Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1900 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS

On Thursday in the Senate the bill providing a form of government for the territory of Hawaii was passed without division. Mr. Clay delivered a carefully prepared speech on the Philippines. He favored the adoption of the Bacon resolutions, declaring It to be ilie policy of the United States to turn over the islands to the Filipfuos as soon as a stable government could be established by them under the protection of this country. At the instance of Mr. Foraker the Porto Ricau tariff kill was tnude the unfinished business nnd will be considered as soon as the conference report ou the, finance bill shall have been disposed of next Tuesday. It was decided to take a final vote on the conference report on the financial bill nest Tuesday at 4 p. m. In the House the Democrats scored their first victory of the session on the motion to take up the contested election case of Aldrich vs. Robbins from the fonrth Alabama district. On two separate votes the Democrats’, with the aid of two Republicans, Mr. Mondell of Wyoming and H. C. Smith of Michigan, beat the Republicans upon the question of consideration. An agreement was made to consider the Lond bill relating to second-class mail matter March 20. In the House on Friday a special message from the President was read recommending that all the revenue collected on importations from Porto Rico since the evacuation of the island by Spain (amounting to over $2,000,000) should be placed at the disposal of the President for the relief of the island. It is as follows: “To the Senate and House of Representatives: Since the evacuation of Porto Rico by the Spanish forces on Oct. 18, 1898, the United States has collected on products coming from that island to the ports of the United States the duties fixed by the Dingley act and amounting to $2,095,455.88. and will continue to collect under said law until Congress shall otherwise direct. Although I had the power and. having in mind the best interests of the people of the island, used it to modify duties on goods and products entering into Pqrto Rico, 1 did not have the power to remit or modify duties on Porto Rican products coming Into the ports of the United States. In view of the pressing necessity for immediate revenue in Porto Rico for conducting the government there and for the extension of public legislation just inaugurated by the House of Representatives, and for the purpose of making the principle embodied in that legislation applicable to the immediate past, as well as to the immediate future, I recommend that the above sum so collected, and the sums hereafter collected under existing law, shall without waiting for the enactment of the general legislation now pending be appropriated for the use and benefit of the island.” In the Senate Mr. Hoar made a speech in favor of the seating of Mr. Quay. Debate on the Porto Rican tariff bill consumed the rest of the day. On receipt of the message from the President the House passed a bill placing in the President’s hands all the money collected upon Porto Rican goods since the Spanish evacuation, to h® used for the relief of Porto Ricans. Mr. Mann (Ill.) called up the contested election case of Aldrich vs. Robbins from the Fourth Alabama district. The Democrats attempted a filibuster, but the case was taken up, 13(5 to 129. The ease was debated for the remainder of the day. Saturday’s session of the Senate wtfs brief ou account of the death of Representative Epes of Virginia. Mr. Ross spoke in opposition to the seating of M. 8. Qnay, and Mr. Teller spoke in criticism of the conference report upon the currency bill. A number of private pension bills were passed. In the House the chaplain in his invocation made feeling reference to the death of Mr. Epes. It had been intended to proceed with the Aldrich-Ilobbins contested election case,' bnt unanimous consent was given to va-j cate the order heretofore made and postpone the final vote until the next Tuesday at 2:30 p. m. In the Senate on Monday Mr. Carter of Montana dealt vigorously with the Qnay case in the course of an explanation as to why he will vote for the former Senator from Pennsylvania, notwithstanding he voted against the seating of Mr. Corbett in the last Congress. The near approach to the time of voting on the conference report on the financial bill brought out two speeches on that measure, one by Mr. Fairbanks and the other by Mr. Butler. In the House considerable miscellaneous business, much of "a minor character, was transacted. During consideration of a bill to incorporate the Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association the Speaker and Mr. Bailey of Texas exchanged sharp words and the latter filibustered and ultimately prevented the final passage of the bill by demanding the reading of the engrossed bill. The bill proposes to collect at the residence of the late Frederick Douglass in Washington a record of the anti-slavery movement. On Tuesday the Senate by a vote of 44 to 26 passed currency reform bill as. agreed upon in conference. Received from Mr. Scott a resolution authorizing thp President to govern the Philippines until Congress shall otherwise provide. The House devoted the day to discussion of the Aldrich-Robbins contested election case from the Fourth Alabama district. In, the Senate on Wednesday a notable speech on the Philippine question was made by Mr. Lodge, in which he favored the bill introduced by Mr. Spooner, vesting in the President authority to govern the Philippines until Congress should otherwise provide by legislation. In the ' House nnnwincement made of the death of Mr. Harmer, appropriate resolutions adopted and adjournment ns a farther mark of respect.