The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-15
A CAUCUS COMPROMISE
An Understanding Reached Re-
garding the Porto Ricsn Bill.

4
Secure the PuxsaHc of the Re-
lief BnI-The Tariff Question Re
| ferred to IA Committee of seven
After another caucus of more than three
hours yesterday the Republican Senators
| came to an agreement on the Porto Rican
| question. That is. they agreed to dis
| agree as to the sll-important matter OF
tariff legislation: for the present, at least
to stand by the bill providing form OF
| civil government for the island and TO
pass at once the House bill refunding to
Porto Rico the tariff taxes collected since
| Spanish control ended In other words,
the caucus inaugurated waiting game.
| While the civil government part OF the
Foraker bill is being debated in the SEN
ate, committee of seven Senators. rep
resenting the various conflicting views, to
be appointed by Senator Allison. Chairman
of the Caucus. will attempt to bring about
an agreement as TO the tariff question. aud
report to future caucus. Senator For
| aker, Chairman of the Porto Rican CCru-
I
the compromise committee of seven, and
it is the understanding that their report
shall not be submitted until Senators AL
drich and Platt return from Cuba. where
they started yesterday as members of 4
subcommittee of Cuban Relations. to
study and report upon the situation there
with view of recommending Legislation
for the future.
1t was no part of the caucus agreement
that the work of the committee of seven
should be prolonged until Senators Aldrich
and Piatt returned, but as the former is
the tactical manager of the Senate and
represents the radical free trade element
on the Porto Rican question. and the lat
ter one of the most prominent and influ-
entail advocates Of even a higher rate of
duties than is provided for in the House
bill, it is safe to say that the Senate will
take no important action on the Porto
Rican question during their absence.
A Talk With the President.
Before the caucus met yesterday )! ma
tors Aldrich and Spooner each had long
talk with the President, and reported later
to their colleagues that Mr.. Mckinley is
ernmenf should displace military rule In
Porto Rico at the earliest practicable mo
ment Mr.. SpOoner. who is one OF the
ablest lawyers in the Senate. Is opposed to
the passage of a civil government code ut
present, and is particularly opposed to Ger
tain features of the pending Foraker bill
The fact was developed in the caucus
that while those Senators who insist upon
free trade with Porto Rico are more per
sfc and
arguments, the Senators who favor stand
ing by the tariff bill as 1t came from the
House constitute a majority. These Sen
ators feel that 1t would be a>great mistake
to ask the House OF Representatives TO
undo now all that it accomplished after
the determined party fight. and that Sena-
tors who used their influence to keep the
party in the House intact cannot consist
emily now turn about face.
The damaging political effect of the lack
of harmony and the daily demonstrations
to the country that there is a serious dif-
ference OF opinion between the party N
the Senate and in the House Of Representa-
tives and the Executive was pointed out
by several Senators in the caucus, and it
was chiefly for the purpose of sidetracking
the whole question until an agreement can
be reached that the subject was turned
over to a special committee of sever
There is already a steering committee OF
nine. but it was appointed without pastic-
ular reference TO the Porto Rican subject
which. becoming acute, had prevented
any action by the steering commit
tee. The motion for this temporary
laying aside OF the question Of the Porto
Rican tariff vas made by Senator Aldrich,
who before Ii was disposed Of left the
caucus to take the train for Miami, Fla,
whence the investigating committee VIII
sail for Cuba. The motion followed sug-
gestion from Senator Mcmillan OF Miehi-
gan, who made a speech favoring let
alone policy, both for political and eco
nomic reasons. He is one OF the Senators
whose influence was exerted to keep the
party in the House in line for the caucus
bill that finally passed that body, and he
protested against being compelled to exc
cute a flank movement and desert the
House members who listened to the advice
OF himself. Senator Hanna, Chairman OF
the Republican National Committee, and
others who worked for the House bill.
Mr. Mcmillan objected TO free trade with
Porto Rico, and pointed out that the capi-
talists of Michigan and other Western
States who have large sums invested in
beet sugar factories and who have stood
ready to invest more would naturally fear
that a precedent established in Porto Rico
would be followed in dealing with Cuba
and the Philippines. The Michigsnders
are not afraid Of Porto Rican competition.
Mr. Mcmillan said. but have their eye on
the territory yet to be dealt with. The
Michigan Senator thinks it would be
good thing for the Republican party on the
eve of a Presidential election to stand by
what the party in the House Of Represent
atives has done and adjourn after having
passed as little legislation as possible.
No Set Speeches.
There were no set speeches yesterday.
The discussion was of an informal ma
ture. Questions were asked and answered
first by one and then by another, and in
this way views were brought out and the
knots untangIed. There were but two
lively passages in the whole two hours
discussion These were furnished by Sen
ato,' Foraker and Senator Wellington. Sen
ator Foraker again explained the provisions
OF the bill his committee had reported
Naturally. he was the target for ruany
Many of these enquiries were
aimed at the civil government feature Of
the bill. and some of these questions indi-
Gated desire on the part Of Senators to
separate the civil government feature from
the distinctiTeiy tariff parts of the pro-
posed measure. z hose suggested were Wig |
oroIsly combated by Nr. Foraker. He eX- |
pressed himself as being opposed to any |
proposition that looked to the abandonment. |
Of the civil government scheme, and as |
serted that II this were attempted he should |
i6il with those who believed in free trade |
with the island and do all he could to pass |
such measuI through the Senate.
Senator Spooner was particularly insist
mt ia some OF his questions, and conveyed |
.ne impression 10 Mr.. Foraker's mind that |
Is was sHdeASoring to defeat the civil gov
portion OF the bin. Mr.. Foraker