The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-03-16
THE HOUSE BILL
General Disposition Among the
Senate Republicans to
Adopt 1t,
Though the Determination Of the
Minority to Oppose 1t Is
Persistent.
Senator Davis Said to Have De.
clared He Would Not BE
Bound.

''t Inv VIZ
hcan senators spent tho onrly hours OF
the session Of the senate discussing
among themselves plans for the eontin.
uation Of the eaueus Oh the Porto Rienn
bill CHILLED for tho afternoon.
While u majority still felt bound ia
observe the secrecy imposed on tho In.
itial caucus, most OF thom freely nd.
mitted that u deadlock with numerous
shades OF opinion demanding reoogni.
ton existed. None would admit, how.
aver, that thero was any serious doubt
of reaching MI harmonious solution Of
the problem, nnd most OF thom ok.
pressed the opinion that tho result
would be reached vt the afternoon sos.
sion Of the caucus.
There IL IN apparently increased div
position to adopt the house revenue bill,
leaving the governmental questions pre-.
sented In the senate measure to bo doall
with later. II ~ assorted by those who
favor this course TINT u large majority
Of the Republican members Gun bc
brought TO this view, but u Ia admitted
TINT the minority IL very persistent In
Its determination 10 oppose this course
In the interest of absolute free trade,
Senator Foraker mnd other members
Of the Porto Riean committee aro still
holding to tho senate bill,
One suggestion which u was believed
could BIO tho basis OF u compromise, IN 10
leave tho 10 por cont duty In tho bill
and adopt M amendment providing
that II shnll only bo collected until u
system OF raising revenue In some other
manner by internal taxation enn DO do
vised which will furnish revenue to
conduct tho governments
First Caucus session.
Tho first session OF tho onuoua lasted
two and ono'hnlf hours, and during
the dounto thoro were some sharp pas,
sngos alarms, u was generally agreed
however. Tint from II pnrtystandpoinl
almost any bill wns bottor than none
and this feeling gave tho friends OF th,
measure hopo despite the apparently IN
yielding attitude OF tho opposing fac
lions, They Mo still holding to The bill
~ originally introduced and express the
belief that " will form tho basis oi
whatever settlement IN agreed upon,
This opinion IN based upon what was
said IN u general way and not upon any
poll Of tho caucus, for there was moth
Ing approaching u vote during the
meeting,
Those senators who favored tho prop
oaition OF u tariff on Porto Rioan goods
coming into this country and free trade
for goods going 70 Porto Rico said that
this course will be humane In principle
since Ii would afford free entry Of food
and supplies needed by the Porto ri,
cans, while tho tariff on goods coming
into this country would supply revenue
for tho island and also retain tho princi,
plo OF protection,
Senator Hanna made q speech that
WIZ listened 10 with great interest, He
favored tho house bill and especially tho
tariff provisions and urged the Ropuh,
ieMns 10 stand firmly together fm the
bill,
Senator Davis, who recently iutpo,
duQoa Nh amendment extending that
portion ut the constitution relative to
taxation over tho island, made quite m
extended speech, taking stpong grounds
In favor Ut tpee trade with Porto Rico,
lilo snid TINT II WAS not because the tar
Nv would keep out op lot In certain prod
Nets that eongpess should not, hut he
eanse the almost universal sentiment at
the people should he needed,