The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-09

oualy imperil the chances Of Republican
success next fall. The committee, after
careful elaboration, was led to approve
the course OF the finance committee In
seeking to secure control Of the trelty.
Tbs members OF the COMMITTEES were OF
the opinion that there was good reason
to hope that the motion now pending In
executive session to refer the French
treaty to ths finance COMMITTEES would
carry and that ratification would be rrs-
yentsd. TIE leaders will not rest salts
fed. however, without further knowl-
edge, and to obtain this Senator Al
drich Is making o oareful canvass OF
the Senate. Tbs Republican leader is
also sounding bis fellow monitors on
the other m ore important matters be-
fore the Senate.
As to the Quay case, assurances wers
given at the meeting Of the STEERING
committee that Senator Frye, the Presi-
dent pro tenn OF the Senate. has changed
his mind regarding the statue OF that
question and was now disposed to decide
that It could not displaoe unfinished bust
ness, the Puerto Rioan bill, and therefor
could be discussed only during the morn
ing hour. Thsfe assurances have inspired
the sntl Quay men with new confidence
that they can succeed In postponing In
definitely n vote upon the question OF
Quay's titls to seat.
At the White HOUSE conference the
Puerto Rican question and the reciproci-
ty treaties were fnlly and freely dis
cussed. Ihs President frankly told the
Senators that he was satisfied from full
or information and more mature refeo-
tion that the recommendations Of his an
nual message tor free traie with Puerto
Rico were Ill advised, and that he Is now
earnestly In favor of the enactment of
the House bill providing for n tariff of
Is per cent Of the Dingley law rates.
Ihe people of the country will soon como
TO ses the matter In the same light as he
does, the President said, and they would
as frankly admit that a duty Is better
for the Puerto Rioans than fres trade.
The thIes Senators representing TIE
steering committee then brought up the
question of the reciprocity treaties. and
expressed the opinion that their ratih Ia
tIon might result in Republican defeat
at the polls, and ttey impressed upon the
President TIE Importance of defeating
them. Senator Aldrich pointed out to
the President In detail the ons-sided ma
ture OF the French reciprocity treaty. the
only one yet reported to the Senate. and
how It would injuriousiy affect inter-
ests that looked to the Republican party
for protection. 10 this the President
contented himself with saying that the
responsibility for the ratification de-
feat Of the treaties rested now with the
Senate. MIR. Aldrich referred to the fact
that Robert p. Porter, who is employed
by the government as tariff expert or
commissioner, has been busy at the Ben
ate lately urging the ratification OF the
treaty and representing himself to be the
agent of the President. MIR. Mckinley
defended Mr.. Porter's right to do thls
but Mr.. Aldrieh plainly said that in
his opinion 1t was wrong for an execu-
tive agent to attempt to influence the
action of the legislative branch of the
government, and in this opinion his
colleagues CONQUERED.
Tha Senators left the White House
without any assurances that Mr.. Porter's
work would be discontinued. They are
cor fident, however, that the treaty can.
not command the two-thirds vote nseeS-
sary to ratification. and they do not be-
lieys that the President will carry his
support OF the treaty to the extent OF
fAyoring It's ratification fy the aid Of
Democratic voter.