The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-20
Five Indiana Representatives I'm Fa-
vor OF the Position Taken ny the
President I'm His Message.
CAUCUS POSSIBLE THIS WEEK
WHEN 1T Is HOPED M'KINLEY's
PLAN WILL BE EXPLAINED.
Democrats United Against IN Tariff
Speeches I'm the House by Messrs.
Payne, Richardson and Daizelf.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Debate on the
Porto Rican tariff bill began in the House
to-day. Its fate is problematical. The ive
Republican representatives from Indiana
VINO are quoted as being I'm rebellion
against the bill as reported from the ways
and means committee, are not irreconcila-
BILE. They have merely taken the position
that in their judgment Ii would be better
politics and fairer play for Congress TO
give Porto Rico unrestricted trade faciii-
ties with the rest of the United States In
stead OF holding her people at arms length
and imposing penalties on them in the way
Of taxes of mechandise shipped from the
island to this country, and requiring the
payment OF duties on goods imported from
the United States. These men, however,
do not set themselves up i'm revolt against
the will of the party. What they want to
know is whether I'm voting against the bill
they will be taking issue with the party
On that point they will insist on enlighten-
ment before voting. They have been in
formed that the President has weakened,
and that he acquiesces in the proposition
the ways and means committee They
have also been informed that he has done
nothing of the kind and that he still main
tains the position he took In his message
to Congress hast December. I'm which he
advocated free trade, and in which position
he was supported by the secretary of war.
In order that there may be no mistake az
to the attitude OF the administration in
this matter it is suggested by those who
doubt the wisdom Of the ways and means
ffS rlo1.f
eousness, to have Republican caucus
some time during the week. at which some
cne can speak who is authorized to repre-
sent the President. The Indiana members
who are moving in this matter are Messrs.
Watson, Crumpacker. Brick. Hemenway
anu Faris. They do not wish to be under
stood as having committed themselves
against the bill. Their opposition is tenta-
tive. IL they can be assured by authority
teyord question that the President wants
the bill passed, they may vote for IL, al
though still entertaining the personal opin-
ion that such a course will be injudicious.
The attitude taken by these Indianians
is in common with that held by forty or
hIty other Republicans Unless this ele-
ment can be quieted by assurances stronger
than those which members OF the wars and
means committee are able to give at the
present time the bill will be defeated by
Republican votes. One argument which Is
being used by the friends of the measure
is that the only way Congress can get
.udicial decision by the Supreme Court on
the right to put tariff duty On Porto Ri
can products is to pass the law. There
could be no hope Of a decision be-
fore the November elections. but IL Is selt
by many that the action proposed will rut
the party unnecessarily on the defensive
throughout the campaign. They contend
that the enactment Of the law viii give
tangible foundation for the charges of anti
imperialism and empire raised by the DEM
ccrats and Populists and echoed by the
faction headed by Senator Hoar, Edward
Atkinson and others.
Senator Fairbanks has introduced a bill
extending the United States immigration
laws over Porto Rico.