New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-09
PRICE THREE CENTS.
THE PUERTO RICAN BILL.
GOOD OUTLOOK FOR THE HOUSES CON
CURRENCE IN AMENDMENTS.
[nY THLEGEAru TO THE rRIpUyE.I

Try TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE-I
Washington. April S.-GeneraI Grosvenor and
other advocates and managers of the Puerto
Rican bill in the House Of Representatives feel
much more confident than they did twenty-fcur
hours ago that the motion to concur in the Sem
ate amendments to that measure viii be adopted
by 4 safe majority. The Republican absentsss
who have been requested TO return TO Washing
ton in time for the vote have all been heard from
except Henry C. Smith. Of Michigan; Packer.
of Pennsylvania, and Weymouth. of Massachu-
setts and they have again been notified that.
in view of the attitude of the Democratic leaders,
who trying to break all standing and general
pairs. their presence is imperatively required
The opinion is strongly expressed that Repubii-
can Representatives who disposed to vote
with their party on the pending issue ought to
be at least attentive TO the requests OF their
party leaders Messrs. Littlefied and the little
knot of Republican Insurgents who are taking
their orders from Mr.. Richardson. the Demo-
cratic leader, these days. and cheerfully obeying
them, are to the wishes OF their new leader
So far be ascertained there is no fur
ther break in the Republican lines although
some uncertainty appears to be felt in regard
to the vote of Mr.. Faris, of Indiana, who was
absent and not paired when the vote was taken
on theg passage of the bill, and whose support
was counted on by the 'fnsurgent' Republicans
the motion to concur in the Senate amendments
Two of the Democrats who voted for the bill
Messrs. Meyer and Davey. of Louisiana-will be
absent this time but both of them under
stood to have effective, live" pairs in favor
Of concurrence with members who would vote
in the negative Mr.. SibIey of Pennsylvania.
will vote for concurrence. ne did for the bill.
The course which Mr.. Devries. of California.
Will pursue in regard 10 concurrence is open TO
doubt He voted for the passage of the bill.
On the whole, the position of the friends OF
the bill is much stronger. apparently. than 1t
2S. Since then Congress has passed and the
President has approved act which provides.
among other things. that the full Dingley rates
of duty shall be imposed articles imported
from Puerto Rico into the United States and the
rates imposed by the military tariff articles
coming into Puerto Rico from the United States
until the existing law shall have been changed.
The pending bill provides that 10 per cent of
the Dingley rates shall be imposed articles
either way, which is reduction OF So per cent.
The opponents of the bill have right to
say that the Administration is not heartily in
favor of this reduction, that Governor Davis
of Puerto Rico. in whose views they then
pressed the highest confidence, is in favor
of free trade between Puerto Rico and the United
States. Neither Republicans afford to shut
will mean the indefinite continuance of existing
customs duties. because both branches of Con-
gresS have voted for the identical provision to
reduce those duties by 80 per cent and the mat
ter has been thereby settled for at least year
to come.