Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-03-02
Is A SAVING CLAUSE.
Feature Which Reconciles Presi.
dent to Porto Rican Bill.
MEANS PRACTICALLY FREE TRADE.
1t Is the Stipulation Which Provides
That All Revenues Collected Are
to Be Expended in the Island
for the Peoples BENEFIT.

Il
washington, Feb. 2S.---It is stated
by member of the cabinet that the
provision in the Porto Rican com
promise tariff bill which stipulates
that all the revenues collected on
Porto Rican goods, and goods import
ed from the United States and else
where, shall be expended in the is
iand for the benefit of it's people, is
the prominent feature which recon-
Giles the president to it's passage,
i With this provision in the bill he said.
! the net result would be in measure
the same as free trade, which the
president recommended to congress
IN his message. 1t was said that in
making that recommendation the
president had taken into account all
OF the factors which entered into it,,
its great need of schools, the pro-
visions which must be made for the
suppression of epidemic diseases. the
necessity for the construction of
roads and bridges and the other nee
essary improvements which the situa-
ton in the island imperatively de-
mands. He also took into account. it
is said, the fact that business on the
island is in deplorable situation, and
that the people are well-nigh helpless
to meet the ordinary demands of gov
eminent. In this situation it was the
presidents view that the United
States from its abundance should ex-
tend helping hand and he had in
preparation at one time message to
congress asking for an appropriation
OF $3O0O,0OO to be expended for the
public schools of the island.
Another phase of the subject which
has occupied the attention of the adj
ministration is that involving the
open door policy. This government
having secured from the European
powers pledge that the United
States shall have equal trade rights
with them in the east could not, it
was said, with any degree of consist
ency shut the doors to their trade
with the Philippines. Although it is
admitted that a declaration in favor
of free trade with Porto Rico might
establish a precedent which would be
difficult to overcome in dealing with
the Philippines, yet it was stated that
a declaration in the bill itself of the
right of congress to deal with these,
two questions separately, and as in
its judgment it might deem best,
would simplify the problem and leave
this government free to treat the
Philippines as an entirely Independent
proposition. The one point in the de-
termination of the Porto Rican prob
lem which the president it is believed
will steadfastly insist upon is that the
nominal duties collected by the Porto
Ricans, and those collected in the
ports of the United States on Porto
Rican goods. shall be expended for the
sole benefit of the islanders them
selves.
Insist on Absolute Free Trade.
Washington. Feb. 2s.-The members
of the several delegations from Porto
Rico now in Washington having read
the compromise measure adopted at
the republican conference Monday
night have united in statement to
congress in which they say that the
idea and theory of tariff is repug-
nant to them and that they are con-
tent to stand before their people and
the people of the United States on the
general broad proposition that the is
land is entitled to receive absolutely
free commercial relations at once.
They call attention to the fact that
the United States government through
the state department recently ne
gotiated treaty with the island
of Trinidad, in the West Indies, which
is British province and a direct COM
petitor of Porto Rico. by the terms of
which treaty Trinidad is to receive
from the United States. free of duty,
all articles of machinery and imple-
ments and articles of husbandry and
nearly all food supplies. the free list
for Trinidad in this treaty being larg
er than the list of articles now admit
ted free in Porto Rico by executive or
der, all of which it is proposed to tax
under the tariff bill now pending in
congress. The delegations consider
this unfair.
House.
Washington, Feb. 2s.-The general
debate on the Porto Rico tariff bill
closed Tuesday in blaze of glory.
The galleries were banked to the doors,
and every seat on the floor was occupied
when the rival champions of the re-
speetive sides, Mr.. Deliver Ga.) and
Mr.. Bailey lTex.) made the closing ar
guments. Each spoke for an hour and
half. The speech of Mr.. Bailey, de-
voted as it was almost exclusively to
the legal phases of the controversy,
while it was profound and impressive,
did not arouse the unbounded enthusi-
asm which swept galleries and floors
while Mr.. Dolliyer was speaking. The
Iowan was at his best, and his wit, elo-
quence and sarcasm in turn drew
salyos of applause from his republican
associates. Before these closing
speeches We're made Mr.. Cannon Ill.),
chairman of the appropriations conn
mittee, and one of the veterans on the
republican side, made an exceptionally
effective speech in support of the BILL
Messrs. Carmack dem, Tenn.), Clay
ton (dem., Ala.), Kleberg (dem., Tex.),
Pearce and DeArmond (dem., No. had
also made speeches in opposition to the
bill. The republican managers are now
confident that with the notifications
agreed upon at the conference Monday
night the bill will command narrow
majority in the final vote to-day
AT the night session Messrs. Talbert
(dem., S. ca, Bellamy (dem.. n. CO.,
llnnI1- llaaaa MI \