New-York tribune., 1900-04-06
PRICE THREE CENTS.
GOES TO THE PRESIDENT
HOUSE CAUCUS ACTS ON THE
PUERTO RICAN BILL.
REPUBLICANS DECIDE WITH PRACTICAL
THE SENATE AMENDMENTS.
10y rELEenAru TO rus rnrnUxE.I

Washington. April THE Puerto Rlcan Tariff
and Government bill viii be finally disposed Of
by Congress before the erd of the coming week
After full Interchange q views IN the confer
ence held tonight. the majority OF the House IN
caucus tonight decided with virtual una
nimity 70 support motion TO concur in all the
Senate amendments. and thus If practicable
dispose of the Puerto Rioan question. for this
session. at least
Chairman Cooper. OF the Committee on Insu-
lar Affairs. and Mr. Moody made earnest
speeches pointing out defects in CT objections 10
some OF the Senate provisions. and urged send
Ing the bill TO conference after concurrence In
the tariff provisions. to which no objection was
made. The anxiety. however. 10 avoid sending
any part of the measure to conference and thus
proonging the agitation OF the question and
perhaps the danger which might attend the de-
lay, prevailed over the desire of some OF the
members OF the Insular Affairs Committee as
expressed by Messrs. Cooper and Moody. Two
members CT that cOrTnittee-Messrs- Payne and
Cannon-also favored concurrence. although the
former confined his formal motion to the tariff
provisions, and left the rest 10 discuss the other
features OF difference between the two houses.
Mr.. Hemenway moved to amend Mr.. Payne's
motion by extending it so 10 include all the
Senate amendments. and after brisk but good
tempered discussion, in the course of which. be-
sides those above mentioned, Speaker Hender-
son, Messrs- Grosvenor. Gardner and others
spoke, Mr. Hemenway's amendment wa
adopted without a division. only or two
voices being raised against IL
There discussion OF the proposed mod.
of procedure, which VIII be governed by a spe-
ciaI rule which will provide that the COMMITTEES
on Ways and Means shall be discharged from
further consideration OF the Senate amend
ments. and that motion 10 concur in them shall
be voted at the expiration OF the time allotted
for debate under the special rule. II will re-
quire majority, OF course. to adopt that rule
and no effort win be spared to produce major
ity when that vote is TO be taken.
None Of the Republican members who voted
against the tariff bill when it passed the House
We're present at the caucus except Mr.. Fletcher
Of Minnesota II is understood that he will
for the motion 70 concur il in shall be neces
sary. and also for the adoption OF the special
rule.
After the caucus Chairman Cannon made the
following statement:
II was full and harmonious caucus The best
of temper displayed Mr.. Payne moved
concurrence in the nineteen Senate amendments
covering the revenue features Of the bill and Mr.
Hemenway, OF Indiana. offered amendment 70
the motion 10 concur in all the Senate amend
ments. The vote taken first on the amend
ment, which agreed 10 with practical una
nimity. Not more than one man present
voted against IL. The amended motion then
agreed 10. The matter will be brought up in the
House as soon as the absenIees. some OF whom
at home sick or looking after business poiit-
ical or otherwise, return Every effort will
be made have them here Monday. There
probably will be a special rule, but time for
the limit of the debate has been fixed