Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-15
LOOKING TO COMPROMISE
Committee of Seven to Canvass the Senate on
Porto Rico.
Republican Senatorial Caucus Agrees
to Pass the Two Million Dollar
Relief Appropriation.

Practically all that was determined by
the republican senators at their conference
which lasted until nearly 9 o'clock yester-
day, was that the bill making an appropria-
ton of 100000 for the relief of Porto
Rico should be put through the Senate as
speedily as possible.
Senator Foraker explained many features
of his Porto Rican bill and was frequently
| Intercepted, so that he was on his feet
great deal of the time. He was questioned
by different senators. most of whom wanted
to know the effect of different provisions
OF the bill. 1t was intimated that the bill
could be amended IL not satisfactory and
senators opposed to tariff on Porto Rican
products said that there would not be the
least objection to passing the government
bill
Mr.. Elkins Counsels Delay.
Senator Elkins said that he favored leav-
ing not only the question Of revenues, but
the government Of the island as well to
the President. He thought the island would
be much better off under military rule for
the next two years than under any gov
eminent that could be devised by Congress.
He particularly counseled delay. I'VE will
know a lot more about this whole question
in year or two years than we know now"
he said, land the other islands will be as
well taken care of during that time as
they would be under any legislation we
may pass"
necessary and he earnestly supported the
proposition to delay the tariff bill, and
said he thought the governmental bill
might well be delayed, too
Senator Foraker said that the question
OF dealing with the islands was before Con-
gress, and he for one thought Congress
should act. The committee on Porto Rico
had given a great deal of time to the SUBJ
ha araT
meet all emergencies.
Need of Immediate Relief.
There was general unanimity to the
wisdom of providing for immediate action
on the s20000o0 relief proposition, the opin-
ion of ali senators being that that measure
should be passed for humane reasons.
There some effort to have the appro-
priation bill, the House tariff bill and the
Senate bill considered at one time, but this
was antagonized as likely to result in too
great delay in affording the relief the ap-
preparation bill intended to give.
Wants Protective Principle Retained.
Senator Platt of Connecticut expressed
himself as firmly convinced that the prin-
ciple of a protective tariff in the interest
of the industies of the United States should
be sustained in whatever was done. He
showed leaning toward the House tariff
spoke. Some of them expressed the opinion
that this measure would command the votes
of two-thirdS of the members of the eau
Gus, If tested. Members of the Porto Ricau
committee We're not willing that the gov
ernmental features of their bill should be
abandoned at this time. Senator Foraker
expressed the opinion in this connection
that the Porto Ricans themselves would not
object to the tariff provided by the House
bill, and said that some of the residents of
the island had even gone so far as to say
that they would cheerfully accept a p
per cent rate. But, while this was true,
he would have civil government provided
as a concomitant of the tariff proposition.
Mr.. Hoar FavOrs DeIiberation.
Senator Hoar talked at considerable
length about the legal phase of the ques-
ton. expressing the opinion that the SEN
ate could not act with too great delibera-
ton in considering SO momer tous a sub
ject.
Senator Warren agreed with Mr.. Hoar
upon this latter point He had, he said
been favorable to absolute free trade be-
tween Porto Rico and the United States
proper but he had listened with interest
and profit to the arguments on the other
side and he did not believe that the sub
ject had been exhausted by any means. He
felt that everything to be gained and
nothing lost by proceeding deliberately.
especially in view of the fact that the en-
tire problem was new.
Many other speeches were made in the
same line, notably by Senators Aldrich and
Mason.
At this point 1t was suggested and decided
to appoint a committee of seven to canvass
for a compromise and as soon as the au-
thority for its appointment was given the
20 non n ifrrr nod civ Il