New-York tribune., 1900-03-28
NEW PUERTO RICAN BILL.
rrx.ToR FORAKER INTRODUCES HIS
AMENDED SUBSTITUTE.
cHAxeEN APPROVED By THE ADM1NIsTRA
-roN-PRosPECT OF REPUBLICAN
HARMONY IMPROVED.
rnr TELEGRAPH To rHE TRIBUNE

,s :, ne Senate by Chairman Foraker Of
..e Committee CT Pacific Islands and Puerto
z,-a today. differs widely from that measure.
end also from the first substitute proposed by
ne committee including il does provision
s-~,,ssng duty of FIVE cents a pound on coffee
.--,or-ss into Puerto Rico; one adding to the
4-se rls- tho articles exempted from payment OF
5u.;es under the existing Executive tariff pro-
-,sa5 he latter are imported from the United
s.s,es- ere exempting from payment OF duties
ss- period Of ten years from april IL 1899
s,s1ish scientific. literary and artistic works.
I'D al books and pamphlets printed in English
nsr s-7ported from the United States: one pro-
-szing suitable civil machinery for the coIlec-
80, -e customs duties: one providing that the
o-s-a.fon q the act shall cease before March /
-oo3 -rovided the Legislative Assembly shall
rs7-a enacted ard put into operation previous
:, +bsr tine system OF local taxation TO meet
ne necessities of the government Of Puerto
Efoo ard shall. by resolution duly passed. so
,-e--r1 the President.
Al amendment 10 Section y affirmatively de-
-ls-es that the internal revenue laws OF the
7-rited states shall not be operative in Puerto
rjro by virtue of this act. The other provisions.
so far IS they relate TO tariff and taxation. are
ne same ss those Of the House bill. The pro-
,ision IS 70 franchises in the original substi-
,1te IS amended ny requiring the approval of the
President Of such as relate 70 railway telegraph
and telephone lines. The provision for Dele
rate n Congress has been eliminated. and one
substituted providing for the election of a resi-
dent Commissioner TO the United States who
snail Be entitled 10 official recognition as such
bv al departments II the General Government
Re must be citizen Of Puerto Rico. thirty
rears Of age. who speaks and writes the Eng
Iish language. but he is not 70 be required To be
fhe possessoT Of taxable property in Puerto Rico,
q was provided in the original substitute The
political and civil status OF the Puerto Ricans
is defined by The term ~citizens Of Puerto Rico
ACCEPTABLE TO MOST SENATORS.
Al the new propositions were earnestly dis
oussed by Senators and Representatives to-day.
and among Republican Senators were generally
regarded as acceptable. OF course. the Repub-
rcsns who ara extreme in their views in favor
q free trade between the United States and
Puerto Rico could not express unqualified ap-
proval Of The measure. although most Of them
admitted that il was greatly preferable 10 the
House bill or the original substitute. and it is
understood that several Of those who viii vote
tor free trade amendment win support the bill
:. the amendment shall be defeated
L was asserted thar Senator's Davis. Nelson
snc Eoar and one OF two others who had de-
bil vii al last support the substitute reported
to-day.
The provision that the law shall cease 20 be
operative whenever the Puerto Rican Iegislat-
ure shall have devised and put into operation a
system IF taxation which viii provide adequate
revenues and the one for the inclusion Of food
stuAs. agricultural machinery and implements.
etc II the free hist. seem TO have arneIiorated
the situation n the Senate The retention in the
same bill Of the civil government provisions has
apparently produced similar effect 10 some
extent and the prospect Of The passage Of the
bill by the Senate has thereby been strength
ened
APPROVED BY THE ADMINISTRATION
The fact which was speedily made known.
that the Administration heartily coucurred in
ire proposed changes. both as 10 the provisions
q The measure and the legislative programme,
s-so gave encouragement 70 the friends Of the
new substitute and atmosphere Of general
relief and hopefulness prevailed despite the fact
that 10 agreement fer time 10 take a vote on
the passage Of the bill had been obtained. and
The strength q the Republican free trade con-
t-nsent Il the Senate had not visibly waned
q course. al the Democratic Senators with
perhaps Two or three exceptions, viii be record
ed against The bill whenever the vote is taken
y
not They might perhaps be expected, in view
q their professed horror OF and aversion TO
Fhat they style ''railitarisn TO hesitate long
before voting against measure designed to put
En enc TO "bayonet rule in Puerto Rico, but in
a. human probability they viii vote 10 perpetu-
sie i by opposing the passage Of the measure
nc" pending. no matter how the revenue provi-
Sons may be changed or modified.
CHANGE OF SENTIMENT IN THE HOUSE.
The fact need not be disguised that the Re
publican leaders IN the House were sadly dis
appointed by the turn matters had taken in the
senate this morning. Some Of them expressed
Z Fear that the result would be failure Of all
leglsation for the benefit Of Puerto Rico al this
session Late this afternoon they appeared TO
u II z more cheerful and hopeful frame OF
1-lha. however, than they had been earlier in
NE day, and several Of them expressed the
Upaion that the House would be able TO take
0-fe of The bin even with the Senate amend
mems This modification Of sentiment had
s-en produced by more careful study of the
oSlate amendments. the value and expediencv
solA- q which were recognized and admitted.
one Representative. vino desired not 10 be
e1ote4 al present. expressed the belief that the
s-Leaannents would actually strengthen the
eshafe both IN the House and before the coun-
-, and this belief was based on the fact that
s gioFlsion had been made TO remove ali tariff
lies ana Puerto Rico a Soon as the fnstllar
-0e4slGlC-e should make suitable and ADEQUATE
t.'Flslon % raise revenue by other means and
= further fact that IN voting against the
.--ss1fe any Republican would be compelled 10
s-ssl.tg himself for an attempt 10 perpetuate
---ls-1ltely The higher duties imposed by the
r--gley act He thought that the number Of
-7tanlcsl Represent who would decide
assume this responsibility was even smaller
,ian The number who voted against the original
House biu maj
- aLe hepublican advocates OF free trade with
sve' - RICO IN the House. however, did not
s--- stlF disposition TO accept this view but
saas7slec 70 De as determined as ever TO oppose
=. alG al tariff nrovisiors The, elrn a.