The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-26

Effort Of Congress to Take
Away Their Lands.
Is DENOUNCED WITH
VIG0R IN THE SENATE
RaWlins and Others Protest
Against Outrage.

Washington, Feb. 25.-The real str,,g
gle Tor insular legislation at this SEES
sion began today in the senate The
army appropriation bill was under CON
sideration and the Philippine amend
ment was reached. In addition the en-
ban amendment was offered. and the
general debate on these propositions
began. Sharp opposition to the Philip
pine amendment developed on the Dem
ocratic side, beginning with a point of
order which the senate Overruled and
followed with speeches by Senators Till
man, RawliDs, Cahery, Bacon and Nor
gan.
The amendment was defended bv its
author, Mr.. SpoOner, who pointed out
the necessity for the legislation. Sen
atorS Vest, HOar, Bacon and Rawlins
offered amendments tending to limit
the powers conferred by the SpOoner
amendment. Senator Morgan made an
extended speech severely criticising the
proposed legislation.
A resolution offered by Mr.. GaIlinger
of the committee on pensions, author
lzlng that committee to make an ex-
animation of all laws granting pensions
to soldiers, their survivors and depend
ents; to make investigation of special
pension legislation and to make any
other inquiry on the general subject of
pension legislation as the committee
may deem desirable. was adopted.
Mr.. Morgan offered a resolution de
claring that the Nicaragua canal bill
was entitled to be placed in the order OF
unfinished business and under the rules
of the senate is entitled to more privi-
legged position. The chair, Mr.. Frye
held that the canal bill. having been
n cd nv ba ii
to the calendar.
Revenues Of Porto Rico.
Mr. Foraker presented an amendment
providing that all customs and internal
taxes of the island should be paid into
the treasury of Porto Rico and be ex-
pended for the benefit of the island
instead of being paid first into the
treasury OF the United States
Mr.. Morgan pointed out that this
proposition was to pay customs rev
enues into the Porto Rican treasury. In
his opinion, this was a violation of a
specific provision of the constitution
which required that all customs cot
lected be paid into the United States
treasury.
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia supported this
view.
Mr. Foraker explained that it was the
desire of the committee so to amend
the law as TO enable the people of Por-
to Rico to get the benefit of the taxes
levied.
While making some inquiries about
the bill. Mr.. Pettigrew declared thai
the United States was holding Porto
Rico as cOlOny-''a crown colony al
that"-which had shown its ability tC
manage its own affairs better thar
the people Of Ohio manage their at
fairs
Mr.. Spooner pointed out that the the
DRY Of the law was that the United
States was acting merely as an agent
for Porto Rico in the collection of the
customs duties.
AS the discussion seemed likely to be
protracted, Mr.. Foraker withdrew the
contested amendment and the bill was
passed.
Consideration was then resumed OF
The army appropriation bill. Mr.. Plat
Comm reported from committee or
relations with Cuba an amendment de
fining the relations of this government
with the proposed government of Cuba
1t was referred to the committee or
military affairs.
Mr.. Pettus presented written state
ment raising a point Of order against
the amendment to the comforting of au-
thOrity on the president to provide &
civil government for the Philippines
The president pro TEN, Mr.. Frye, sub
mittted the point to the senate. The
amendment was decided to be in order
by a vote of thirty-nine to twenty
three.
Mr.. Spooner offered an amendment Il
the amendment providing until a per.
manent government shall have beer
esta blished in the Philippine archipel-