New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-08
A FLOOD OF AMENDMENTS.
MANY CHANGES PROPOSED IN THE SEN
ATE PUERTO RICAN BILL.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSE.l

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE-l
Washington March Amendments to the
Senate Puerto Rican bill continue to flow in.
Senator Stewart has offered one which provides
for free trade between the United States and
Puerto Rico. and that duties collected before the
passage of the act articles imported into the
United States from Puerto Rico and on articles
imported into Puerto Rico from the United
States shall be held a separate fund and ex-
pended for the benefit of the island Senator
Foraker has proposed two amendments. one
makes it more clear that free importations from
Puerto Rico must be products of the island, and
the other imposes duty of FIVE cents pound
on all coffee chicory roots and chicory imported
into Puerto Rico. Mr.. Nelson has offered an
amendment providing for free trade between
Puerto Rico and the United States.
Owing to the early adjournment OF the senate
on account of the death of Mr.. Harmer, the de-
bate the Puerto Rican bill did not begin to-
day as was expected. 1t promises to be an ex-
haustive one. in which. among other things an
attempt will be made by opponents or the Diii
to create an impression that the President sun
adheres to the opinion that free trade relations
ought to be established between the United
States and Puerto Rico. and that he deprecates
the action of the House of Representatives III
is becoming apparent that this attempt is IN
spired by hope of obtaining a partisan ao-
vantage in the coming campaign whlch VIII EN-
barrass Republican candidates for reelection
to the House of Representatives.. 1t is rather
transparent device and Republicans do not fear
that it will succeed in defeating them either iol
denomination reelection. They are DeSin-
ming TO hear from trustworthy correspondents
in their districts and advised that no sucn
state of excitement and popular reseLI He 81
exists as has been pictured on account OF the
attitude occupied by the majority In the House
That popular misconception regarding the Ieai
nature and scope of the provisions or the fuerto
Rican Tariff bill was somewhat widespread ap-
pears to have been true, but that II has already
been removed in great measure the CORE
spondence referred to clearly indicates AS one
Representative to-day said THE Mysteries seem
to have subsidized" -,
There is one thing which indicates that triaI
of the constitutional issue involved IN the
Puerto Rican bill may be had in the SENATE pc
fore the vote is taken on that measure Sehd-
tor Allen, the long distance Nebraska oratoI'
to-day gave notice of amendment 10 the
Puerto Rican Appropriation BILL which was re-
ported to the Senate to-day, with an amend,
ment limiting the appropriation to the amount
of duties collected before January l. Mr. Al
lens amendment declares that the ConsttutIo .
of the United States extended over Puerto
Rico by virtue of the Treaty or Paris pe.Ween
Snain and the United States. This Amendment
might perhaps receive the support or the oena-
tors who hold that the provisions OF the Consti-
tuition have been in full force in Puerto rico
ever since the Treaty of Paris was rattneo.