Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-02-23
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Republicans Opposed May Unite
1xith Democrats Against It
TIE PRESIDENT is WORRIED.
Hoass Leaders Are Confident the I'm
surssats" Can Ne whipped Into Line
THE Measure Regarded ~ . Serious
Political Mistake.

surgsats" Can Ne whipped Into Line
-Tbs Measure Regarded ~ . Serious
Rolitiesl Mistake.
washington, Feb. 22.-The Porto
Rican tariff bill is in danger. This is
admitted BY it's friends. It is source
OF much concern to the president and
the republican leaders in the house.
Reports have come from the west and
northwest of strong opposition to the
Will among republicans. These reports
AVE confirmed the president In his
pinVn that the house leaders made
mistake in not following the recon-
in his message.
She opponents of the bill on the re-
publican side of the house still insist
that the bill is not party measure
and they are not bound to give it their
support. Argument has so far failed
TO convince them Of their error, and a
Republican caucus of the house men,
Eers will be called for tomorrow night.
is probable that the opponents OF
ne bill will attend the caucus. and
abide by its decision.
The house leaders are confident that
they can adjust all differences In the
caucus. They are safe in calling
caucus, as they have majority Of the
in favor of the bill, and
can therefore control the caucus. They
realize that it would have been better
TO reach an agreement in caucus be-
fore they took up the bill for considera-
'tion, but they will try to patch up the
differences with caucus tomorrow
night
The bill is not entirely safe, how
ever, for the president regards it a
serious political mistake, and he will
not use his influence to get the oppon-
ents into line. He thinks 1t would have
been better to have made Porto Rico
a territory, and to have left the Philip
pines to be considered later on. But
as it is the house, in the great debate
began Tuesday, Is considering the
Porto Rico bill and debating the
Philippine question. The same kind Of
debate is going on in the senate, where
the Hawaiian bill is under considera-
tion, and the debate Is taking a wide
range in regard to the constitutional
power Of congress to legislate for the
philippines without extending the con-
stitution to the islands.
The president and his advisers see
the possibility of much mischief in this
academic debate on questions not be-
fore congress, at this time, and they
would be easier in their minds if con-
gress we're considering legislation for
Porto Rico and Hawaii on its merits,
land not on the basis of what must be
done for the Philippines.
y Prominent among the republicans
who oppose the bill are Messrs. Little
field of Maine and Cromwell of Ohio.
They say the "insurrection' is pro-
crossing favorably, and in the opinion
of the latter there will be sufficient
number of republican votes added to
the democratic forces to recommit the
bill to the committee on ways and
means.
The debate Tuesday was led by Mr..
Hopkins of Illinois, who supports the
measure and gave occasion for lively
tilt between that gentleman and Mr..
Noonan, also of Illinois. Other speak
ers were Messrs. Newlands of Nevada
and Swanson of Virginia.
In the senate the credentials Of
Thomas r. Bard as senator from the
state of California were presented by
Mr.. Perkins of California. and they
were placed on file.
The Bacon resolution declaring the
intention of the United States to ulti-
mately grant independence to the Phil
ippine islands was called up by Mr..
Kenny (Dem., delegate), who delivered
speech in favor Of its adoption.
Mr.. Depew gave notice that on Tues
day. Feb. 81. he would address the
senate on the Philippine subject.
The senate then took up the private
pension bills on the calendar. Fifty
two Of these bills were passed, leav-
ing a large number of other private
pension bills still Enacted on.
The bill to provide government for
the territory of Hawaii was taken up
at 2 o'clock, and various committee
amendments were agreed to.
without disposing Of the bill the
senate went into executive session, and
at $40 o'clock adjourfs,d.
Representative Newlands (silverite,
Nev.), speaking today in opposition to
the Porto Rican tariff bill, said In
part:
LAS the result OF a humanitarian war
tuted not for conquest, but to free
from Spain's oppression. the
ID States finds itself in the un-
led possession Of Porto Rico. and
IS disputed possession of the Phil
ir..... ss.g All these islands are today