Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-20
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Important Conference on Porto Rieau
Tariff Proposition.
WILL CONTINUE PRESSING PRINCIPLE
Present Bill Cannot Pass the
Senate.
AMENDMENTS TO BE MADE

| The most important of the series OF con-
| ferences held at the White House regarding
| the Porto Rican tariff proposition pending
| in the Senate was that just prior to the
| cabinet meeting this morning. 1t extended
| fifteen minutes beyond the time for the
| cabinet to assemble, and when all of the
| cabinet officials were in the cabinet room
| waiting for the appearance of the Pre=i-
| dent the latter was in the library talking
| with Senators Foraker and Spooner, mem-
bers Of the special committee appointed by
| the republican caucus last week to consider
| the prospects of the passage of the Porto
| Rican measure. Senator kean. another
| member Of the same committee, also
with the President during the morning.
| VIII Press the Tariff Principle.
| 1t was stated on most trustworthy author
| ity after the conference that It decided
| to continue to press the principle of the
| tariff proposition, but the movement in this
| direction will not be observed for A short
| while. In the meantime Senators Spooner
and Foraker and others will take enc bill
| in hand and add such amendments as may
| make the measure more presentable to the
country. 1t is pointed out that the nature
| of these amendments will be largely explain
atory. In brief, the country is supposed to
| the good intentions of the admins tration
as to Porto Rico. The explanations to be
| Incorporated will mainly point out the tenn
porary nature of the measure, the fact that
| it is designed to last only so long as the
Porto Ricans can get themselves in condi-
| ton to furnish some revenue to the govern
ment through the means of internal reve-
| nue. and the regular channels now operating
in this country.
President Considers II Essential.
There is no reason to think, It is declared,
that the President has decided that the
proposition for tariff should he abandoned.
That was certainly not the drift of the few
remarks made on the subject a the cabinet
session later. The President considers that
a nominal tariff bill is essential, and he
thinks that If fully explained the country
will agree that the Porto Ricans should pay
their fair portion of the expenses of being
part of the United States government. He
Is of the opinion that the country may right
now be in an extremely generous mood
to the island and its people. but he further
believes that alleged sentimental motives
will give way to business and the common
sense which the Senate committee Is
pected to inject into an amended bill.
Present Bill Cannot Pass.
It is among the certainties that Senators
Spooner and Foraker informed the Pres
ident that the bill, as it now stands in the
Senate, cannot become law by the vote OF
that body. They are said to have given
their belief that with the proper amend
ments there would be less opposition and
more chance of passage. If this not
their view it was the view of the President,
it is asserted. the intention is announced
not to abandon the principle of the right to
tax the products of the island This VIII
not be surrendered by the administration.
no matter how heavy the fight to follow.
The mere question Of the amount 10 be
charged customs duties is nothing COM
pared to that of the right of Congress to
do il fit
The President is represented as being ex-
tremely tenacious of his ideas on this sub
ject. He is too delicate in his dealings with
public men and fellow officials to present
these views where his words might be con-
Strued wish that they should he adopt-
ed by others, but when contrary views are
presented he readily combats them and en-
ters with all his spirit, though not in many
words into his exposition of the question.
The Snow Bill Signed.
President Mckinley late yesterday signed
the joint resolution making small appro-
priations for the District Commissioners
and superintendent of public buildings and
grounds for the removal of snow and ice.
The District Commissioners had expended
the small amount allowed them before the
bill became law. Col Bingham, superin-
tendent of public buildings and grounds.
had a force at work today removing the
snow from public places. Some of that
which has remained in the White House
grounds was carted away today.
Representative Needham Of California and
Senator Foster of Washington introduced
constituents to the President.
Many People Going Abroad.
A number of congressman calling at the
White House recently have referred to the
unusually large number of requests they
are receiving for passports for constituents
who are going abroad. On his way through
the White House grounds from the State
Department this morning Representative
McCleary of Mime 1ota called attention to
the same thing. He had just been over to
the State Department for five or six pass
ports. II have secured at least forty pass
ports for constituents in the last five or six
weeks said Mr.. McCleary to a Star rep
resentative. II have never had SO many
requests and 1 think the record making
by my district is a great one. The district
is purely agricultural, but the people are
wel,-to-do and hundreds of them will go
abroad this year. Two-thirds of those get
ting passports originally came from across
the water and are going back to visit the
old homes and relatives. They have pros
pered in this country and are able to spare
the money for a trip. They own splendid
homes and sections of land, are beyond
want and find times prosperous enough TO
spare money for a trip abroad. Many OF
them are taking their families"