The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-02-27


WASHINGTON. FEB. 20. AT the con-
ference Of house republicans tonight on
the Porto Rican tarin bill, assurances
were given that the president believed
the measure constitutional and would ap-
prove it II L came 20 him. and an agree
ment was reached 10 limit the operat-
tien OF the bn to two years and 70 re-
duce the duty imposed by II from 25 to
IS per cent OF the American tariff As a
result the republican leaders claim the
bin viii have the support % all the re-
publicans except four-Messrs Mccall. Of
Massachusetts,; Dttlofeld OF Maine: Lor-
inner. Of Illinois, and Crumpacker. OF Indi-
ana an~ this loss Will be Offset by affirm
ative votes OF the opposition They claim
the passage Of the modified bill ls certain.
After the conference adjourned at II
O'Clock Chairman Cannon gave out the
following statement OF the amendments
agreed upon by the conference;
''The conference requested the ways
and means committee TO offer an amend
ment TO the TN as follows;
"Ameni the title 10 make Il an act TO
temporarily provide revenue FOR the isl
and OF Porto Rico and for other purposes.
and to add the following section
This act shall he taken and held to be
provisional in IT'S purposes. intended to
meet a pressing, present need for revenue
for the island Of Porto Rico and IS not
to continue in force after March /. 1902.
These amenGments were adopted
Another TO reduce the duty imposed ~
the act from % to 10 per cent was adopted
by vote Of 1O5 to H. a further amend
ment Is to be offered by the ways and
means committee TO make It clear that
no double duty is imposed; that the pay
ment OF one internal revenue tax is the
total tax on lmportations.
About l25 republican members attended
tonights conference, which was held in
the hall OF the house OF representatives !
The members had been in consultation !
during the day discussing plans for al |
laying the opposition to the bill SO
much had been made by the kickers of
the alleged opposition ~ the president |
to the measure that the managers were |
particularly 6esirous OF being able to |
offer some assurance that would remove /
all objection 20 the measure on that score
and this afternoon the republican mem
bers OF the ways and means committee.
with the exception OF Mr.. Mccall, called /
on the president at the white house.
After that call Mr Hopkins. OF 1mi-
nois. authorized the following statement |
of the presidents position;
THE president earnestly hopes that the
the republicans will unite and stand to-
gether on this measure and not allow the
democrats to take control OF the house"
The republican members OF the ways |
and means committee with Speaker Hem
derson. remained at the capitol canvass
ing the situation during the interim be-
tween the adjournment of the house at
6 o'clock and the assembling Of the con- |
ference at eight o'clock. Chairman Can
non presided over the caucus. As soon
as IL had been called to order Mr. Payne
OF New York the floor leader. submitted
two amendments changing the title OF
the oil and limiting its operations to
March J. 1902
General shattuc. Of Ohio. opened the
proceedings with a pain statement TO
the effect that he was willing to defer
his own opinion. TO the wishes OF the |
OF the president although he " ls CON
vlnced his constituents favored free trade /
with Porto Rico. He demanded 20 know |
however, and he wanted no equivocaton
about ii. whether the president believed |
the bill was constitutional and whether
he favored the measure.
This brought Mr. Payne 20 his feet He
said he had seen the president this after |
noon and he announced emphaticaly that
the president was convinced that the bill
was constitutional and that he would
sign the bill.
The speeches aroused great enthusiasm.
Speaker Henderson concluded:
This bill should pass. ! say to you to-
night. put on your armor and sing Glory
Hallejuh.'"