The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-03-01
The kspRAlieal Cenferees Did
Not HarmOphe On the Porto
Rican Tariff Bill
no noRE CONSULTATIONS LIKELY.
The Situation IN tho Committee Was
Described BY Several of the
Members az Deadlock.
Republican Leaders Say the Measure
Will he Modihcd-The Bill VIII
Also he Made Temporary In
I:s Character.

Washington. Feb. 27.-The commit
tee of ten appointed at the republican
conference to consider differences on
the Porto Rico tariff bill. reached no
agreement up to noon Monday. and
members OF the committee stated that
no further consultations were likely
to be held prior to the conference OF
republican members al o'clock Mon
day night. The situation in the com
mittee Of ten, saw the president dur
as a deadlock. Chairman Payne and
Mr.. Dalzell, of the ways and means
committee, who are also on the COM
mittee of ften, saw the president dur
ing Monday morning, but this devel-
oped no outward change in the situa-
tion. Mr.. Payne's request that the
vote go over until Wednesday, which
was agreed 10. was looked upon as n
movement toward securing further
time for consultation.
The republican leaders. after an
hours consultation with Speaker Hen
derson Monday over the Porto Rican
tariff bill, announced emphatically
that the bill would be modified, and
that as modified it would pass. The
changes which the leaders have de-
cided upon are a further reduction of
the duties to be levied upon American
goods imported into Porto Rico, and
upon Porto Rican goods into the Unit
ell States from % per cent. of the
American tariff, as provided in the
bill, to 10 per cent. The bill is also
to be made temporary in its char
acter. 1t is only to continue IN force
until general law ror raising revenue
for the island can be framed. Repre-
sentative Tawney, Of Minnesota, the
republican whip, after canvassing the
situation Monday, said that only five
republican votes would be cast
against the compromise measure.
Secretary Root Monday sent to the
senate letter from Gen. Davis with
a petition from Puerto Ricans, asking
for free trade with the United States.
In the letter, which is dated San
Juan, February IA, Gen. Davis says:
II transmit five petitions which are
signed by several hundred tobacco
merchants, growers and manufacture
ers, asking for free trade relations
with the United States, so that some
market may be found for not only
the surplus crops of 1898 and 1899,
but also for the maturing crop Of
1900. The surplus referred to avail
able for export is about 100000
pounds and the portion Of the matur-
ing crop, which will not be required
for local consumption, is estimated at
about 100000 pounds.
"In my frequent reports to the de-
partment | have very fully stated the
gravity Of the Industrial situation. !
cannot in any words at my command
overstatc the urgency and gravity of
the Industrial paralysis now existing
in Porto Rico"
After giving a resume of the exist
ing condition, he adds: "The only
remedy for the Industrial condition
can suggest is the opening of mark
cts for accumulated surplus of pro-
ductions and the establishment OF
such trade conditions, by congress
sional legislation, as will give conf
dence to investors and encourage the
development of the natural resources
Until this is done, the paralysis must
continue and the poor and helpless,
in increasing numbers must be fed or
they will starve TO death