The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-30
PORTO RICO TO HAVE TARIFF.
INDICATIONS THAT THE MEASURE
WILL GO THROUGH.

Proposition to Strike Out the Is Per
Cent. Section Voted Down by 16' to
33-Bacon Wanted Free Trade,
Beveridge Has Modified His Views
and Will Vote for the Bill If He
Cannot Get the Free Trade Sub
stitute.
Washington, March ga direct vote
was taken by the Senate to-day on the
proposition to strike from the Porto Rico
measure the provision levying Is per cent
OF the Dingley law duties upon Porto
Rico products. The proposition was de-
feated by vote of 16 to SO.
While the vote is regarded as presaging
the passage of the pending measure, it is
rot regarded as indicating the final vote
on the bill.
The feature of the debate to-day was the
speech of Mr.. Beveridge While he adj
vocated reciprocity between the United
States and Porto Rico, he announced that
If all efforts to secure free trade should
fail, he would support che pending bill.
The bill was under discussion throughout
the session, several important amend
ments being agreed to.
Speech of Mr. Beveridgc.
Mr.. Beverldge addressed the Senate in
support of the proposition for free trade
between the United States and the ISL
and of Porto Rico. He said in conclu-
sion:
II favor immediate reciprocity, and l
shall go on record as voting for amend
ments giving immediate and unrestrict-
ed freedom of trade to our Island of Por-
to Rico But if we in the Senate who
believe that Porto Rico should have re-
c.procity at once. are not able to so amend
the bill here, l shall, after voting for
reciprocity amendments, vote for the civil
government bill, modified by the com
mittee because we must not deny civil
government TO the people of Porto Rico
moment longer, and because the bill as
modified insures free trade with Porto
Rico as soon as the civil government OF
that island provides a system of taxation
of its own. So that the sooner Porto
Rico gets civil government the quicker il
will get free trade under notifications
which the committee have made 10 the
bill.
Il should be glad if the bin could be so
separa tied that we might vote for civil
government without the revenue feature,
although the committee has modified that
feature so as TO insure early freedom of
trade. But as the bill stands, unless we
can amend it we must vote for 1t as mod
fled by the committee or else vote against
civil government altogether, and civil
government must no longer be denied to
the people of Porto Rico. Delay of civil
government to these people is denial of
justice. And so l shall vote for the civil
government bill because it does establish
government at once and because under
49,, l,a fao o1r
establishes absolute reciprocity in the
near future.
Ought TO BE Free Trade.
at ought to establish unrestricted trade
instantly and 1t may be that the House
will so amend it, if we should not so
amend II here. But If we are not able
20 so amend it here. and if the House
should not SO amend it, but adopt the
modified civil government bill, the COM
mittee's modification does give us the alb
solule certainty of unrestricted trade at
no distant date.
The bill as a whole, while not what l
would have it. in its failure to give imme-
dlate and unrestricted trade to Porto Rico
and in other particulars, nevertheless does
establish civil government which may not
be delayed another moment, and does in
sure early reciprocity and so is step
IN the right direction in our progress as
an administering nation and is a recogni-
ton of those great principles on which
that progress depends
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Beveridges
address, Mr.. Foraker asked that the SEN
ate proceed with the consideration of
amendments
The Coffee Amendment.
The first amendment was one imposing
duty of cents a pound upon coffee i'm
ported into Porto Rico.
Mr.. Pettus of Alabama moved to strike
out the amendment and demanded a vote
on his amendment, which involved the
question whether a tax could be imposed
on products imported into Porto Rico
which was not imposed on the same
products imported into "other parts of
the United States"
Mr.. Gallinger defended the amendment
Of the committee. During the Spanish
regime. he said, tariff had been i'm
posed upon coffee imported into Porto
Rico because the coffee raised there is
regarded as the best in the world and 1t
was desired to prevent it from being
spoiled by being blended with inferior
brands
"If you have a free hand to mutilate
the constitution" said Mr.. Pettus,
then you can pass tnis bill but If the
constitution means anything when it says
mat taxes and duties shall be uniform,
then you have no such right"
Mr. Pettus' amendment was defeated,
10 70 g.
Bacon Wanted Free Trade.
Mr. Bacon of Georgia offered an amend
ment in the form of a substitute for sec
uens and 3 Of the committee bill estab-
Hsmng the regular Dingley tariff rates
oi duty on articles imported form foreign
Countries into Porto Rico and providing
mat no duties shall be levied on articles
imported into Porto Rico from the United
states or into the United States from
forto Rico. Mr.. Bacon explained that it
was his idea to establish In Porto Rico
me tariff system in vogue in this country
ne said the amendment presented a
bluare issue of the question now before
The Senate.
Mr- Gallinger said the bill as IL stood
was Infinitely more liberal thnn was the
ans ndment offered by Mr.. Bacon.
Mr.. Lindsay OF Kentucky offered an
hmoudmeut 90 Mr.. Bacons amendment
poVlding for absolute free trade between
I'll