Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-28
As Amended It is Expected to Pass
Il the Senate.
PROBABLE CHANCES IN THE HOUSE
Effect oftthe Appearance Of Oxnard
>. and Myrick.
SOME EMBARRAS ENT

Ihe belief Is very general that the amend
ed Porto Rican tariff bill will be passed
through the Senate on Tuesday. when the
vote Is had. 1t is claimed, and credited.
that enough votes to put the bill through
are assured. and it is expected that but six
Or seven republicans will vote against it,
The republicans spoken of as likely to vote
against the bill are Davis, Nelson, Mason,
Simon, Proctor, Wellington and Beveridge
Whether all will SO vote is not certain
Chances in the House.
1t is said that when the bill gets over to
the House all effort will probably be made
to force 1t to a vote without more than a
few minutes debate. If the friends of the
measure have votes enough to carry the
bill through they may be able to get the
previous question on, it so as to cut off de-
bate. but whether they can still hold the
House in line is problematical.
II republican. members all act as they
talk there will be a majority of the House
for free trade. and the bill cannot be again
put through the House. number of
nally opposed the measure and were after
ward whipped into line to vote for 1t, but
some who did not oppose the tariff at ALL
have declared with great emphasis that if
they get chance at the bill again, through
any amendment being put upon it by the
Senate, they. will vote to kill the tariff
provision and to- establish free trade.
ihose opposed to the tariff figure up not
less than twenty republicans who have
made this declaration. How many will
Rave the courage to hold to this declared
purpose after they hear the party whip
crack Is uncertain.
A Party Measure.
Considerable embarrassment is involved
in the fact that reason for the sudden
change of position from free trade to a
tariff by the men who engineered the mat
ter has been made which is generally ac-
cepted as sufficient to fit the case. The
principal reason pressed upon republicans
inclined to oppose or to ask questions to
compel them to support the bill has been
from the first that II was party measure.
HOW 1t became party measure, when 1t
was directly opposed to the recommends
ton of the President, has not been salts
factorily explained.
Ii Is said that even In the caucus held be-
fore the bill was put through the House the
members of the ways and means committee
sumed an air of mystery on approaching
that fatal point, -.
Effect of Oxnard and Myrfck's An
81 pearnnce.
The hearings on the Porto Rican question
were proceeding along smooth and har-
monious lines before the insuiar affairs
committee, 40 suggestion antagonistic to
free trade with the island being made, Mr..
Payne and all the rest being in favor Of it,
until Mr.. Oxnard and Mr.. Myrick appeared
on the scene.
Mr.. OXnard appeared near the close of a
session of the committee and almost forced
his statement UPON the committee.
He insisted ,on a tariff, did MIR. Myrick,
and then carried the matter to the WAYS
and means committee.
From that timenthe scene of action was
transferred Ito the ways and means. A
sudden change of purpose occurred and the
ways and means committee made its tariff
bill and foreed ftthrough the House, even
overcoming the President. The only Wis
able. active. palpable and physical reason
that has appeared is the united personality
of Mr.. Oxnard and Mr.. Myrick