The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-22
VIII Merely Delay Urging His Amend
ment to Give Others a Chance
to Reach an Agreement.
C. F. MACRUM TO BE HEARD
HOUSE COMMITTEE WILL INvESTI-
GATE HIS CHARGES.
Time for Ratifyfng the French Reel
procity Treaty Extended-Coal
Dear and Scarce in Europe.
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, March A.-Strong ef-
forts are being made by Republican sena-
tors to reach an agreement on the Porto
| Rican question. Numerous conferences were
held during the day, with the result, it is
stated, that Senator Beveridge will not
speak on his free trade proposition to-day.
The Post tomorrow will say:
"On account of earnest efforts being
made by Republican senator's to reach an
agreement on Porto Rico which all senator's
can consistently support, Senator Beve-
ridge will not for the present urge his
amendment for free trade with that island,
but will postpone his speech until such
agreement as the Republican senators are
able to make is reported. The senator de-
sires it understood that he has not aban-
dCned his position, and that he will vote to
sustain the principle enunciated in the
| Presidents message
The feeling was general throughout the
| day that the Senate would yet ac-
| cept the House Porto Rican tariff bill
| as it passed that body, though those sem
ators who favor free trade have not aban-
doned hope of securing at least a modifi-
cation Of the House measure. Two amend
ments find favor-one to grant free trade
both ways, with a small duty on Porto
| Rican coffee coming to the United States
which would enable a case to be made for
the courts to decide the constitutional
status Of territory belonging to the United
| States the other to retain Is per cent. of
/ ha niyO toe
United States from Porto Rico, but levy
ing no duty on articles going to Porto Rico
| from the United States.
Senator Foraker insists that there are
| enough Republican votes in the Senate to
pass the House bill as it stands. At the
same time he would be willing to accept a
modification If it was not that the Repub-
| licans responsible for the passage of the
bill in the House insist that any amend
ment to it which would compel the House
| to vote on it again would renew all their
trouble and might endanger its final enact
| ment. These representations have increased
| the prospects of the passage of the bill in
| the Senate, as, naturally. the Republican
senators do not want to do anything to en-
barrass the Republican House If they can
avoid it.
Senator Lindsay to-day introduced an
| amendment to the Porto Rican bill provid-
| ing for free trade between the United
| States and Porto Rico. Senator Morgan
| also introduced an amendment providing
| for free coinage of silver. 1t is limited to
the American product.
A subcommittee of the House committee
On banking and currency. consisting of
| Representatives Hill of Connecticut, Over
street and Shattuc. Republicans, and
| briggs, of New York. Democrat, to-day
| agreed unanimously on a report against a
| bill introduced by Representative McRae,
| of Arkansas, Democrat, to retire national
| bank notes and substitute legal-tender
treasury notes or greenbacks. This is in a
sense an answer to the greenback plank of
| the Nebraska Democratic platform pre-
pared by Bryan and adopted by the Demo-
cratic convention of that State last Mon
| day. The conservative Democratic sena-
| tors and representatives in Congress are
| thoroughly disgusted with this latest Bryan
platform. They say it spells defeat.
The European coal famine is becoming
more intense according to reports to the
| State Department from its consuls all over
| the continent. To-day's issue of the con-
| sular reports from the Bureau of For
+, eign Commerce presents in a striking man.
ner the crisis in Austria Hungary where
the natural stringency. owing to the cur
| tailment of the English supply, is aggra-
| waited by the existence OF a prolonged
| strike among the coal miners According
| to our consus these conditions make ex-
| cellent opportunities for the introduction
| of American coal. From Trieste Consul
| Hossfed reports that coal is selling there
for Sl0.15 "A ton, and it is not as
| good as American coal. Consular Agent
| Harris at Eibenstock, reports that the
/ famine has reached that point where the
| schools are closing for the want of coal,
many factories have shut down at Plauen,
| in Carlsfeld and Gorlitz and the glass
| works are suffering greatly and laying
off many hands. From Coberg. Consul
/ Hughes reports that ali the factories of
china. glass. toys and dolls nave been
| shut down for lack of coal. while from
Frankfort, Vice Consul General Hanaeur
reports that strenuous efforts are being
made by the German coal syndicate TO
prevent extortion by the middle men, Con-
| sui General Guenther. at Frankfort, re-
ports efforts on the part OF the commercial
element TO stop by law the expectation of
| German coal.
| Secretary Hay and Ambassador Cambon
| to-day signed protocol extending the time
| allowed for the ratification OF the French
reciprocity treaty. By the terms of the
| protocol the treaty is to be ratified las
soon as possible and within twelve
months from date. This is the same pro-
vision that was adopted In respect to the
British West Indian reciprocity treaties.