The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-24
ENDEAvoRs TO pLAcArE FREE TRADERS
Desperate Efforts of the Republicans For the
Porto Rico Bill.

Washington, March 23.-The Repub
lean caucus committee of the Senate
today authorized Senator Foraker in
definite terms to propose the separa-
ton of the tariff feature from the
Porto Rican Governmental Bill, and
to attempt to pass the House tariff
bill without amendment. The pro-
pramme is to vote down all amend
ments if possible to do So and pass
the bin as it comes from the House
without any changes whatever.
There was a disposition manifested
to placate the free traders by making
various amendments to the govern
mental bill. The tariff advocates have
gone so far as to draft amendments
to that measure which are intended
both to correct administrative de-
fects in the House bill and also to
meet many of the objections to the
| House tariff measure. One of these
amendments looks to the enlargement
of the free trade list SO as to include
| most OF the articles of export in
which the constituents OF the free
| trade Senators are interested. There
| is also a proposition looking to the
entire removal of the duty on articles
from the United States going into
| Porto Rico.
One member of the committee stat
ed that it was the purpose Of the
committee to ask every day that 9
time be set for taking vote, thus
placing the responsibility for any de-
lay that might occur upon the free
traders.
The element in the Republican ranks
in the Senate favoring free trade with
Porto Rico decided ut a conference
today to oppose any action looking 10
an early vote and TO ask Tor further
time in case the question should come
up. About ten Senators were present.
| They were unanimously of rhe opinion
that delay meant gains for {, cir cause
| in the public good will and in the Sen
| ate A canvass of the Republican,
| Senators was made with The result,
! it was stated, that Is could 1e found
who would oppose hasty actor vi
these it was stated that ter were I'M
alterably opposed to a tar;T on OR
commerce with Porto Rico.
| Mr.. Tillman said President Mckin-
ley was one of the most lovable men
| in public life, but lacked backbone.
Mr.. Gallinger declared that the leg
islation pending in the interest of the
Porto Ricans was just and generous
and he was satisfied that on sober sec
| ond thought the people who were
now opposing it would heartily APP
prove of it. He said it was also d
familiar cry that the trusts were con-
trolling the Republican administra-
| ton.
'The trust which is suffering" con-
| tinued Mr.. Gallinger, 1.-THE
rust with Y. III we are OPP
il ssed by tbs Legislation is
composed o ne gentlemen a. the
| Arlington Hotel. in this city. a trust
headed by the British Nice-Consul at
! San Juan. That trust is suffering con
siderabiy. Those gentlemen bought
up the sugar under the full Dingley
rates and if they can get it into this
country free of duty they will make
! the full hundred per cent of the tariff;
| but if we succeed in putting a tariff
| duty Of - per cent of &c Dingley
rate on that sugar the trusts profits
will lie cut down by that much; and
! the people of Porto Rico will benefit
| to that extent
! In the course. of the debate Mr. Till
man said:
| ''We had some dares here yesterday,
hut the bob-taiIed flush OF my friend
| from Ohio foreker) did not go
through" Gaughter.)
Mr.. Spooner and Mr.. Tillman be-
came involved in a heated controversy
over the terms used by the South
Carolina Senator in charactcrizing the
| work of the Republican Senators. The
discussion finally developed some re-
marks that Mr.. Tillman bad made a
few weeks ago. in which he justified
ballot box stufting and the employ
ment of the shot gun policy againts
the negroes of the South.
I'VE did all these things" declared
Mr.. Tillman, land | have no apology
to make for it here or anywhere else"
In reply Mr.. Spooner said he had
never vet been able to find any justl-
tication for the murder of negroes in
the South or for trampling upon their
! rights as American citizens.
I'm view of these statements OF the
! SENATOR" Mr.. Spooner declared, Il