Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-19
The President Favors Free Trade
With Porto Rico.
MEETING OF TEE CABINET TODAY
California Presents an invitation to
Visit the Coast.
VICE PRESIDENTIAL TALK

meeting today that he had ordered a stay
of six months in the foreclosure of mort
gage and similar obligations in Porto Rico
While a period of six months is named, the
orGer will remain in effect only until Con-
gress has decided the future of the island
and the President has signed the bill
This is the third stay order issued, and it
is hoped by the administration that it will
be the last, but there is felt to be every
justification for it in the deplorable condi-
tion of affairs in the little island The
President is unqualified In his view that The
island should be admitted to practically fun
relations of every kind with the United
States. This is particularly his view as to
trade relations.
Open Market for Porto Rico.
He believes that there should be the same
liberty of trade as between states and ter
ritories of the United States, thus giving
Porto Rican products an open market
As to civil government, he believes that
the form should be territorial, with just
such changes as conditions in the island
make necessary. 1t may be stated that he
has the friendliest feeling fer the island
and its people.
The President and cabinet approved the
action cf Gen. Wood in suspending Mora,
the Cuban who stood in the relation of
prosecute perpetrators of customs frauds in
Havana.
Respite for Homer Bird.
On the recommendation of the Attorney
General. the President today granted a re-
spite of five weeks to Homer Bird, the for
mer Louisianan, who is under sentence of
death at Sitka, Alaska, for the murder of
mining companions. Mrs. Bird has talked
with the Attorney General, and he wants
time to investigate the facts. The respite
will be telegraphed to Seattle and hurried 20
SItka by steamer, as the sentence of the
court was for execution on February ..
The respite is until March 16.
Invited to Frisco.
Representative Julius Kahn of San Fran
cisco. accompanied by the other members
of the California delegation in Congress-
called on the President this morning and
presented him unique invitation from the
Bohemians of America, fraternal organi-
cation with headquarters at San Francisco.
The invitation Is on a solid silver card six
by four inches, and asks the President to
attend banquet at San Francisco on the
10Th instant, the occasion being the birth
day of President Mckinley. The Bohemians
OF America hold a banquet annually on the
birthday anniversary of the President in
office. no matter what his politics. The
President said he would not he able to ac-
cept.
President Mckinley will be ffty-seven
years old on the 18th. having been born at
Niles, Trumbull county. Ohio, January %,
1S43.
Senator PIatt Calls.
Senator Platt was one Of the Presidents S
visitors today, others being Senators Clark
Cullom, Hale and Beveridge. Senator Platt
did not discuss politics with the President
and, of course, said nothing about the vice
presidential gossip so plentiful now. 1t is
certain that the senator is not greatly wor
ried by the mention of a western man for
second place on the republican ticket
They've got to have something to talk
about he says.
The senator is still loyal to Lieutenant
Governor Woodruff. He has made just one
reservation. That is that Mr.. Woodruff
snail have united delegation from New
York He says that he will support the
man who can get solid delegation from
New York. 1t is claimed that no man can
do that but Mr. Woodruff, who is backed
by harmonious party organization. The
senator also gives notice that independents
and others who make a fight for partial
delegation will have him to encounter as
he will tolerate no man who hasn't his en-
tire state back of him. New York repub-
means are also warned that their only hope
Is III uniting on one man; that the national
convention will not take a man VINO cannot
command the full strength of his state.