The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-03-27
PUERTO RICAN BILL.
sennte Caucus on the Measure with
out Result-Bill Wa be PreSgsd
to as Speedy a Vote as Possible

Senate Caucus on the Measure With
out Result-Bill Wa bs PreETed
to as Speedy a Vote as Possible
WASHINGTON, March 2s-The Re-
publican members of the senate spent
two and u half hours in caucus to-day
In an effort to reach an agreement on
the Puerto Rican legislation now pend
ing In the senate. The caucus was ap-
parently, however, without material re-
suit, the only accomplishment being q
decision to proceed with the general
bill as it now stands, without Separ-
ating the tarifr feature, and to dis-
charge the harmony committee from
further efforts.
During the sitting there were twenty
or more speeches made All Of them
were OF more amiable tone than the
speeches in the caucus OF a fortnight
ago. But while good feeling was gem
orally manifested and all senators who
spoke expressed themselves as deslrouS
of reaching an amlcable understanding,
there was but little or no dispositIon
manifested to Yield point which would
produce that result.
Indeed the free traders on the ono
hand and the iron-bound tariff men on
the other were quite as obdurate as
they had been at the previous meeting.
This condition of affairs was made 50
manifest that Senator Allison, acting
as chairman OF the caucus. declared at
the close OF the meeting that there was
FaHGWW NnN IN
continue on past lines, as II was very
evident no other course was practtca-
BILE.
Senator Foraker was instructed BY
the caucus to press the Puerto Rican
bill as 1t now stood, the governmental
bill Incorporated with the tariff meag-
ure, to as speedy a vote as possible. Tho
understanding at the time this inStrIlc-
tlon was given was that Senator For
aker would offer an amendment to the
tariff feature Of the bill, adding the free
list named by the President In an exec
utive order to the exports going from
the United States to Puerto Rico duty
free, but that the fifteen per cent OF the
DiRgley law carried in the house bill
upon goods coming from Puerto Rico to
the United States would be retained.
The vote by which this instruction
was given was taken viva Voce. no rec
ord being made, but 1t was evident that
substantial majority approved the
proposition.
quite a number OF senators had left
the caucus before this vote was taken,
but the position of each senator was
understood,
There are n number of senators who
viii oppose the bill. even with the
amendment recommended They are,
it Is stated, Senators Davis. Beveridge,
Hoar, Wellington, Mason, Simon, Proc
tor and Nelson. 1t is also said that Sem
Rtors Kyle, who heretofore had acted
with the Republicans, and McCumber,
of North Dakota, win not vote for the
house bill unamended but it Is believed
they will vote for the amended PROPOSE
ton.
Two senator's named in the list Of the
eight first given are claimed by friends
of the tariff measure as almost sure to
vote for the amended bill, leaving six
Republicans who will vote finally
against the bill. It Is claimed that two
or three votes win be secured for the
tariff measure from the ranks Of the
opposition parties in the senate and
that IN this way a majority will be Sc
cured.