep. y. W an
nounced that he was not in accord with
the majority Of his Republican assOcl-
ateS on this bill. He failed 90 : 80 in
II, he said, that justice and fairness
which characterized the policy of the
Republican party. He believed with
his party in the doctrine of protection
but that party did not uphold a 2ro-
tectlon unjust or discriminating against
particular states OF territories. He in
sisted also that even If congress had
the power 10 act in this way. the cir
y 4