The Afro-American advance., 1900-04-07
The House Republicans Practically
Agreed to Accept Amendments
to Porto Rican Bill.
TO AVOID ALL UNNECESSARY DELAY.
Two bays OF Debate VIII Probably he
Allowed Drfore Final Note-NaVAl
Appropriation mn CARR Ina edi,-
2IO,ot1 Presented to House-Thc
Senate Proceedings,

ttAhAlaiAN Akltta Hllhh lihkfaAtiHf
relative to the Porto Rican tariff bill.
They have cauyassed the situation and
have decided to hold caucus or con
ference at eight o'clock at which the
managers will present their plan. This
plan Is To concur In the senate amend.
meuts and thus avoid all the delays and
problems involved in an attempt 10
amend the senate provisions. The
managers will advocate the adoption
OF a rule which will allow two days
| for the discussion of this proposition
aud then bring IL to vote,
y very prominent republican Of the
/ house who has cunynSsed the sltuu-
tion saSs that the proposition will
carry by substantial majority larger
than that by which the original bill
passed the house,
The managers agreed that the plan
| TO substitute the house bill providing
II civil government for Porto Rico for
/ the senate provision would bc bad pol
icy. ms there was really little differ
tncc between the two, and the senate
provision had the advantage Of having
been thoroughly discussed in the sen.
ute and perfected there.
Wohr Attend Conference.
The republicans OF the house who
voted against the original bill, al an in
formal conference held Thursday after.
noon. decided not To attend the confer.
cnee, One of the members most prom.
incntly identified with the opposition
stated that the spirit of insurreetion
Is as strong as ever. and hat recent
private meeting had shown there WAS
no falling of in the strength Of the OPP
position. The republican members
OF the insular committee of the house
held an extended conference Thursday
on the Porto Rico bill. Those present
Included Chairman Payne of the ways
and means committee; Chairman Coop.
er. Of the iusular committee, and
MrwHrss cannon, Hit, Hepburn, Loud
Moody and others. No definite agree.
mcnt was made. but the general senti'
mcnt was favorable TO taking the ladg-
mcnt OF he conference of all republic
an members 10 bc held Thursday night.
while the views expressed al the meet
ing differed somewhat ms to whether
the senate changes should be accepted.
the general disposition on plans and
policy appeared 20 be along the lines
heretofore given.
Naval Appropriation mn.
Washington, April G. The naval APP
rropriatiun bill was Thursday report.
ed 10 the house by Acting Chairman
Toss, Of the naval committee. The
amount carried by the bill is sol, ,2lg.-
OlG. the largest ever reported to the
house from the naval committee.
Aside from this the report, which ne
companies the bill. Is remarkable for
It's nrrayal uf facts regarding sen
power the world over. foreign naval
proRrammrA. aud the comparative
strength Of the nnvieR OF the great
maritime powers, accompanied by
eolored charts showing the upbuilding
Of the various great nhyies.
The naval Programme.
Under the head Of "Nayai Pro.
pranme" the report srtH forth as fol
! lows as to new ships:
!
the naval establishment Of the unltsd
/ atates the committee recommends that the
| president bo authorized 20 have built by
! contract two scaRGng coast line battle.
ships. carrying the heaviest Rrmor and
4 most powerful ordnance for vessels 0f their
| class upon trial diHpia cement 0f about
/ - 90 tons, ana 10 have the highest pfar-
tleabie speed and great radius of action.
| and 10 cost. exclusive Of hrfngT ana aTrna-
msni. not exceeding 800 Gq1 each. three
/ arrnotsd cruisers Of about ia.tN1 tons trial
| displacement. carrying the hes West Armor
/ nd most powerful ordnance for vessels of
/ their class, ana to have the highest pfRc.
tlcabis Fpeed ana great radius u action.
ana 10 cost. exclusive Of sfmor and aFma-
Tusnt. not eEcrsdlnR g. zi1.Dog each. aud
/ three protected cruisers ~ about 400 tons
| trial displacement carrying the rn0ni pow.
/ etfui ordnance for vessels 81 their class
/ and a. have the higbeRt speed compatible
/ with good cruising qualities and great
radius 0f action, aBd - cost. exclusive Of
afma fnsn,. not exceeding g. s1oGsG each
The GSst.
'HFhe maximum cost gf the ahipa herein
/ authonzsd exclusive of afmor md armh-
/ fBent. will be tzs. sy96s9. THIS h the largest
/ naval programme ever submitted bY the
/ committee On naval affairs ~ the house
/ nnd Ia IN aeeord with the wishes aud rec
/ lamentations ~ the sserstArY 0t the navy
I ard &1Hfff8i leNFFs ahH VIII We bftlEFFs
+ meet the just demands ~ public sentiment
I The past year IN naval construction has
/ been nsfksd by the most liberal naval pto-
FfaHnGH On thn part ~ nil foreign Hn
I tisHs ~ the present time there h pending
( ~ the rsiIbHisR 6f Germany d naval bill
/ which ~ passed. will increase the tgHnaEs
of ths pfsssnt German navy ~ 20 tsna. .
| larger tonnage than that 0f her present
''''' Asmer Plate.
A. 90 armor plate the report tells
~ the futile efforts To Eseure afnof at
| t5p0 nhd 500 and says:
.s-fhs baiilsabips Maine. Ohio sud Mis-.
/ soau. now IN process ~ eonstrHe tian. fs.
alilfe 70 q tors ~ arBler, or z. .f55 II for
taeh vessel u ts beiirged ~ The commit
i tee thaf these hattisships. gf neafiY isas1
I tors displacement. the largest 10 design
which have ever 5ssn riahEe8 ~ fhf navy
Department, should have the sest Dbtaias
I nh3s Afnnr. ara accordingly VeHr commit
I tee recommends th#t ihs secretary af the
navy - authorized 20 contract fgr asseh
/ Afaaor ~ a eoHt not to exceed 80 psr ton.
/ The hest ohiHiu8bIe bFmgr af she present
! tlnsa IL. according 90 atl naval authorities
/ the no-safisd kr1pp artnOr. which l.. AT
/ least. - has beet 80 proven by bsiilefie
/ tsntn. ~ = per Eeut greater effieisneY than
/ that ef tbe HaFysytksd Hrmos Every ma
| - day Your COMMITTEES believe that ~
u