| Show IS NUO NEEDED J JiN iN I Strong Opposition O TO Porto i e DANGER OF MEASURE I AsUE BEING nE BE G G DEFEATED J Caucus Is I Held It the Oh t Hanna Banna Makes Mes An A Appeal to t Stand St Sta d In With the Administration Ex Expresses presses Solicitude For Tor or the Work Workingmen ingmen Admitted That es of the th People Are Against the te Bill iMy May Be Another Amend Amendment d dment ment Before It Can Ca Be e Passed Wellington W March lar h 13 1 The Th Republican lican Ilan senators senator were in caucus for two and hours on the Porto Rican bill bl this afternoon and anI an at 6 ad adjourned a until 2 2 tomorrow when the discussion will wU be resumed No vote ote wa was taken upon any of the he var various ious bus iou propositions laId before the caucus but as a D result reul of caucus JS taI tak the thc im In impression prevailed that there was a great cat deal dea of ot opposition to tho bill bi which opposition If I It I was not placated might endanger its Is passage It I was also apparent that A number nuber of o other senators thought the tue legislation was wa ill 1 advised but while opposed opps to the bill bi nevertheless would vote ate for it i as a party measure i Deep feeling feeing was displayed over the question queston by a number of senators and andi i especially those thos of ot the middle west some of whom did not hesitate to affirm that tat any effort efort to place a a tariff upon the he exchange of or business between the United States and Porto Rico probably would have an Injurious effect u ton uon on the t party in these states There Ther was some sharp hap passages at I arms arms It I was wa generally agreed agree aee l how however 1 I ever that from a party part standpoint al a most any ay bill bi was better beter than none find f this feeling gave the friends frends of the thc measure hope lope despite despie theN apparently unyielding attitude of the opposing factions 1 Hold to Original Bill i They are ar still holding to the bill bi as ns I originally introduced introduce and express the thc belief belet that it i will wi form tor the basis bais of ol whatever settlement la Is I agreed upon This opinion is based upon what was wm I said sd In ma a a general way and not upon ny I poll polo of the caucus ct US for tor there was noUa not not Mig approaching meeting ap a votes vote during the tho te I One Ore indication I ton that an agreement is h I expected tomorrow is the th continue de determination termination of the tie Cuban subcommittee tee to leave here tomorrow for for a tour tow of Cuba Those Thoe senators sentor who favored ared the prop orlon for a tariff on Porto Rican goods good into this country and ad free tree trade S for tor goods gds going to Porto Rico said sid that thai tat this course would be humane in prin principle ciple tiple since it would afford aford free entry r of food and supplies needed by the tho th S Porto Poro Ricans while the tariff on goods goode gos coming into this country would supply r revenue for tor the Island and also retain I the principle of ot protection Several times during the debate the te S c ourse coure our of the administration was wa men and the statement made that the country was aroused amused because It had ha 1 teemed seemed that congress was acting con to the wishes of the president Several veral senators asserted that the pres ident was wa now anxious for tor the proposed propose I tariff tarU of or 15 per cent Foraker Fore Wa Was Vigorous Senator Foraker Forker talked at consider able length lengh and vigorously rigorously supported I the bill bi and was expressly determined 1 that the governmental features should shOud I i not be abandoned He also defended I the tariff provisions as being of tage instead of ot a hardship upon the tb a I people of Porto Rico He declared delare that tha t I Ithe the bill bl as aa amended by the committee t levying a 15 per cent duty on products product a both u W ways ys was the best measure product that tha could be passed pass but said he was will mill ing to the wi accept compromise levying a a duty only on Porto Rican products product 5 coming coinIng to this country l Senator Hanna made a speech that tha t was as listened to with wih great geat interest Interest He H 0 favored the house bill and especially bU y the tariff provisions prO He said sd that from n a party view the tariff ought to re ye main This was wa a Republican con L grass gress Ses and there should be Republican R a legislation If It I the bill bU was defeated he ii e asserted that it i would hand the legisla tion over Oer to the Democrats He also als spoke of the effect of a free ire e trade measure would have upon the th 0 who feared fere the elite effect t should the policy of ot free fm trade w wih with ett the th 0 Philippine Islands be established by b granting free fre trade to Porto Rico Ric He le Il e urged urge the Republicans n to stand final together for the bill bi Proctor roctor Favors Favor Free Pree Trade Senator Proctor of Vermont said that that th Lt he be he believed In free fr trade with wih Porto Port 0 Rico Uko and aud ai thought the matter mater could be I ie adjusted by leaving a military gover nor and not attempting either a gove civil ci il government or tariff legislation at the tt IC present time Senator Fairbanks deplored deplore the situ I al aton and expressed the hope that there thee thea e might be b some adjustment He said sad Id there was no question as aa to the feel fee fel 1 lag Ing Sn of the people in Sn his state who were wei re for tor free fr trade with Porto Rico Senator Sentor Davis who recently Intro an amendment extending that thi t portion porton of the constitution relative to taxation over the Island made mad xiu quite Ic Ican an extended speech taking strong str 1 grounds in jn favor of free trade th Porto Rico He lie sold said that U It was WW wih not fl ot II because the tariff lo talf would keep kep out or Dr i let Jet in certain products that congress I should act but because baus the almost uni un Li I versal sentiment of ot the people should shou Id be b heeded he a sentiment which he said sal d had bad been kindled kindle by the manner in which h Porto Porte Rico had come Into the tl e States Will Wi Not Apply to t Philippines He lie U said sd that there was no need to fear tea that in hi extending the constitution n nover over Porto Rico it would I mean Ilk Ik like ac a c thin tion when legislation for tor the Philip Phili p pines pine was under uner consideration Each Eai rh island and group should be b and would La be bt dealt deal with wih separately and ard Inde e It I would be time enough h to consider on ider the Philippines tariff when hen en tarl it I was wa reached Senator na or Aldrich did not take any ai sy no particular lart ular side side but counseled action n would unIte finite the Republican ma m a jorty Senator Perkins as well veil wel as other er a members of the Porto Port Ric commit It tee t wanted the bill agreed a l wante bi Uon pon with wit h out compromise or amendment Quite a L number of or senators In this conne C tion tinn expressed the th opinion that conne a ma rn a j I rit rity would vote ote for the bill bi as re i e ported and took tok occasion to criticise 11 se the tiie policy pley which was wa being bet pursued saying that the constant consta hanging hangin had done more to shake hake the tie I faith of ot the country than anything else el Sc Simons Strong Stand Senator Simon of at Oregon whose po position 10 was not known went wet further furer p ser than any other in declaring his I ls unalterable position in favor of free fr 1 ee trade with wih Porto Rico He said sid tI sat We ne had no so right to tu tax t ta our dep nde as cies cle de detre s and that If we did not nat intend to treat tre tred treno at the th new aa w we e treat treated ed d l other othet ter t rf forS would not no t retain them He saw ii menace to labor manufacturing or agriculture in freo trade with wih the Islands but a amise promise pro mise of or far greater Increase of o commerce co coS Senator Sentor S Mason lIan also took strong ground grund gr in favor of free fr e trade with wih the theida ida isla ands if it they tIU were to t be retained retain as asa asa a possession or a part of the United States Stat St atee He said 81 the trouble trouble was not with wih wi th Porto Rico but with the th Philip tas This could rould be b easily averted by announcing au auho our denomination not to ho oll lIl the Philippines F but to grant them the tl freedom which many ot of them sought iio and t them to form a sta eta staIt i blA It Th I be bt b difficult then to en enter enter ter Into satisfactory trade ns with wih wi th them antl an our ien len would wo uld not then be bE threatened with wih cheap ch chee eap Malay abor which he said seemed ee to J b be troubling a great many Jany advocates ad of the th present tariff Senator Senator Spooner por r urged party har bar harmony harmony barony mony m ony and believed bel ed that the s could co uld find some st a common ground upon gound v difference rould be adjusted He Her Heas was w r as for the committee bill hi as was also Senator Se Hale Ha who o spoke against what he be said were we Vie the te dangers daners lurking in our ou r attempting jo control and to tl legis legislate e B Blate late la laci te for the distant islands of the Pa Pacific ci fic |
