Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-02-26
Republ blican Majority Make Over:
lures To Opponents OF Porto
Rican Tariff.
Result May Be That the Matter
Will Be Left in Presidents
Discretion.
TaWney Scores Littlefield For His
Speech in Opposition to II
the Bill.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-Plans are un-
der consid Grafton by Republican mem
bers Of the house with a view to recon
Cling differences on the Porto Rico tariff
bill and securing some common ground
for united party support. Numerous
conferences to this end have been held
and various plans convassed.
That which met with most favor was
q resolution giving to the president au-
thority. to determine upon fiscal policy
as q part of the general authority which
the executive branch is now exercising
over the islands. A resolution to this
effect has heretofore been introduced by
Mr.. Meeks Of Michigan. It's favorably
considered by a number of those
who oppose the pending bill, and
efforts are under way to n have
this or a like plan accepted as a COM
promise. Chairman Payne of the ways
and means committee declines to say
how far the bill may be changed, but
he has already stated on the floor that
amendments were contemplated. Mem.
bers who have been most active in op-
position say prospects are improved for
a compromise. ss
Another tentative proposition being
put forward as a compr romise is to limit
the operations Of the act, to a definite
time from one to three years, during
which the plan could be tried and an
opportunity would be given for a legal
determination of all constitutional ques.
tions involved. \,
e Attendance Rather Slim.
@ The attendance in the house was scat.
tered during the early hours when the
Porto Rico tariff debate was resumed.
The leaders on both sides showed much
activity in canvassing the situation with
q view to the final vote Tuesday.
Mr.. Clayton (Ala.) was the. first
speaker OF the day, presenting a legal
argument against the bill q He main
tanned that the United States military
forces held Porto Rico at the time of
the the treaty and that the island be.
came as much a part of the United
Statesas the territory Of Arizona.
a53s Tawney Attacks Littlefield.
d Mr.. Tawney (Minn.), a member OF
the ways and Means committee, en1iv-
ened the debate by q severe arrai ignment
of Mr.. Littlefield (Me.) for his speech of
Friday, attacking the bill and its pro.
moters.
What reason is there exclaimed
Mr.. Tawney, tsfor the unusual and un.
precedented course of the gentleman
from Maine, compelling him to leave
the ranks Of the Republican party and
to join the ranks Of the Democratic
party? Why is it that he should exhibit
the want Of decent courtesy to the ways
and means committee and to distin.
guished gentlemen on the floor? Can it
be the lumber interests of Maine who
will have to pay on their product enter.
ing Porto Rico so cents per thousand
feet? Is it the people of Maine who
raise their voices against this? No, it is
the lumber barons Of Maine, the oppres-
sors of the people, for whom the gentle.
man declaims SO fercely y
Mr.. Ittlefeld listened to the speech
but made no effort to answer. n & A n
1sS Mr.. Tawney then devoted his atten-
ton to the merits of the bill.
$s. Mr.. Eddy (Minn. followed Mr.. Taw-
ney. He declared his intention to sup.
port the bill, believing it to be the best
measure attainable to establish sound
fiscal system in Porto Rico. :ss;
Mr. Tompkins an. Y. j announced
that he was not in accord with the ma
jority of the Republi icans on this bill.
He failed to see IN it that jnstness and
fairness which characterized the Repub-
ican party.