Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-14
Was Up In Republican eau
Gus Yesterday.
NO AGREEMENT REACHED
And Discussion Will be Resumed To-
day-There Was a Great Deal OF
Feeling Expressed by Both Friends
and Enemies of Act.

Washington, March 13.-The republic
can senators were in caucus for two
and a half hours on the Porto Rican
bill this afternoon and at 6 o'clock adj
journed until 2 o'clock tomorrow. when
the discussion will be resumed. NO
vote was taken upon any of the vari-
Gus propositions laid before the caucus.
but as a result Of caucus talk the i'm
preston prevailed that there was a
great deal of opposition to the bill,
which opposition, if it was not placated.
might endanger it's passage. 1t was
also apparent that a number of other
senators thought the legislation was i'll
advised, but, while opposed to the bill.
nevertheless would vote for it as a par
ty measure.
Deep feeling was displayed over the
question by a number of senators and
especially by those of the middle west,
some of whom did not hesitate to az
firm that any effort to place a tariff
upon the exchange of business between
the United States and Porto Rico prob
ably would have an injurious effect up
on the republican party in these states.
There We're some sharp passages at
arms. 1t was generally agreed. how
ever. hat from a party standpoint al
most any bill was better h none n
this feeling gave the friends of the
measure hope, despite the apparently
unyielding attitude of the opposing fac
tions. They are still holding to the
basis of whatever settlement is agreed
upon. This opinion is based upon what
was said in a general way and not upon
any poll Of the caucus.
One indication that an agreement is
expected tomorrow is the continued de-
termination of the Cuban sub-commit-
tee to leave here tomorrow for a tour
of Cuba.
Those senator's who favored the prop
osition for a tariff on Porto Rican goods
coming into this country and free trade
for goods going to Porto Rico, said that
this course would be humane in prin-
ciple. Several times during the debate
the course of the administration was
mentioned and the statement made that
the ountry was aroused because it had
seemed that congress was acting con-
trary to the wishes of the president. Sew
was now anxious for the proposed tariff
of Is per cent.
Senator Foraker talked at considerable
length and vigorously supported the bill
and was expressly determined that the
governmental features should not be
abandoned. He also defended the tariff
provisions as being of advantage instead
of a hardship upon the people of Porto
Rico. He declared that the bill a:
amended by the committee, levying a II
per cent duty on products both ways, was
the best measure that could be passed.
Senator Hanna made a speech that wa
listened to with great interest. He fiji
vored the house bill and especially thu
tariff plans. He said that from a part.
view the tariff ought to remain Thil
was a republican congress and Their
should be republican legislation. If tn,
bill was defeated he asserted That i
would hand the legislation over to tn,
democrats. He urged the republican,
to stand firmly together for the bill.
Senator Proctor, of Vermont, said tina
he believed in free trade with Porto Ric'
n thought the matter could be adjust
ed by leaving a military governor an,
not attempting either a civil government
or tariff legislation at the present time.
Senator Fairbanks deplored the situa
ton and expressed the hope that Their
might be some adjustment. He sail
there was no question as to the feelin,
OF the people in his state, who We're 70
free trade with Porto Rico.
Senator Davis said that it was not be
cause the tariff would keep out or let II
certain products that Ongre shoul,
act but that almost universal sentimen
of the people, should be needed, a senti
ment which. he said, a been kindlet
by the manner in which Porto Rico hat
come into the United States. 1t would
be time enough to consider the Philip
pines tariff when it was reached. Sen
ator Perkins, wanted the bill agreed up
on without compromise or amendment.
Senator Simon of Oregon went furthe,
than any other senator in declaring hi!
unalterable position in favor of FREE
trade with Porto Rico. He said thai w,
had no right to tax our dependencies ant
that if we did not intend to treat the new
ACQUISITIONS as we treated other acquir
ed territory we should not retain them.
Senator Mason also took strong grOunt
in favor of free trade with the islands i
they were to be retained as a possession