Evening star., 1901-02-25
ent applied to the customs tax of Is per

Mr. Morgan pointed out tnat tniS pfopo-
sition was to pay customs revenues into
the Porto Rican treasury. In his opinion
this was violation of a specific provision
of the Constitution which required all Gus
toms to he paid into the United states
treasury.
Mr.. Foraker explained that 1t was the de-
sire of the committee so to amend the law
as to enable the people or Porto Rico 10 get
the benefit Of the taxes levied.
While making some inquiries about the
bill. Mr.. Pettigrew declared that the United
States was holding Porto Rico as a colony
IA crown colony at that'-which had
shown it ability to manage its own affairs
better than the people Of Ohio manage
heir affairs"
In discussion of the question raised by
Mr. Morgan, Mr. Bacon (Ga) thought IT
very important that all moneys collected as
revenues should go into the treasury of the
United States in accordance with the Con
stitution. 1t fundamental fact that
all revenues must be paid into the treas
ury of the United States.
Mr. Spooner pointed out that the theory
of the law was that the United States was
Jctiug merely as an agent for Porto Rco
in the collection of the customs dues
As the discussion seemed Likely to be pro, o,
tracted Mr.. Foraker withdrew the contested
amendment and the bill was passed.
Consideration then was resumed OF tne
army appropriation bill. Mr. Shonp. IN
charge OF the bill, asked that the senate
lake a recess from $50 until pm. TO-DAY.
and the request was agreed to.
Mr. PIatt tConn.) reported from the COM
mittee on relations with Cuba the amend
nent defining the relations of this govern
ment with the proposed government Oh
cuba. given above
Point of Order Defeated.
After the reference of the amendment MI
Pettus tAIaD presented written statement
raising a point of order against the commit
f-a amendment 10 the bill comforting au-
thority upon the President to provide civil
government for the Philippines. 1t went
.ver until the amendment was reached III
the hill.
Pending further action upon the bill. Mr..
Money Miss presented the credentials OF
\ j. McLaurIn, elected senator from mis-
-iSSippi for a term of six years beginning
March T. 1901. The credentials We're filed.
When the reading of the bill was con,
Guided Mr.. PettuS' point or order was calieu
ND The President Pro Tenn. Mar. FRYE,
submitted the point to the Senate. The
amendment was decided to be In order by a
vote of - to -. the detailed vote being as
follows
Yea-Aldrich. Allison Baker. Bard. Bev-
cridge Burrows, Carter Chandler. Cullom
Deboe Dillingham;. Dolliver Fairbanks. Fos-
ter. tsalIinger Hanna, Hansbrough. Hawley.
kean. kearns, Lodge. McComas, McCum-
ber. Mcmillan Mason. Penrose. Perkins,
Plat IN. ". Platt Comm. Proctor
Quarles. Scott. Sewell, shoup, Simon
Spooner Stewart. Thurston. Wolcott-S9.
Nays-Allen, Bacon, Bate, Berry, Butler
Carrery, clay. Cnckrell Culberson. Daniel
Harris. Hetfald McEnery. Mallory, Martin
Teller. Tillman. Turley. Vest.23
Mr.. Pettigrew-"Id like to know how the
chair Voted?
The chair tMr. Frye)-sDoes the senator
rise to a question of order?'
Mr. Pettigrew-'To question of privilege.
uaughter)
THE chair will say that he did not vote
said Mr. Frye
II think the chair was wise" suggested
Mr.. PettiSrew, amid laughter.
Full Reports to Congress.
Mr. Spooner offered an amendment to the
amendment providing that, until perma
nent government shall have been establish
I'd in the Philippine archipelago. full reports
shall be made TO Congress the first day
II each regular session of all legislative
acts and proceedings of the temporary gov
eminent. and that full information shall be
supplied To the President to the cond-
tions in the islands. The amendment was
agreed to
Mr. Vest CMo) offered the following
amendment 10 the Philippine provision:
That no Judgment, order or act. by any
Of said officials, so appointed. shall conflict
with the law and Constitution of the United
States.
Mr. Vest Alludes to Interesting RumOr
Mr.. Spooner did not think the proposed
amendment was necessary. He thought this
fact ought to be recognized especially by
democrats. Many of them held that the
Constitution extended to the Philippine Is
lands ex proprio vigore.
Mr.. Vest replied that the doctrine that the
Constitution was in force in the Philippines
was held by such good republicans as ex-
Senator Edmunds. ex-President Harrison,
Ex-Governor Boutwell, and many others. He
did not know what the decision of the Su-
preme Court upon this point would be- He
would be bold man. he said. who would
venture To say what the decision would be;
but 1t was rumored that the Supreme Court
a oil
whether the Constitution extended TO .he
islands of its own force
Every lawyer knew, he said, how the
court could eVade the question and IL had
even been suggested that the court might
say that the government of the island pos
sessions of this country was entirely within
the military power of the government.
Messrs. Tfllman and Daniel Oppose
In extended speech Mr.. Tillman Wig
orously opposed the Philippine amendment
He declared il a bold and naked prop
osition to invest the President with plenary
power to govern the Philippine archipelago
In civil way. Yet, he said. objection was
raised TO the Constitution of the United
States being the Presidents guiding star.
L; was not proposed. he asserted, that the
President should be hampered even by the
Constitution.
Mr.. Tillman declared that the enactment
of the proposition into law. together with
Taft commission TO sell public lands and
lease mines. would open to the people of the
Philippines all the dangers of carpet bag
government.
Mr.. Daniel made n constitutional! argII-
meut against the Philippine provision in the
bill. incidentally supporting the amendment
proposed by Mr.. Vest. The author of the
proposition he maintained, lost sight of
the fac. that Congress was the supreme
Judge OF the class of enactments to which
the proposed provision belonged. II was
proposed to confer upon the President pow
tr vested only In Congress.
Recognized Treaty "a Building.
Mr.. Daniel said he had disposition TO
be critical or to find fault as to action with
respect 10 the Philippines. He recognized
the treaty Of Paris to be binding upon
him as il would have been had he voted for
It's ratification He was well aware he said
Of the complicated condition OF affairs in
the Philippines. The questions involved
were so numerous and confused and doubt
ful that he regarded it as impossible TO
comprehend them fully In present light or
10 act with wisdom and due deliberation.
He believed Congress could not be too
rpful q nd nf