New-York tribune., 1900-03-27
BOTH SIDES STAND FIRM
ALL Puerto RICAN LEGISLA :
1ION MAY FAIL.
NO AGREEMENT ON THE TARIFF
REACHED IN CAUCUS-HARMONY
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


Washington March 2G.-The Republican
members of the Senate held a caucus this af-
ternoon in an effort to reach an agreement on
the Puerto Rican legislation pending in
the Senate After remaining in session more
than two hours with constantly diminishing
numbers toward the last, 1t was decided not
to separate the tariff bill from the civil govern
ment provisions. but to continue the considera-
ton of both a whole in the hope Of obtaining
a vote on the amalgamated at some
indefinite time in the future. The Harmony
Committee discharged from further SER
vice. 1t is understood that this decision. such
as it was, was reached when less than one
third of the Republican membership of the
Senate present. 1t also Informally
agreed or understood that the tariff provisions
President to suspend their operation whenever
and as the Puerto Rican Legislature
hereafter to be created should have provided
other adequate means of raising revenue ~uef-
cient for the support of the Insular Govern
ment; and also that the foodstuffs. agricultural
and sugar machinery and implements and other
articles now exempted from payment Of duties
by Executive order should continue to be so ex-
empted under the proposed tariff. OF course
however, no understanding was reached which
would debar any Senator from offering or sup
House provisions and having them voted on.
A motion offered by Senator Gallnger at an
early stage of the proceedings. declaring as the
of the conference that the House bill
should be brought to direct vote without
amendment, provoked considerable discussion
and bitter opposition from Senators Davis, Proc
tor and others. and was not adopted.
CHANCES OF LEGISLATION DECREASED
Accounts vary to what actually occurred
and Senators who were present differ as to
what conclusions, if any, were reached, but the
foregoing appears to be in the main an accu-
rate statement Of what took place. 1t indicates
that the majority in the Senate is as much at
sea as ever, because all the accounts show that
no agreement for the taking of final vote ON
the amalgamated bill reached. Fears were
expressed by several cool headed Senators to-
night that the prospect of any legislation what
ever for the settlement, even temporarily, or
the Puerto Rican question DINNER than be-
fore the conference was held. and one prominent
Representative blurty expressed the opinion
that ''if the Senate should pass and send such
bill to the House of Representatives 1T would
stand about much chance there as a one
legged grasshopper in a turkey COOP.
In the House the advent of such a bill would
Immediately create a peculiar and not very
hopeful paran entary situation. By virtue OF
the rule creating it, the Insular Affairs Commit
tee has no Jurisdiction of questions relating to
revenues and taxation, that being specifically
reserved for the Ways and Means Committee.
which is the one having sole jurisdiction of
those subjects. The Insular Committee itself
is engaged through subcommittee of the ma
jority. in perfecting bill providing a civil gov
ernment for Puerto Rico. No attempt, of course
has been made in this measure to deal with mat
ters affecting taxation and revenues, and the bill
differs radically in other respects from the one
now pending in the Senate, These facts sug-
gest difficulties and complications which may
and undoubtedly will arise if the Senate passes
a hill which is not wholly subject to the jurs
diction of any one committee In the House of
Representatives Besides it may be several
weeks-some Senators say six weeks. others
four weeks and others fortnight-before the
Senate can dispose of the matter in any form
and this delay will seriously endanger the pros
poets of the measure in the House.
On the whole, the situation and prospects do
seem tonight to promise any more Puerto
Rican legislation a this session, unless the ma
jority in the Senate shall be able to pull itself
together much better than it did in to-day's
conference Senator Foraker, however. still ap-
PEARS to be hopeful, and he expressed the opin-
ion tonight that the amalgamated bill would
be brought to vote before the end of this
week. and that it would then be passed by
safe majority.
If it should fail to become law. Of course,
Puerto Rcan products imported into the United
States would continue to be subject to the full
Dingley rates of duty, and the Executive free
list would continue to apply to imports into
Puerto Rico from all countries. unless President
Mckinley should abolish it,
NEITHER SIDE DISPOSED TO YIELD.
While good feeling was generally manifested.
and all Senators who spoke expressed them
selves as desirous of reaching amicabe
UNDERSTANDING there was little or disposition
manifested to yield point which would pro-
duce that result. Indeed. the free traders
the one hand and the tariff the other
were as obdurate as they had been at the
previous meeting. This condition OF affairs
made so manifest that Senator Allison. acting
as chairman OF the caucus declared at the close
of the meeting that there necessity for
putting a motion to continue on past lines. it
was evident that other course practl-
cable. Senator Foraker instructed to press
the Puerto Rican bill it stood. the
governmental bill incorporated with the tariff
measure, to as speedy vote as possible. The
vote by which this instruction was given
taken viva voce, no record being made, but 1t
was evident that a substantial majority ap-
proved the proposition.
There several Senators who will oppose the
Dill even with the amendment recommended.
They are, it is said. Messrs. Davis Beveridge.
Hoar. Wellington. Mason. Simon. Proctor and
Nelson 1t is also said that Senators Kyle who
heretofore has acted with the Republicans. and
McCumber, of North Dakota will not vote for
the House bill unamended. but II is believed
they will vote for the amended proposition. Two
Senators named in the list OF eight first given
are claimed by the friends of the tariff measure
as almost to vote for the amended bill.