The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-30
THE PORTO RIcAN BILL.
prospects for the Passage of the
Foraker Proposition.

rornker Proposition.
| The voting in the Senate yesterday on
the Foraker Porto Rican bill adds to the
confidence felt by the advocates of the
conference measure that it will pass by
a safe majority when the vote is taken
| next Tuesday. BY the decisive vote of
10 to 3s the proposition of Senator Pettus
| 10 strike out the tariff section as passed
by the House was defeated. This indi-
| Gates the strength of the advocates of the
con hpromise measure. although the minor
| ity vote does not show the free trade
strength in full
Thirty-two Senators were paired and six
were impaired and not voting Had all of
the Senators voted who oppose the tariff
provision, about six more names would
have been added to the thirteen advocates
of Mr.. Pettus' motion. The result was in
dehnlte by reason of a nix up of the pairs
The free trade Senator's perhaps made
careless by the heavy vote against them,
did not look closely after the tally sheet
and allowed their opponents 10 pair Sen
ators who would have vdced the same way.
Thus Mr.. Taliaferro of Florida was paire,i
with Mr.. Mason of Illin.is Mr. Butler of
North Carolina with Mr.. Beveridge Of In
diana and Mr.. Vest of Missouri with Mr.
Nelson Of Minnesota all of these Senators
being opponents OF the Tariff provision The
siA WHO not vote were.
Messrs. Allen of Nebraska, Davis of Min
nesota, McCumber of North Dakota. NAL
lory of Florida, Proctor of Vermont and
Stewart of Nevada, all OF them being free
trade advocates. But under any circuIn-
stances the motiop of the Alabama Senator
would have been defeated. so that the
friends OF the compromise bill are very
cheerful over the result.
II is estimated that not more than seven
Republican votes will be cast against the
bill in any event. while the number may
not be more than hve. These seven Sen
ators are Messrs. Davis Nelson Hoar
Proctor. Wellington, Mason and Simon.
The way thus having been cleared for
the passage of the compromise measure in
the Senate, the problem of how to get the
measure through the House confronts its
advocates.
The free trade men have little TO say for
publication. but profess to be confident Of
getting free trade bill through the House
after all. Some members Of the iieuse have
the impression that no legislation at all re-
garding the Porto Rican tariff will be en-
acted this session, owing TO the radical diff
ference between the two Houses and be-
cause the necessity for such legislation has
been in measure removed by the appro-
priatiou of the duties collected for the
benefit OF the Porto Rcans themselves |
the fact that the President can under his
military authority abolish all import
duties on the island. and say this, with the |
return or customs duties collected will |
give the Porto Ricans practically free |
trade.
I'VE don't know" said Mr.. Payne.
Chairman of the Ways and Means Com
mittee. yesterday what kind Of bill it |
will be; whether it will be the House bill. |
a modification of it, or a bill merely giving |
Porto Rico form of government Until |
the Senate has acted nothing can be said
intelligently regarding our policy"
The prospect is. however. that the pend
ing Foraker bill Will pass by a majority of
about Is t47 Republicans and 3 Demo
cratsi, after all free trade amendments
have been voted down by a somewhat
smaller margin than this, and that con-
ference committee will finally agree on the
bill substantially as it stands today.
Senator Hansbrough of North Dakota
called at the White House yesterday and
discussed with the President the prospects
of the Porto Rican bill in the Senate SEN
ator Hansbrough told Mr.. Mckinley that
he was confident the bill would pass the
Senate by safe majority This opinion,
the Senator said. was ased upon a careful
He told the President also
that he had good reason to believe the
yi4i ''N'' P"HS INV iiOuot III d iOfil SILL
liar to that now before the Senate
Senator Hansbrough said that the ex-
tent of opposition to the measure has
been greatly exaggerated He cited his
own case He had received not more than
half dozen letters from constituents
who had deeried the passage of the bill.
and they. upon receiving replies from him.
in which he had explained the attitude of
the leaders in the Senate, told him topdo
as he thought best
Representative Grosvenor saw the Pres
ident during the morning and talked over
the situation. He was not quite as san
suine as Senator rHansbrough regarding
The passage of the amended bill through
he House. He thought there would be no
difficulty in the Senate,