The Portland daily press., 1900-02-27
THE CONFERENCE.
How the Concessions to Bin Were
Obtained.

How the Concessions to Bin Were
Obtained.
Washington, February ed.--About 1875
Republican members attended the second
bill In ths hall of the House Of Rspresen-
tativss tonight. The lsaders had been
In consultation during the day discus
sing plans for siiayipg the opposition to
the bill and sriseins the::rscaioisrants into
line The Republican members of this
ways and means oommittss with the ex-
ception Of Mr.. Mccall Of Massachusetts,,
the dissentirg Republican, called on the
President at the White House. Altar
that consultation. Mr.. Hopkins Of Illinois
authorised the following statements Of
the Presidents position:
"The President earnestly hopes that
the Republicans will unite and stand
together on this measure and not allow
the Democrats to take control Of the
HOUSE."
After the assembling Of the conference.
Mr.. Payne of New York submitted two
am end ments which he said the ways
and means committee were prepared to
offer to the bill. One Of them changed
the title OF the measure to make 1t o
bill for temporarily raising revenue for
Puerto Rico. The otn,r added q new
section to the bill. limiting its operation
to March I, 1909, unless sooner repealed.
Gen. Shattuok Of Ohio said he was will
| ing to defer his own opinion In this mat
ter to the wishes Of the President, al
though he was convinced that bis con-
stituents favored FREQ trade with Puerto
Rioo.
Mr.. Payne said he had seen the Presi.
dent this afternoon and he announced
emil phatioally that the President was con
viuosd that the bill was constitutional
| and that he would sign the bill. Mr. /.
Coriiss Of Michigan backed up MIR. Payne
with the statement that he had seen the
President and that the President de-
sired the bill to pass.
MIR. Grow of Pennsylvania said that
the amendments proposed made the bill
an emergency measure against which the
| question Of the constitutionaiity ought
not to be raised. and Mr.. Marsh of ILL.
| uOiS ohrnehbiy appcaica W eNo AeS''
oitrants to rally around the Republican
standard end bury their dissensions. 1hii
drew statements from MIR. Mccall and
Mr.. Littletisld, the two leaders of the
Republican revolt.
Mr.. Mccall said that the m odi ncatior,
offered and the ssssrAnos from the Presi-
dent might remove he objections Of
those who had opposed the bill on the
ground of expediency, but that his OBJ
jeotions going deeper to the onstitut,on.
al question, could not assuaged by any
such anne nd ments. He should. he an
nounced, vote against the bill. MIR. Lit.
tlefleld's speech was along the same lines,
He, too. he said, must oppose It to the
end.
| UMr. II. q. Smith Of Michigan then
| offered an amendment to reduce the duty
imposed by the bill from 25 to 10 per cent
Speaker Henderson said:
"1his bill should pass. say to yor
tonight put on your armor and sing
glory Halielujah.''
Mr.. Payne Abjured his colleagues te
stand "shouldef to shoulder" and tc
"vots solidly.''
| The amendments offered were then
adopted and the conference adjourned.
| Mr.. MCCALL said after the conferences
that he still believed the bill will be de.
fsatsd. "It will be q tight squsezs any
1 he