The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-04-11
TO Vote AT FIVE O'CLOCK
House Action on Senate 4 mend
mems to the Porto Rican Bill.
The Rule Limiting Debate Adopted,
I5S to I42-C0nceded That the Mo
tiOn to Concur VIII Prevail by II
Narrow MarEin-Mr. Richardson's
ArraiEnmcnt OF the Republicans


siderable excitement over the approach
iag contest on the Porto Rican bill Be
fore the Speakers gaveI fell. Democrats
conceded that the motion to concur In the
Senate amendments would prevail by from
three 10 nine majority. The galleries were
crowded and the attendance of members
was greater than any time since the origi-
nal passage of the bill.
The journal Of yesterdays proceedings
having been read. Mr.. DalzeII presented
the resolution from the Committee on
Rules to govern the consideration Of the
bill As he rose a great calm fell upon
the House. The resolution provided that
the Committee OF the Whole be discharged
from further consideration Of the bill and
that it be considered by the House until
o'clock this afternoon when vote is TO
be taken on the motion 10 concur in the
Senate amendments 1t also gives all
members leave 10 print remarks on the
bill for ten days The rule was adopted
15S TO l42.
Explaining the resolution. Mr.. Dllzell
reviewed the history CT the pro ccd ngs
upon the bill in the Senate and Eouse,
which sent back the bill With a provision
attached for a civH government 10 the ISL
and. The majority of the House. be said,
belived that these matters had been sufTi-
cinenuy discussed, and that what the pub
lie Interests demanded was action. net
talk. The purpose of The rule was 10 Sc
cure vote on cOEcUrring IN the Senate
amendments.
| hr. RichnrtlSon's trruignment.
Mr. Richardson. leader of the minority.
said that the Senate had added the in
iquity of an imperislistic form Of gov
eminent for Porto Rico. Il had not been
the original purpose Of the Republican
party to enact that legislation and ne said
he supposed that the change Of policy Of
that party regarding the question Of free
trade with Porto Rico was acknowledged
on an hands
He would ask the Republicans TO de-
clare the reason FOR these changes. lie
quoted then from the expressions OF prom
. luent Republicans. including officials TO
/ show that the original purpose 81 the par
ty had been 20 grant Porto Rico free
| tr'de, but for some reason thar purpose
had been changed. Referring 10 the re-
/ ported action OF Judge Nagoou. Law Clerk
Of the Division Of Insular Affairs in the
! War Department. i'm furnishing Secretary
| Root with an opinion that The COnstitu-
tiOp was extended over Porto Rico
Mr. Richardson said upOu the strength
/ OF that opinion a proclamation hai been
prepared declaring free tra3e with ICrto
Rico, and sent to the Presidents summer
home for his signature nut Dc had not been
signed. The House had asked for copy
OF that opinion. but the Secretary OF War
had failed To respond. And 10 q PERSONAL
request by the Speaker for the opinion
no attention had been paid. According 10
a paper which published part OF thar cpir-
ion, Mr.. Richardson said. Air- Nagoou n &
r--Fr Irs.rr
tion did not eN prOprIO vigore extend over
the island.
He read from the first opinion. and the
| assertion contained therein that The Con-
| stitution did extend &c Porto Rico was re-
ceived with applause by the Democrats.
| Discussing the reasons for the changes
Of policy by the Republican party Mr.. Rich
ardson quoted from the letter Of Prof
| Worcester. a member Of the Philippine
| Commission, TO the effect that the trusts
had gone down 10 Washington to take the
| Republican party by tie throat hence thG
| change. and from the published statement
( creditink a Republican member CT the
1 House with saying that the change was
made to secure big contribution for The
campaign fund.
The Republicans. Mr.. Richardson said,
| were not consistent IN the matter; they
| refused TO give the Porto Ricans $3.50 600
| Of tariff duties. while voting to give them
SIX times as much in an appropriation
bill.
Mr.. De Armond in a speech lasting a
| minute and a half closed the debate for
! the Democrats on the rule. saying that the
/ presentation Of the rule indicated that il
! was deemed necessary by that portion OF
| the Republicans determined % crush inGe-
| pendence in their ranks. He warned the
party that they could not always suppress
| conscience and judgment.
General GrOSvenOr's Defence.
! General Grosvenor, a member Of the
| Committee on Rules, followed in support OF
| the resolution, making a speech that stir
REQ both sides Of the House with radically
different emotions. 1t was a great salts
( faction to him, he said 70 witness the anx-
I iety exhibited by the Democrats on the
/ folr. other persons outside. and a mug
wump press that the Republican party shall
| not destroy itself. In all his experience il
! the House of sixteen years he had never
! Known the Democratic party so sorrowfully
/ jealous that the Republican party should
| do itself no harm.
/ The Democrats had ransacked every
! telegraph Office in the land to summon ab-
/ sent members here. and for what EUR
pose? TO prevent the Republican party
! from bringing upon itself the anger and
| contempt of an outraged majority" ZAP
| plause and laughter.l
! As he went on General Grosvenor grew
! more and more severe, and caustic upon
/ the Democrats and their leaders, his DO
| litical associates applaudiGg him as ne
| proceeded. and the Democrats interrupt
| ing frequently with outbursts of resent
| ment At one point Srea al1er Henderson
| demanded order in a vigorous manner. at
which the Democrats laughed. The
| Speaker said:
! The Chair viii protect both sides: and
in his efforts he ought 10 have the support
| Of every gentleman on the floor"
Continuing. General GrosvenOr said he
needed no protection; that he was a pro-
teetionist himself The question at issue.
! he said, was made a political matter, a
| matter Of political policy by the action Of
| the Democratic caucus which declared that
| opposition to the bill was ia test Of party
| loyalty and standing.
| At his point Mr. Terry shouted, "We
! are drawer than you are" This sally was
| gree,ed by an Outburst OF applause
General GrOsvenor continuing said he
| honOred the Democrats who put their par
| ty aside and voted for the public inter
| est; IL was that kind of men the people
honored and were ready to excuse for anv
! error they might make. Turning then 10
Mr.. Richardson's speech General Grosve-
| nor said that he hurled back in his teeth.
the charge that bribery was the influence
! behind the bill. Does the gentleman ex-
| pect that he can be a hypOcrite every
where, and not be exposcd?"
| Referring TO the statement credited 10
| d Republican member that the bill was to
( Nnfr mo nHrnlf In Il.