The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-27

and supported the resolution with a
speech. This move was met by coun-
ter resolution offered by Senator Welling-
ton providing for the passage OF the civil
government BILL with a free trade pro-
vision instead of the tariff provision of
the house.
The discussion proceeded on the basis
Of these two motions. No new points of
Importance were brought out. The free
traders expressed themselves as very de-
Sirous of securing harmony, but init
mated very plainly that 10 do so It
would be necessary TO come TO their
terms because, as they said, it was their
conviction that the imposition of any
tariff meant material loss to the Repub-
lican party in the coming election.
DAVIS AMENDMENT.
Senator Davis read and explained at
some length the amendment introduced
by himself in the senate today, providing
for the raising of the necessary revenue
by a purely internal revenue system. He
quoted figures from Gov. Gen. Davis in
support OF his contention that the inter-
nal revenue system would be sufficient
to meet the demands for revenue for the
conduct of the government of the island.
He said there was a feeling throughout
the country for free trade for Puerto
Rico and said this feeling was not
mere ephemeral sentiment but was based
upon a proper demand for right and jus
tice The Davis amendment Is as follows;
Section THAT Puerto Rico is hereby
made an internal revenue district. That
the laws of the United States providing
for internal revenue taxation and collec-
ton. not locally applicable, are hereby
extended TO and shall remain In force in
Puerto Rico, excepting as herein other
wise provided for the term stated In this
act. The president. by and with the ad-
vice and consent Of the senate, shall ap
point a collector. Of internal revenue
for said district, who shall receive an an
nual salary Of s., coo and whose office shall
be at San Juan.
Sec. SThat excepting as herein other
wise provided, 10 per cent of all the in
ternal revenue taxes, imposed by the laws
Of the United States, shall be collected
in said district. No stamp taxes imposed
by said laws upon written or printed
documents shall be collected in said dis
trict The secretary Of the treasury is
hereby authorized and directed to make
all needful regulations to carry this act
into effect, and to prescribe the compen-
satlon OF all officers and agents necessary
for that purpose.
Sec. 3-The amount Of all taxes so col
iiected, less the necessary expenses Of col
placed at the disposal of the president,
to be expended under his direction for the
gov government of Puerto Rico now existing,
and hereafter to be established, and for
public purposes therein.
Sec. upon tobacco not grown in Puer-
to Rico, and upon all manufactures
thereof, and upon rum or other distilled
spirits produced from substances not
grown In Puerto Rico. the full tax pro-
Yided by the internal revenue laws OF the
United States shall be collected. Upon
tobacco grown in Puerto Rico, and the
manufactures thereof, and upon rum and
other spirits distilled or made from sugar
cane or other agricultural product grown
nr fTnV flOa dt11A Na
such sugar cane or other agricultural
product the said tax of 10 per cent shall
be imposed the same as upon other sub
jects of internal taxation.
Sec. 6-That the president, whenever he
shall be satisfied that a local self-govern-
ment has been established In Puerto Rico,
adequate to raise and collect taxes by its
own legislation, shall have the power
from time to time, by proclamation, to
decrease the said percentum of taxation,
or to wholly abolish the same.
Sec. 6-That no duties on imports or eX-
ports shall, after the passage of this act,
be collected on any articles imported from
the United States into Puerto Rico or
from Puerto Rico into the United States
Sec. This act shall be taken and held
to be provisional in its purposes and IN
tended to meet a pressing present need
for revenue for the island of Puerto Rico,
and shall not continue In force after the
first day of March. 1902
ALL EFFORTS FRU1TLEss.
Senator Cullom spoke in a conciliatory
manner, indicating a personal leaning to-
wards the free trade sentiment, but Civ
ing it as his opinion that an agreement
should be reached upon some basis which
would present a solid front
Senator Quarles made an impassioned
appeal for the enactment of tariff law,
stating that only by this course could
the best traditions Of the Republican u
party be maintained.
Both resolutions were ultimately with
drawn, Senator Wellington's because of
the imposslbility of passing it, and Sen
ator Gall1nger's because 1t was not con-
sidered wise to press it to vote, in view
of the determined opposition of the free
trade element
On Senator Chandler's motion the har-
mony committee was discharged from
further service. He referred to the fact
that some Of the leaders who are gem
orally appointed on compromise commit
tees had not served on this committee.
and called attention to the fact that the
caucus had found 1t Impossible to agree
upon any of the suggestions made by the
committee and to the further fact that
1t had failed to accomplish the end for
which 1t was appointed, namely that of
reconciling the various elements of the
party. He then moved the discharge of
the committee, and the motion prevailed
without opposition.
1t was not until almost the close of the
meeting that Mr. Lodge offered a resolu-
ton representing the sense of the eau
Gus to be that there should be no present
effort to separate the governmental and
tariff features Of the bill, and that the
discussion should continue on the old lines
for the present
Senator Allison remarked that this was
was so evidently the sense of the confer
ence that there, was hardly a necessity
for taking vote, and the caucus ad-
journed sine die