Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-03-07

have the power to remit or modify
duties on Puerto Rican products com.
ing into the ports of the United States.
In view of the pressing necessity for
immediate revenue in Puerto Rico for
conducting the government there and
for the extension of public education,
and in view also of the provisional
legislation just inaugurated by the
house of representatives, and for
the purpose Of making the princi-
pie embodied in that legislation appli-
cable TO the immediate past as we'll as
to the immediate future, I recommend
that the above sum so collected and
the same hereafter collected under
existing law, shall, without waiting
for the enactment of the general legis'
lation now pending, be appropriated
for the use and benefit of the island" !"
All the Republicans had previously
been warned to be in their seats, and
to them, of course, the message was
no surprise. There was CONSERVATION
on the Democratic side. Mr.. Richard
son, the Democratic leader, remarked
II hope the recommendation will meet
with favor on that side of the house,"
meaning, of course, the Republican
side. Mr.. Cannon, who was in charge of
the Republican arrangements retorted,
"Ill see if it meets with favor on your
side" Then be requested unanimous
consent for the immediate considera-
tion of bill to put into force the rec
ommendation of the president. Mr..
Richardson stood hesitating and Mr..
Cannon chafed him with, "Better do
it at once before you change your
mind. Mr.. Richardson then asked
how much time would be allowed for
debate, and when told 20 minutes on
side, remarked tha: he thought the
Republicans might be depended upon
to continue the same way of thinking
for 40 minutes, and assented to imne-
date consideration. Mr.. Cannon then
introduced the following
"Be it enacted, etc., that the sum of
So, 2,095, ,455 being the amount of customs
revenue received on importations by
the United States from Puerto Rico
since the evacuation of Puerto Rico by
the Spanish forces on October Is, 1898,
to January l, 1900, together with any
further customs revenae collected on
importations from Puerto Rico since
January l, 1900, or that shall hereaf-
ter be collected under existing laws,
shall be placed at the disposal of the
president, to be used for the govern
ment and benefit of Puerto Rico until
otherwise provided by law; and the
revenues herein referred to, already
collected and to Le collected, under
existing law, are hereby appropriated
for the purposes herein specified out Of
any moneys in the treasury not other
wise appropriated"
Mr. Cannon had but few words to
say in support of the bill. He thought
the reasons set forth by the president
were entirely satisfactory, and he OBJ
served to the Democrats that their
attitude on the bill would serve as
test as to whether the tears they had
been shedding over the starving Puerto
Ricans were of the crocodile variety.
Concluding: "Now come and vote
for this bill, every man of you"
Mr.. Bailey, who is perhaps the read
lest speaker on the Democratic side,
answered Mr.. Cannon. He objected
to the bill on the ground that it put
the expenditure of the Porto Rican
revenues absolutely within the discle-
tion of the president, and he was not
willing to give such power to any
one man. He thought it would be
more proper to leave the disposition of
the Puerto Rican revenues to congress.
But the whole line of procedure
had been distinctly marked. The Re-
publicans had the advantage and were
thoroughly aware of that fact. Had
the Democrats refused unanimous con-
sent for the consideration of the bill,
then the Republicans would have sad
died upon them responsibility for with
holding from Puerto Rico the relief that
the Democrats had all along been
claiming that Puerto Rico was entitled
to. Having given unanimous consent
for consideration, there was no other
way for it than that the Democrats
should swallow such bill as the Repub-
lican majority might dictate.
The bill passed by vote of l62 to
1O7. Thirteen Democrats, Mr.. Will
son, of South Carolina, among them,
voted against the bill. Mr.. Under
wood, of Alabama, explained that ne
voted for the bill only that be might
have the right to move for a reconsid-
Grafton.