Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-03-09
HE HAS NOT CHANGED
President Still Believes Porto Rico
Entitled to Free Trade.
An EXPLANATION OF HIS POSITION.
Tells Why He Yielded to the judy
ment of the Honse-The Senate
Adopts Conference Report
on the Currency Hill.

Washington, March THE Post
says: President Mckinley, in CONVEX
sation with callers at the white house
Tuesday, reiterated his belief that the
people of Porto Rico We're entitled to
free trade with the United States. He
made it clear that his views had I'M
dergone no change since he wrote his
message to congress. He still adhered
to the sentiment therein expressed.
At the same time he said he was I'M
able to subscribe to the theory that
the constitution followed the flag;
that the Porto Ricans must have free
trade as necessary legal right.
When he found that the house deemed
at the part of wisdom, the president
explained, to impose small tariff up
on condition that the revenues so col
iected all be returned to the island,
he had been constrained to yield to
THE Judgment of the house. The tar
iii, under such conditions. would be
no hardship to the Porto Ricans.
Moreover, he believed it advisable. at
the earliest moment, to secure a de-
cision of the supreme court on the
constitutional question involved.
Therefore, he had given his consent to
the nominal tariff, and agreed to sign
such bill. He left no doubt in the
minds of his callers-whom he ques-
toned closely regarding the drift of
public sentiment-that congress, not
the executive, was responsible for
the change of policy.
! Senate.
4 Washington, March mot prob
hbly in the history of the senate was
there ever shown SO little real interest
IN the final vote on great measure
as was manifest Tuesday in the vote
on the conference report of the finan-
cial bill. The report was before the
senate for nearly two weeks, yet only
four speeches were delivered upon it,
sncluding Senator Aldrich's explana-
ltlon of the changes made in the SEN
ate bill by the conferees. Tuesday dis
cussion ceased on the bill Is minutes
before the time fixed for the vote and
the senate actually began the consid-
Grafton of minor bills on the calendar
ITO consume time The conference re-
port was, ag~ocd to by vote of "a to
26, thefeport thus having majority |
p rs. Early in the session discus
sion of the Quay case was resumed by
Senator Simon, who replied to the
speech made Monday by Senator Car
ter (Mont.).
Washington, March THE house
spent the entire day in consideration
Of the Aldrich-Robbins contested
election case from the Fourth Ala
bama district. Mr.. Robbins, the sit
ting member, made speech of an
hour in his own behalf The other
speakers dwere Mr.. Burkett (Neb) ip1
behalf ~ thsscon1estant. and 1.ddvssrs.
Glenn N. " and De Almond (Mo)
for the contestee.
Favorable Report Ordered.
Washington, March THE senate
on naval affairs Tuesday
ordered a favorable report upon the
bill to construct cable to Manila by
way of Honolulu, Midway islands and
Guam. 1t is to be under the direction
of the navy department and to be a
government cable.
Senator Hale, chairman of the COM
mittee, was authorized to prepare |
bill and report it to the senate. The |
bill will provide for immediate con-
struction of the cable only from San |
Francisco to Honolulu, but it contem
plates the ultimate extension of the
cable to the Philippines, and also to
Hong Kong. 1t is estimated that the |
cable to Honolulu will cost between |
$3,00o,000 and $4,0C0,00O.
House Committee Acts.
Washington, March 1.-THE house
committee on commerce Tuesday or
dered favorable report on the bill for |
a Pacific cable connecting this coun-
try with Hawaii, the Philippines and
Japan. The measure has been under
consideration for long time and two
sessions We're held Tuesday in order
to bring the matter TO a conclusion |
The bill OF Representative Sherman, of |
New York, is the one fayorably acted
on, with a number of amendments
This bill provides for private construc-
ton OF the line, the government pay
ing 100000 annually for 20 years for
the transmission of messages.
The amount of this annual payment
was the last question decided. The |
original provision was 100000, but |
after extended discussion the reduc-
ton to 100000 was made. The com
mittee had previously inserted clause
that the cable be Of American make
and the cable ships shall be under the
American flag. Another provision |
calls for the completion of the line to |
Honolulu by January /, 1902, and to
Japan by January, 1903. 1t was orig
finally estimated that the cost of the
cable would be $1,000, coo, but recent
estimates submitted to the committee
show that the rise in prices of material
will make the cost about $13,000,0O0. |
The governments obligation however,
is confined to the annual payment of
100000.
E'nuncefote to Remain.
Washington, March Ton Tuesday
Lord Pauncefote received cablegram
from Lord Salisbury notifying him
that he would be continued at this
important diplomatic post for the
present. at least Reference was made
to the pendancy in the United States
senate of the Pauncefote treaty,
and of the several open issues of great
Importance with which the present
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