The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-04

Fer Cent. of the Present Duties
on Puerto Rtcan Products, aud
Provides for Absolute Free Trade
Whenever the Puerto Ricsn Leg
isiaturc Provides other Revenues.
Special Dispatch TO the acknowledgement
WASHINGTON. Aprn s.--The house
tarir bin for Puerto Rico. after being
amended In the senate by the addition OF
bill providing a form OF civil govern
ment and by an important modification Of
It's tariff provisions passed the senate to-
day by vote OF 40 TO ST. The vote In
favor Of the bin was Republican, while
81 negative votes were cast by Democrats,
Populists. silveritoa and by six Republic
ans. two OF whom are well known anti
enpansionists. Mr.. Hoar. another anti
expansionist, was paired against the bill,
and Mr.. Beverfdge. OF Indiana. was abb
sent but not paired. The amended hill
takes on & per cent, OF the tariff duties
now In force between the United States
and Puerto Rico. and provides that the
remaining II per cent. shall be taken on
whenever the Puerto Rican legislature
shall have enacted laws providing Diff
ferent revenue system for the support OF
the insular government. The hlii fur
ther provides that In any event there
shall be absolute free trade between
Puerto Rico ana the United States from
and after March I, 1902. and continues the
free entry into Puerto Rieo OF the Unit
.xsS.a
der the military administration. win
these amendments the hill is In suhstancr
free trade measure, since II placcs Il
IN the power of the Puerto Ricans,
through their legislature. To have fr~~
trade whenever they want II by sub
stisuticn of snch revenue measures ~
they deem proper
The Republicnn majority which passed
the bill declares that i6 per cent. heins
less than one-sixth of the Dinaley rates
upon part Of the products entering into
tho commerce Of the Uulted states and
Puerto Rico, f. simply temporary rev.
cnue measure. and that this method of
raising the revenue will fail more lightly
spon tho distressed Puerto Ricans than
the direct taxation proposed by tho op-
pononts of the bin There 10 little doubt
that the amendments providing for FREQ
trade with Puerto Rico at the viii % It's
legislature and the other amendments not
ed above have greatly strengthened the
bill. and have practically solidined the
Republican vote in its favor ~ is be-
lieved the bnl win pass the house with
little delay. and y is we'll known Il Will
be promptly approved by the president,
Notable nay In the senate.
.E4af ssas asa.I.
notable day Ga the senate. ~ brought
to a close the sharpest and most pro-
iouged debate upon any measure since
those discussed during the memorable
war congress" two years ago.
Al o'clock this afternoon tho votes
we're begun upon the Puerto Hiean tariff
and civil government bii and pending
amendments and Jess than an hour later
the measure nbou, which there has been
~ much contention IN and oat of cone
gfpas WAS passed ~ q majority - nine.
the final vote being - 10 ~ only egm-
mlttce amendments weFe adopted
ns1orit, honR A..mv.a,
~ has been evident for some flrae that
the hili would command q majority in tss
senate bat noiwlthainuaine the fact the
Interest IN ihe measure hofa ~ senators
and The public. has not aaReed aa instant.
Today the gaaeriea were erowasa and
hundreds az people oiiea i'n e9ffsdHfss
unable 4" oFeH secure standing room IN
'h' galleries Prom u o'cioTH- wheu sse
Senate convened Hnth me h@uT whea me
vuiin9 began, aoF0ratsR hud npgsoBsats ~
The bNi brilliantly and elo4nsutiy matus
taiuad their convictions. ara the sadfnfa
Rcre kept in state ~ Constant excite
-,