The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-27


The Republican members Of the ways
and means committee. with Speaker Hen
derson, remained at the capital canvassing
the situation during the interim between
the adjournment of the house at o'clock
and the assembling OF the conference at
O'Clock. Chairman Cannon presided over
the caucus. As soon as It had been called
to order Mr. Payne. OF New York, the floor
leader. submitted two amendments. chang
ing the title of the bill and limiting its op-
erations to March /. 1909
The President for the Bill.
Gen. Shattuc Of Ohio, opened the pro-
ceedings with a plain statement to the
effect that he was willing to defer mis-
opinion in this matter TO the wishes Of the
president. although he was convinced that
his constituents favored free trade with
Puerto Rico. He demanded TO know. how
ever, and he wanted no equivocation about
II. whether the president believed the bill
was constitutional and whether he favored
the measure. II he did not, Mr.. Shattuc
announced that he would not be bound by
the action OF the conference.
This brought Payne to his feet He said
he had seen the president this afternoon
and he announced emphatically that the
president was convinced that the bill was
bill
Mr. Corliss backed up Payne with the
statement that he had seen the president
since the house adjourned, and that the
president desired the bin to pass.
Crow the venerable ex-speaker OF the
house, said that the amendments proposed
made the bin an emergency measure against
which the question of constitutionfity
ought not to be raised and Marsh earn
lad IN hp raraipitrap ~ IN all
around the Republican standard and bury
their dissensions
Mccall and LittieaeId Obstinate.
This drew statements from Mccall and
Littleheld the two leaders of the Re
publican revolt. Both spoke in good tenn
per. but abated not one jot of their indi-
vidual opposition TO the measure.
Mccall said that the notifications Of
fercd and the assurance from the presi-
dent might remove the objections OF those
who had opposed the bill on the ground
deener 10 the constitutional ouestion could
not be assuaged by any such amendments.
He should. he announced. vote against
I.ittlefeld's speech was along the same
lines He, too. he said, must oppose the
bill.
ii. c. Smith Of Michigan then offered an
amendment 10 reduce the duty imposed by
the bill from Is to Is per cent.
Powers VIII Vote for the Bill.
Powers of Vermont. who was one OF the
directors and who was on the committee
to meet the committee OF the friends of
the bill. then announced his willingness
to vote for the bill. The time limit placed
upon II. he said. did not remove his OBJ
iections. but he said he was willing that
the bill should become a law I'm order
that its constitutionality might be tested
so as to clear the way for the future dis
position OF the broader questions relating
TO the Philippines.
Speaker Henderson and Chairman Payne
wound up the speechmaking with eloquent
appeals for harmony and united action In
the face Of the enemy. The speeches
aroused great enthusiasm
Speaker Henderson concluded:
This bill should pass. l say 20 you to-
night put on your armor and sing Glory.
hallelujahv"
Mr. Payne adtured his colleagues 20
stand shoulder 10 shoulder and 10 vote
''so.idy" The amendments offered were
then adopted and the conference adjourned.
Mccall said after the conference that Ne
still believed tho bill would be defeated.
III VIII be tight squeeze. anyway" said
he.
Cannon said that the bill was misunder-
stood; that Il was I'm fact bill for the
immediate relief Of the Puerto Ricsns by
providing them an equitable means Of rails
Ing 81 10000 annually In an emergency.