The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-28

Delegations in Washington Add
position to the Proposed Measure
Which Has Caused the Republican
Majority So Much TroubIe-WilI
Likely Become a Political Issue.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-It was stated
by a member of the cabinet today that
the provision in the Puerto Rican COM
promise tariff bill which stipulates that
all the revenues collected on Puerto
Rican goods and goods imported for the
United States and elsewhere shall be ex-
pended in the island for the benefit of
its people is the prominent feature which
reconciles the president to its passage
With this provision in the BILL he said
the net result would be IN measure the
same as free trade, which the president
recommended to congress in his meg
sage. 1t was said that in making that
recommendation the president had taken
into account all of the factors which en-.
tered into Its great need of schools, the
provisions which must be made for the
suppression Of epidemic diseases, the ne
cessity for the constructions of roads and
bridges and the other necessary improve
ments which the situation in the island
imperatively demands.
He also took into account, 1t is said,
that fact that business on the island Is
in a deplorable situation, and that the
people are we'll nigh helpless to meet the
ordinary demands of government. In
this situation it was the presidents view
that the United States from its abundance
should extend a helping hand, and he
had in preparation at one time mes
sage to congress asking for an appropria-
ton of $3OO0.OOO to be expended for the
public schools of the island.
OPEN DOOR POLICY.
Another phase Of the subject which has
occupied the attention of the administra-
tion is that involving the open door pol
icy This government having secured
from the European powers a pledge that
the United States shall have equal trade
rights with them IN the East could not,
it was said, with any degree of con-
sistency, shut the doors to their trade
with the Philippines.
Although 1t is admitted that a declara-
ton in favor of free trade with Puerto
Rico might establish precedent which
would be difficult to overcome in dealing
with the Philippines yet 1t was stated
that a declaration in the bill itself of the
right Of congress to deal with these two
questions separately and as in its judg-
Ioent 1t might deem best would simplify
the problem and leave this government
free to treat the Philippines as an en-
tirely independent proposition The one
point of determination of the Puerto
Rican problem which the president, 1t is
believed will steadfast1y insist upon Is
that the nominal duties collected by the
Puerto Ricans and those collected in the
ports Of the United States on Puerto
Rican goods shall be expended for the
sole benefit of the islanders themselves.
PUERTO RICANs PROTEST.
The members of the several delega-
tions from Puerto Rico now In Washing.
ton. having read the compromise meas
ure adopted at the Republican conference
last night, have united in statement tt
congress in which they say that the ides
and the theory OF a tariff is repugnant II
them, and that they are content to stant
before their people and the people of tht
fJnited States on the general broad propo
sition that the island is entitled to re
ceiye absolutely free commercial reIa
tions at once They call attention to tn
fact that the United States government
through the state department, recentl.
negotiated treaty with the island Q
Trinidad in the West Indies, which is ;
British province and a direct competito
of Puerto Rico, by the terms of whfcl
treaty Trinidad is to receive from tn
United States, free of duty, all article
of machinery and implements and article
of husbaGory and nearly all food sup
plies, the free list for Trinidad in thi
treaty being larger than the list o
articles now admitted free in Puerto Ric'
bv executive order, all of which it i
nroposed to tax under the tariff bill nov
bending in congress. The delegation
consider this unfair.