Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-03-17
RELIEF At ONCE.
Puerto RIco's Needs and Sen.
ate's Remedy.
Civil Government for Island to Be
Taken up First; Tariff and Rev.
enue Bills Can Wait Elkins
Would Leave Matter to Mckinley
-H0ar Counsels Utmost Delibera.
tion - Random Notes From the
CanitOl

Washington, March 15.-After eau
Gus lasting from clock until $3.50 We'd
nesday afternoon, the Republican sena-
tors agreed that the house bill appro-
priating s., ,OO0. 900 for the relief of Puerto
Rico shall be taken up and passed i'm
mediately. The bill for civil govern
ment of the island Is to be taken up and
disposed of as soon as possible, and the
tariff bill is to be delayed for the pres
ent, while committee Of seven senator's
is to try to compromise differences on the
revenue bill. and secure measure which
Republican senators generally can sup
port.
The temper of the debate was much
milder than that of Tuesday. As sotn
as 1t was generally understood that the
tariff features of the legislation were to
be postponed the discussion reverted
to the governmental features of the bill.
and upon this subject the tim, was
mostly spent. Senator Foraker eX-
plalned many features Of the bill, and
was frequently interroga ted, so that he
was on his feet great deal of the tuna
He was questioned by different senators,
most Of whom wanted to know the effect
Of different provisions of the bill. Ii was
intimated that the bill could be amended
If necessary, and senators opposed to u
tariff on Puerto Rican products said that
there would not be the least objection
to passing the government bill.
Senator Elkins favored leaving not
only the question of revenues, but the
government of the island, as well, TO the
president. He thought the island would
be much better Off under military rul,
for the next two years than under any
government that could be devised by
congress. He particularly counselkd
delay I'VE will know a lot more about
this whole question in a year or two
years than we do now" he said, land the
islands will be as well taken care of dur
ing that time as they would be under any
legislation we may pass
There was general unanimity rs to the
wisdom Of providing for immediate ac-
tion on the S2,00O,O0O relief proposition,
the opinion of all the senators being tina t
that measure should be passed for hu-
name reasons. There was some effort
to have the appropriation bill, the house
tariff bill, and the senate bill considered
at one time, but this was antagonized as
likely to result in too great delay.
Senator Platt of Connecticut expressed
himself as firmly convinced that the
principle Of protective tariff In tn .
interest of the industries Of the United
States should be sustained in whatever
was done. lie showed leaning toward
the house tariff bill, as did several other
senators who spoke. Some of them ex-
pressed the opinion that this measure
would command the votes OF two thirds
Of the members of the caucus If tested.
Senator HOar talked at considerable
length about the legal phase of the oues-
tion, expressing the opinion that the
senate could not act with too great de-
liberation in considering so momcntous
subject.
Senator Warren agreed with Mr.. Hoar
upon his latter point He had, he said,
been favorable to absolute free trade
States proper. but he had listened with
interest and profit to the arguments on
the other side, and he did not believe that
the subject had been exhausted by any
means. He felt that everything was to
be gained and nothing lost by proceeding
deliberately, especially In view Of the
fact that the entire problem was new.
Washington, March 15.-A large con-
gressional party witnessed the perform
ances OF the Holland submarine torpedo
boat. On her first dive the Holland re-
mained submerged for 10 minutes, going
In straightaway course, apparently a
mile. Coming up after this run she dis
charged torpedo from her torpedo tube
at an imaginary enemys war v:szel and
then turning dived again Immediately
and came up some distance away. Fol-
lowing this she made a succession of
short dives. being submerged in all four
or five times.
Washington, March l5.-At 12:46 p. m.
on Wednesday. the president affixed his
signature to the financial bill. thus max
ing 1t law Of the land. At the SAINT
time hc recalled to those who stood by
the fact that many Of the most impor
tant financial bills which had beer
Iassed by congress had been approved or
the 14th day of the north. He spok
Of the Sherman act, the resumption act.
ind now the bill which was before him.