Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-26
Representatives Call to Confer on the
Porto Rican Bill.
TIE PRESIDENT DESIRES HARMONY
Arthur SewaII Talks Briefly on Ex-
pansion.
AIMED SOLDIERS CALL

President Mckinley heard a good deal
about the Porto Rican tariff bill this morn
ing. Several important conferences were
held with him by republican leaders of the
House, resulting, apparently, in the de-
termination of those in charge of the pres
ent bill to press it to a final vote, accepting
as a compromise limit to the time when
the provisions of the bill shall cease.
Representatives Payne and DalZell held
the first conference with the President.
They left. the White House at full speed to
go 10 the Capitol, Mr.. Payne having some
difficulty in keeping pace with the small
and active Pennsylvania. They found
car at the end of the White House grounds
and boarded it.
Later, Representative Hopkins of the
ways and means committee talked with the
President. He was followed by Representa-
tives Lacy of Iowa, Cushman of Washing
ton and Miller of Kansas. Mr.. Cushnan
has up to this time opposed the bill provid-
ing for a tariff. The question is momen-
tariy the lvest issue in the country, and
the interest in all quarters is intense.
President Desires Harmony.
The President himself did not express any
| ma teral change in his former views, mere
ly urging that the republicans get together.
He is quoted willing to see the bill go
rather than there should be fight in the
republican party. which would present it
in badly divided condition. He desires
harmony in the beginning of the cam
paign year and does not see the occasion
for continued serious division of opinion
in his rarty. At the same time the Presi-
dent is not making suggestion or interfer-
ing in any way. He is listening to what
the leaders have to say and keeping his
hands away from the work of Congress
Mr.. Lacy said today that at first after
he had returned from Porto Rico he
thought there should be free trade but
after he had given some study to the sub
1ect or how to raise revenues to run the
expenses of the island he had come to the
conclusion that small tariff was the only
safe and satisfactory method for time
at least. The extension Of the internal
revenue laws to the island would be sure
to cause friction and would be misunder-
stood by the people, who had never been
accustomed to such a system. They had
never known anything but the old Spanish
system, which was Too un-American to
even be considered
Mr. Miller of Kansas said that the peopIe
of his district had believed with the Pres
ident, but he felt their views would under
go change when they learned that there
must be some way of securing revenues to
pay expenses. Mr.. Miller said he believed
Congress would pass the bill now before it
with modification as to the time when the
bill should remain in force. He was con-
fident that If the bill does not pass in this
form it will pass with the proposed duties
decreased to 10 or Is per cent
Representative Hopkins expressed the be-
lief that the bill will pass with amendment
limiting its operation to two years.
Call From Mr.. Sewan.
Arthur Sewall, VINO was the democratic
vice presidential candidate in 1896 paid his
respects to the President Mr.. Sewall has
been to Hawaii and intended to go to the
Philippines, but was prevented by the out
break of cholera in the east. On his way
east again he stopped in Atlanta for con-
ference with w. ]. Bryan. He said today
that the conference was not significant and
related mainly to personal matters
Mr.. Sewall denied recent interview in
which he was quoted as forecasting the de-
feat of the democratic party this year. Il
did not say anything of that kind without
qualification Mr.. Sewall said. Il believe
In expansion In a certain way 1 believe
in keeping Porto Rico and Hawaii and ex-
tending to them every law of the United
States. Make them territory of this coun-
try without discrimination to tariff or
other laws also want to keep the Philip
pines, but l think We should ultimately
establish republic there, with our protec-
ton extended over it, Mr. SewaIl was
asked how much he differed from Mr.,
Bryan on this subject.
1--WE not very far apart" was the
answer.
Going to New York.
President Mckinley has accepted an in
vitation to attend the banquet of the Ohio
Society of New York at the Waldorf-As-
toria Hotel on Saturday night next, March
s.. Ihere are to be many distinguished
speakers, and the President may not be
able to resist the entreaties of his friends
to say something. 1t is thought the Pres
fdent will leave here on Friday and spend
Saturday in New York.
In Behalf of Manned Soldiers,
A number Of the officers of the United
States Manned Soldiers League called on
the President this morning to bespeak his
aid in behalf of the bill which is pending
before Congress granting better treatment
to these veterans. Those who called were
Major Levi G. McCauley, president: J. H.
X storey, treasurer; DR.. James NJ MCGEE
recording secretary; A. G. Rapp and
Franklin 1bach, all Of Philadelphia
TOday's Nominations,
The President today sent the following
nominations to the Senate:
To be consuls-George B. Anderson of the
District of Columbia. at Prescott, Canada:
Grenville James of New York, at Grenoble
France.
To be second lieutenants. United States
army-Ralph B. Lister of Colorado: Spen
Ger M. Bowman, District Of Columbia: Cliff
ford U. Leonori. New York: Julian L.
Dodge. New York; Frank B. Davis North
Carolina: Daniel Van voorhis Ohio: B. e.
Pope. Texas.
To be captain, United States volunteers
Harry N. Cootes, first lieutenant, 35th In
fantry. VIVA 40
To be first lieutenant, United States VOL
S5th Infantry
Navy: Marine corps-To be second lieu-
tenant, Louis G. Miller, Ohio.