Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-26

Puerto Rico tariff bill and committee
agreed upon, today. by those Republic
cans who are opposed to the measure.
The latter committee was made up Of
Messrs. Powers, Vt; Crumpacker
Ind; Lorimer. Ills; Mccall. Mass.
and Littlefeld, Me.
Preliminary to this meeting the op-
ponets Of the bill to the number Of
about 10 had assembled at Mr. Nc
Calls house. during the afternoon,
and determined upon the stand they
would take and upon their five repre-
sentatives, Mr.. Weeks, Mich. was
among those at the afternoon session
and he remained with the committee
of five to participate in tonights meet
ing. Propositions pro and con We're
made by both sides. but none of those
made on behalf of the advocates of
the pending bill amounted to an aban-
donment of the principle of the meas
ure, viz: The right of the United
States to levy a tariff on imports from
Puerto Rico, and as its opponents con-
slider this their fundamental objection
to the measure, no agreement could be
reached.
1t was stated after the conference by
liltiIlDtIS opposed u lllc blli tiidtt DptiI
sides We're practically in the same po-
sition as they had been before the mo-
ton. that substantially 10 progress
had been made and that there was no
probability of another gathering before
the conference Republicans called for
tomorrow night. From their state
ments it was evident they intended to
maintain the position they have held
all along, that under the constitution
the government has no right to tax
the products Of a territory under con-
troll of the United States.
1t was suggested hy opponents Of the
pending bill that the whole matter be
left in the hands Of the President with
the understanding that Puerto Rico
should have free trade with the United
States. but this was objected to and
nothing came Of il. The opponents of the
committee bill also suggested that the
original bill introduced by Mr.. Payne
providing for free trade be substituted on
the floor Of the House for the committee
bill. but this likewise failed to receive
favorable consideration by the advocates
Of the pending measure.
Considerable talk was INDUCED in over
the proposition made bv the committee
bill advocates to Xix a time limit during
which the tariff of % per cent. against
the imports of Puerto Rico shall remain
effective, this time varying from two
years to an indefinite period. but the op-
position indicated their unalterablc oppo-
sitiou to any tariff. no matter how short
the time of its imposition may he. Mr..
Bowers. Vt. one Of the opponents of the
bill. stands however. il is said. as favor
able to its passage with time limit. but
his associates would not concur in this.
With a view to meeting some of the OBJ
jections to the bill, its advocates sug-
gestcd "A change in its title which would
indicate for the purpose Of raising rev
enue but this also found no favor with
the opposition. who reiterated their nos
tility To the bill ON principle.
one Of the advocates of the measure
after the conference expressed il To bc mis-
opinion that the bin finally would become
a law with Il provision limiting the time
during which il shall remain in force.