The age-herald., 1900-02-25
THE PORTO RICAN
 BILL IS IN DOUBT
Opposition Continuing Its Fight
 and Working Hard.
THE PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE
Does Not Like to Be in Position of Op- posing the Majority of His Party, Still Does Not Favor the
 Measure.

Washington, February 2-(Special.)-Th fate of the Porto Rican tariff bill still hangs in douot The republicans who have pronounced against it are continuing in their opposition, and a number who are doubtful assto the proper course to pursue are delaying a. decision until the last mo- ment. On Saturday a conference Is to be held, at which it is possible some modfi- cations may be made in the measure now before congress. MT. Cromwell of Ohio proposes to move to recommit the bill when the debate upon it is over, but it does not look as if he will have the support of the democrats, who are inclined to re- gard il as good politics to oppose that motion that the differences between the republican congressman on question at is sue may be promoted.
 a Perhaps this will be good politics but to an appropriated observer it would ap- pear as If it would be better politics to support sucn a motion that free trade measure might result. In the present situ- alton 1t is impossible to forecast the tdlls fate. Much depends upon ,lle proposed conference. Perhaps if the duty were low cred so as to be actually nominal the bill would be more certain of passage; but it's friends maintain earnestly that any duty lower than % per cent. of the Dingley rates would not give enough revenue for Porto Rico s, government and that the necessity of securing revenues without taxing the land of the Porto Ricans or otherwise maikingt their burden of poverty heavier is the chief Teason for imposing duties on Porto Rican imports to the United States ana united States exports to Porto Rico.
 The Pre,ident's Attitude
 Much has been said as to the presidents attitude on this bill. He certainly did in his annual message to congress, advocate tree trade with Porto Rico, and he has not actually receded from that attitude. but he has said to member of congress. whose relations are rather intimate, that the situation has become so difficult in con gress tlat the pending bill should probably better be passed, but 10 per cent duty would be preferable to the % per cent. of the Dfnsley rates. He is quoted as saving further: Congress will finally come to my view al to the adyisibility of free trade with. Porto Rico.s but not at the present session. if course"
 The president will not now press congress to follow the advice he has already given It is said that in view of the desire of such a great majority of the republican repre- sentatives and senators to raise a low tariff
 
 he to press his views he would disorganize the republican party. The president, in his advocacy of free trade with Porto Rico was not impressed with the argument that the constitution gives the inhabitants of our new dependencies equal rights with the citizens of our organized states. On the contrary, he holds that as used in the con- stitution the words United States" refer only to organized states and not to terri tory owned by the United States. In other words, the president believes that congress can ignore any tariff rates it chooses on our new dependencies and each dependency does not have to be treated alike.
 Recommended free rade
 He recommended free trade with Porto Rico as matter of good policy, thinking 1t would help the Porto Ricans and tend to increase their regard for their new country. That. was the part of statesmanship. As politician, he may think that free trade with Porto Rico may not be good politics, and may tend to make expansion unpopu- lar, and thus lose votes. If Porto Rico is to be taken as an example for the treatment of other dependencies it would be dlsas- trous politically, for it would open the markets of the United States, should free trade prevail with these new dependencies to the products of their cheap labor to the injury of the workingmen of the United States engaged in similar lines of produc- ing.
 Already cigarmakera unions, beet sugar growers and cane sugar growers show unhappmess at the proposal of free trade with Porto Rico Free trade with Porto Rico would, so shrewd republican poli- ticians matntain, make the policy of ex- pansion unpopular with these interests and give more force to the democratic anti expansion cry. Republican politicians think the democrats want to make a particular point, of their anti-expansion views argu- tng that dt means serious injury to every beet sugar grower, every producer of cane sugar, every tobacco grower and every cigarInaker.
 One hears with frequency the statement made bye strong republicans that If the con stltution is to be construed so as to make United States include all our territory. we might as well give up the Philippines as soon as possible and forever depart from the idea trat Cuba may some day be an- nexed, And this is because of the fear of the competition of the cheap labor of these people, not only in the Philippines and Cuba, but in the American continent as well.
 Returning to the president, it is to ne said thts he does not relish the idea of be- ing allied in opposition to the majority of his party in congress with the democrats and a republican minority. Such an ali ance for the insistence upon his free trade views as far as Porto Rico is concerned would have the same effect practically. and would on the eve of presidential election result In party disorganiza ticn that would be most Harmful.