The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-27
CAN'T AGREE.
Senators Discharge Peace
Committee.
Will Begin All Over
Again.
Tariff and Government Bill Won't Be
Separated.
Will Take It's Chance in
Senate.
Vote viii Be Obtained as Early
as Possible.

Washington, March 2s.-The Republi-
can mem bers of the Senate speEt two and
a half hours in caucus today in an effort
to reaok an agreement upon the Porto
Rican legislation now pending In the
senate. The caucus was apparently, how
ever, without material result, the only
accomplishment being decision to pro-
cesd with the general bill as 1t now
stands, without separating the tariff feat
ure, and to discharge the harmony 90 m-
mittee from further efforts.
There were twenty or more speeches
made, and all Of them were Of o more amic-
able tone than tie sreschss In the oauouses
of fortnight ago. But, while good feel
ing was generally manifested, and ali
aenators who Froke expressed themselves
as desirous OF reaching an amlcable uu-
derstAnding, there Was but little or no
disposition manifested to yield point
which would produce that result. Indeed,
the free tradsrs on ths one hand and the
iron bound tariff men on the other were
quite as o5durate as they had been at the
previous meeting. Senator Allison, aot-
ing as chairman of the CAUCUS declared at
the Gloss of ths meeting that there was
NO necessity for putting motion to con-
tinue on past lines es 1t was very evident
that NO other course Was practicable.
Senator Foraker was instructed by the
caucus TO press the Porto Rican bill as it
now stood, the governmental Dill moor
porated with the tariff measure to as
speedy vots as possible.
The understanding at the time this iu-
structiou was given was that Senator
Foraker would offer On amendment to
the tariff feature of the bill, adding the
free list named by the President In an
executive order to the exports going from
the United States to Porto Rico, duty
free but that the fifteen per cent Of the
DinRley law carried In the House bill up
on goods coming from Porto Ri co to the
United States would be retained.
The vote by which this instruction was
given WAS taken viva voce. no record be-
ing made, but 1t was evident that sub
stantial majority approved the PROPOSE
tion. Quite a number Of senators had
left the caucus before this vote was
taken, but the poaition Of each senator
was understood. There are number OF
senator's who will oppose the bill even
with the amendment recommended. They
are, 1t is said, Senators Davis. Beveridge,
Hoar. w eilipg gton, Mason, Simon, Proctor
and Nelson. 1t is said that Senators Kyle,
who heretofore has acted with the Repub-
licans, and MoOumber Of North OAK eta.
will not vote for the House bill un-
a nended, but 1t is believed they will vote
for the amended proposition. Two Sena-
tors named In the list OF eight frst given
are claimed by the. friends Of the tariff
measure as almost sure to vote for the
amended bill, leaving six Republicans
who will vote finally against the meas
uIe. 1t is claimed that two or three votes
will be secured for the tariff measure
from the ranks of tue opposition parties
In the Senate and that in that way ma
jority will be secured.
While there has been great deal Of dis
oussion amcng senators as to what the
House will do when the amended bill Ia
sent over there and many conferences be-
tween the senators and members OF the
ways snd means committee, the only rs-
suit has bgen a decision that the Senate
must act as seems bfss under the oironm-
stances and this bill II 1t passes must take
It's chances in the House. Some members
Of the ways aud means committee advised
this course today ct the same time urging
speedy action and this view found ex-
preston In the caucus, the statement be-
ing made that delay was more dangerous
than anything else and that the country
and Porto Rico ought to know soon what
to expect. Apparently there was no dis
position among the free trade senators
present al ths caucus to delay vote up
en- the piu Though no agreement was
reached for an Immediate vota