New-York tribune., 1900-04-01
PUERTO RICAN DEBATE.
SENATOR FAIRBANKS MAKES A STRONG
ARGUMENT FOR A TARIFF.
SOME VALUABLE NEW FACTS CONTRIB
THE BILL NEARLY COMPLETED.

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
Washington, March 31.--The most important
and interesting feature OF to-day's proceedings
IN the Senate the Puerto Rican bill the
speech OF Senator Fairbanks, of Indiana, in
support of the measure. He is a member OF the
Committee Pacific Islands and Puerto Rico,
in which he had been attentive listener to
the statements made by all who appeared before
it. and, his speech to-day showed he had
carefully explored and studied all the
Of trustworthy information contained in official
reports and documents relating to the pending
subject. that he had thoroughly mastered it
so far as that could be done with the informa-
ton as yet accessible. His speech therefore.
was in striking and instructive contrast to the
one delivered by his youthful and brilliant col
league Mr.. Beverdge. on Thursday, we'll as
one of the most valuable contributions that have
been made to the question since the beginning
of the debate.
AN IMPORTANT FACT BROUGHT OUT.
Senator Fairbanks brought out with force and
clearness one important fact which has hereto
fore been obscured by the clouds of msrepre-
sentation which have overshadowed the discus
sion both in Congress and the newspapers. by
showing that Governor-General Davis. in con-
sequence Of fuller and more accurate and trust
worthy information obtained by him, had re
vsed his opinions and recommendations on the
subject of revenue and taxation so that his
later recommendations did not reach Washing
ton until some time after the annual Message
of the President and the report Of the Secretary
of War had been received and published by
order of Congress This report from trusted
officer who was the ground naturally modified
the views both of the President and the Secre-
tary Of War and produced the same effect on
the chairman of the Ways and Means Commit
tee and the chairman of the Senate Committee
on Pacific Islands and Puerto Rico, who had
previously introduced bills which contained pro-
visions for free trade between the United States
and Puerto Rico. Therefore, Senator Fair
banks to-day clearly explained, there
could have been and there was not any lack
of harmony but the contrary the most
cordial agreement and cooperation between the
President and his Cabinet on the one hand, and
the leaders of the majority In Congress on the
other. The later report and recommendations of
General Davis based newer facts and DIFF
ferent conditions, Influenced all of them alike,
and offered a problem which, in the judg-
ment of all of them could be most wisely and
successfully solved by the passed by
the House of Representatives and now pending
in the Senate.
Senator Fairbanks offered many pertinent
facts and such cogent and conclusive reasons
in support of the proposition that the measure
is dictated by the weightiest considerat tions of
humane and just policy that he left little or
nothing to be said on that branch Of the subject
The Indiana Senator also rendered valuable
service in exposing. as he did the oft repeated
falsehood that the alleged change of front by
the Republican leaders in Congress was due to
some occult and powerful influence OF the Sugar
Trust and the Tobacco Trust, by showing that
those great combinations would be out OF pocket
hundreds of thousands of dollars If the tariff
should be imposed which they would keep If
free trade policy should be Immediately adopted.
AMENDMENTS REMAINING FOR ACTION.
All the amendments OF the committee to the
bill had been read and agreed to before the
Senate adjourned to-day, but a number which
have been offered by individual Senators from
time TO time including five or six providing for
Continued q third pngeD
PROSPECT PARK SOUTH.