The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11
The PORTO RICAN BILL
A Proposition TO Strike Out Civil
Government Provisions.
Republican Senators Considering
Plan to Hasten Action-SuERestioa
cusscd - Pintt, Hanna, spooner.
Payne. and Russell ia Conference.

proposition has been made by some
Of the leading Republican members OF the
Senate tpat the Foraker bill for Porto
Rico be amended by striking out the pro-
visions for civil government The advo-
Gates OF This plan believe that b. SO do
ing the bill can be disposed of at i much
earlier day. Early action they deem nee
esssry on account of the condition of the
inhabitants OF the island and the Iced
for immediate measures calculated to re-
store prosperity. Another consideration
which led to the proposition is. they say.
that Congress does not. as yet. know pre-
cisely what is needed in the way OF a
form Of government for Porto Rico
Senator Plat OF Connecticut is one of
those who believe that it is too early to
attempt any elaborate scheme OF gov
eminent FOR the island. He believes that
Congress should wait until the people of
this country and the members of Con-
eress learn more about the conditions ex-
isting in Porto Rico and more about the
needs and capacities of the Porto Rican
people.
Senator Plat proposed some time ago.
informally that Porto Rico should be gov
erned for the present under a resolution
similar to that which was applied in
Louisiana early in this century, and pre-
cisely like the Spooner resolution of the
government of the Philippines. He has
never ceased TO believe that this woali
provide the most satisfactory arrangements
NJ present for Porto Rico. and there are
number of members of the Senate who
share this belief.
The discussion among Senators. who met
in committee rooms yesterday and dis
cussed the party programme in the Senate,
was occupied chiefly with these two con-
siderations in favor OF securing very
early passage of the Porto Rico bill by
dropping the part providing for civil gov
ernment
There was also good deal of discus
sion about the proposition. published
in The Times yesterday morning to amend
the House bill by providing for the free
admission Of goods from the United States
into Cuba and for the reduction of the ID
per cent provision as applied to imports
from Porto Rico into the United States. J
A number of members of the Senate are !
opposed to this plan. but the members of |
the steering committee are for II and |
there is strong probability that an |
amendment to that effect Will be offered |
in the Senate this week.
IL is being urged in some quarters |
against this proposition that some OF /
those members OF the House who opposed 1
free trade most strenuously will be !
obliged to reverse their position practi-
cally when the bill with the proposed
amendment goes to the House from the |
conference committee. The amendment
however. does not sacrifice the constltu-
tional principle so called. that has been
contended for.
Senator Foraker. ChairmS1 of the SEN
ate Porto Rico Committee, Is strongly op-
posed to the amendment OF the measure
as proposed yesterday. He believes that
the civil government provisions should be |
attached. and at present il seems impos-
sible 10 secure his consent to the new
programme.
Late yesterday afternoon conference
was held in the committee room of Senator
Platt Of Connecticut. in which the Porto
Rico question was discussed. Those pies
ent we're Senator Platt Senator Hanna,
Senator Spooner Representative Payne,
and Representative Russell. Senator Plat
and Mr.. Russell represent especially the
advocates of a high iarif between the
United States and Porto Rico. Mr. Russell !
originally wished TO have the bill provide
so per rent OF the present rates. and SEN
ator Platt now has an amendment before
the Senate providing for so per cent of the
present rates Representative Payne is
willing TO accept anything that is satisfa =
tory to the others. and he is not enforcing
his claims of leadership.
The conference did not result in a de-
cision upon any particular line OF pro
cedure. but there were expressions pro
and con regarding the proposition to abel
ish the tariff United States products
going into Porto Rico and reducing the 10
per cent provision on Porto Rican goods
coming into the United States. The dis, ,u5-
sion also took account of the probable diff
culties TO arise out of a disagreement be-
tween the House and the Senate on the |
measure