The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1900-03-24
SEPARATE THEM
Republican Caucus Committee
Authorizes Senator Foraker
to Propose
That the TariiYand Governmental
Features Of the Porto
Rican Bill
Be Voted Upon Separately-.Pro.
posed to Try to Pass the
House Measure.

WASHINGTON, March 24.-The element
In the Republican ranks in the senate
favoring free trade with Porto Rico de.
cided at at conference to oppose any
action looking to an early vote and to
ask for further time in case the ques-
ton should come up.
WASHINGTON. March 24.-The Repub-
ican caucus committee of the senate
has authorized Senator Foraker in
DEFINITE terms to propose the separation
OF the tariff feature from the Porto
Pican governmental bill and to attempt
to pass the house tariff bill without
amendment The programme is to vote
down all amendments, if possible to do
so. and pass the bill as it came from the
house without any changes whatever
The committee went over the situa.
tion i'll detail. considering all the points
at issue. There were Suggestions rs to
the necessity Of amending the bill so as
to suit the demands of the Republican
free trade element. but this was con.
sidered as more than offset by the sit
uation in the house. and the necessity
of maintaining the party tariff principle.
The opinion was strongly expressed
that any changes whatever in the house
bill would cndanger its acceptance by
that body and III the end this fact con-
trolled the committees decision. There
was, however. a disposition unaffected
TO placate the free traders 10y making
various amendments to the govern.
mental bill. The tariff advocates have
gone as far as t. draft amendments to
that measure which are intended both
to correct administrative defects III the
house bill and also 10 meet man.
Of the objections 10 the house tariff
measure One of these amendments
looks 10 the enlargement of the free
trade list So as TO include most Of the
articles of export in which the constitu.
ents Of the free trade senator's are inter
ested. There is also proposition look
ing to the entire removal OF the duty Oh
articles from the United States goin.
into Porto Rico. The action of the com
mittee was soon made known to the
free traders. and it Immediately becam,
known that they were not satisfied with
the concessions. 4 hurried conferenc,
was called in Senator Proctor's rooms
which was attended by about 10 sena
tors. These included not only the iron
bound free traders. but others who have
not vet taken a decided position against
all Porto Rican tariff propositions. They
did not enter into any detailed discus
sion of the proposition OF the steering
committee. but contented themselve!
with decision to oppose any PROPOSE
ton looking to the fixing of time t.
vote on either the house tariff bill or thu
senate governmental bill. They were
unanimously of the opinion that delay
meant gain for their cause i'll the public
GOOD will and in the senate. A canvas
of the Republican senators was made
with the result. it was stated. that II
could be found who would oppose hast,
action. OF these it was stated that II
were unaltcrably opposed to a tariff OF
our commerce with Porto Rico. 1t wa
stated explicitly that the proposition
made for a vote next "Wednesday b.
Senator Proctor on behalf OF the fre'
traders would not be renewed.