The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-19
MAIN BATTLE ON.
Skirmishing on the Status of
Island Possessions
Gives Place to a General Engage
ment in the House.
PORTO RICAN BILL
Involving the Right to Levy a
Tariff on the Islanders.
Payne, of New York, Opens the
Debate ON the Measure.

Washington, Feb 19.-The galleries
of the house were well filed today in
anticipation of the opening of the de-
bate upon the Porto Rican tariff bill
Before the bill was called up, Mr.. Dol
liver, of Iowa, from the committee on
ways and means, moved the passage
under suspension of the rules of the bill
reported from that committee to amend
sections 1899 and S341 of the revised
statutes relating to internal revenue tax
on fermented liquors. The purpose of
the bill, Mr.. Dolliver said, was to abol-
ish the smaller packages of beer, one
sixth and one-eighth barrels. The bill,
he said, was asked for by the brewing
interests of the country. It would in
no wise effect the revenue.
Mr.. Fletcher (Rep-, Minn0 offered an
amendment, providing that the bill
shall not go into effect until July 1.
1900
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr.. Sulzer Dem., N. " said he fa-
a sop to the brewers. What they really
wanted was the abolition of the war
taxes. He thought the war revenue
law should be repealed.
The Republicans, he said, had prom
ised to do that when the war was over,
but they had made no move in that di-
rection-
He. challenged the leaders on the
repeal that law which is used to pile
up money in the treasury to be loaned
without interest to pet national banks.
Mr.. Terry Dem., Ark.) declared that
the Republicans were using the war
taxes to exc out the deficiencies caused
by the Dingley law, which he said had
proven a most lamentable failure
The Republicans jeered this remark,
and continued to jeer when Mr.. Terry
said that the Republicans dare not
abolish their policy of criminal aggres-
sion in the Philippines because of the
secret understanding with Great Brit
ain and that for the same reason they
dare not offer ,a.sword of sympathy to
the two republics struggling for liberty
in South Africa.
Mr.. often CEis.). Mr.. Bartholdt (AIo)
and Mr.. Babcock CWiS.) urged the pas
sage of the bill in justice to the brewers.
The latter said that the brewers were
carrying the greatest tax burden In
this country, paying $72 100000 of taxes
and were entitled to consideration.
Mr.. Bartlett (Georgia) said the hum
BILE were asking relief from the war
taxes and they should be listened to as
we'll as the rich association of brewers
who paid heavy campaign contribu-
tions. The bill was passed without d.
vision.
PORTO RICAN BILL CALLED UP.
Mr.. Payne CNew York; floor leader Of
the majority then moved that the htuse
go into committee of the whole to con-
slider the Porto Rican tariff bill
Pending the motion, Mr.. Payne offer
ed to make an agreement by which
general debate should close on Satur-
day, the bill to be taken up under the
five minute rule on Monday next and
the final vote to be taken at o'clock.
Mr.. Call (Mass.) asked if such an ar
rangement would preclude a vote upon
the bill originally introduced by Mr..
Payne for free trade with Porto Rico,
which was in line with recommends
tions of the president in his annual
message.
Mr. Payne replied that was a matter
for the house and the committee to de-
eide.
Mr.. Richardson, the minority leader
insisted that there should be definite
understanding that the minority could
offer a substitute. To this Mr.. Payne
declined to agree. AS a matter of privi-
lege, Mr.. Hit (Ill.) reported back from
the committee on foreign affairs the
Wheeler resolution calling upon the
state department for information as to
the truth of the charges of Mr.. Macrum,
ex-consul at Pretoria, concerning the
opening of his mail by the British auth
| critics and it was adopted by the house.
The house then went into committee
| of the whole with all questions relating
| to the close of the debate OPEN
Mr.. Payne in charge of the bill OPEN
| ed the debate with carefully prepared
| argument in support of the measure.
| He was listened to with marked atten-
| tion He said in part:
MR.. PAYNE'S REMARKS.
| AS IOF the people Oh Porto fk1CO 4
would move as fast as their own good
| will warrant. Pass this bill which even
| in the opinion of the gentleman from
| Massachusetts (McCalD is a well con-
! sidered measure from a fiscal stand
| point, and give them better markets
! and abundant revenue. Do not tie down
| their destinies to the whim of 80 per
| cent illiterate or to the caprice of the
| 10 per cent of the educated, who have
| known no government except Spanish
! misrule. Keep them all in leading
| strings until you have educated them
! up to the full stature of American man
hood and then crown them with the
| glory of American citizenship. In the
meantime give them all the rights ac-
corded to our own people under the con-
stitution consistent with their best in
| terests and happiness.
.What shall we do with the Philip
pines? First stamp out insure ction
and restore law and order. Then in
vestigate and legislate with caution. al
ways remembering their welfare and
our own. If in the meantime the su-
prene court should declare that your
Interpretation of the constitution is
right, which 1 do not for a moment be-
lieve, then our task will be fraught with
the greatest difficulty But l believe
that American craftsmanship will in
that event work out the problem to the
elevation of the Philippines and the
glory of our country.
sTf we prove to be right in our con-
, / tention our task will be far easier 1t
! will be safe to trust the American peo-
pie and their representatives We VIII
teach them the principles of the Amer
lean constitution-in the meantime we
will not ourselves forget those prin-
ciples in our dealings with them our
constant aim shall be to elevate them
whether we incorporate them finale,
into our system or send them forth