The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-03-27
PUERTO RICAN LEGISLATION
REP PUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE AGAIN IN CAUCUS.

Try to Reach an Understanding, but
| Apparently without success-senator
| Foraker Instructed to Press the Puerto
Nicnn Bill with His Amendments
| This Retains the Fifteen Per Cent.
| Tariff
Washington, March 26.-The republi-
can members Of the senate spent two
and a half hours in caucus to-day in an
effort to reach an agreement upon the
Puerto Rican legislation now pending
in the senate. The caucus was appar-
emily, however, without material result,
the only accomplishment being a decis-
ion to proceed with the general bill as
it now stands, without separating the
mony committee from further efforts.
During the sitting there We're twenty or
more speeches made, all of them being
of a more amiable tone than the speech
es in caucus Of fortnight ago
But, while good feeling was generally
manifested and all senate who spoke
expressed themselves as desirious Of
reaching an amicable understanding,
there was but little or no disposition
manifested to yield point which would
produce that result. Indeed, the free
traders on the one hand and the iron
bound tariff men on the other We're
quite as obdurate as they had been at
the previous meeting. This condition of
affairs was made so manifest that Sen
ator Allison, acting as chairman of the
caucus, declared at the close of the
meeting that there was no necessity for
putting a motion to continue on past
lines as it was very evident that no
other course was practicable. Senator
Foraker was instructed by the caucus
to press the Puerto Rican bill as 1T now
etood--the governmental bill incorporat-
ed with the tariff measure-to as speedy
vote as possible.
The understanding at the time this
instruction was given was that Senator
II tIdhtl NOuli blItl al W
the tariff feature Of the bill, adding the
free list named by the president in an
executive order to the exports going
from the United States to Puerto Rico,
duty free, but that the Is per cent. Of
the Dingley law carried in the house
bill upon goods coming from Puerto
Rico to the United States would be re-
tanned.
The vote by which this instruction
was given was taken viva voce, no rec
ord being made, but it was evident that
a substantial majority approved the
Quite a number of sena-
tors had left the caucus before this vote
was taken, but the position of each
was understood. There are a |
of senators who will oppose the |
bill even with the amendment recon- |
mended. They are, it ia said, Senators |
Davis. Beveridge, Hoar, wellington, ST. |
mon, Mason, Proctor and Nelson. It is
also said that Senator Kyle who here
tofore has acted with the republicans, |
and McCumber of North Dakota will |
not vote for the house bill unamended,
but it is believed they will vote for the
amended proposition.
Two senators named in the list of
eight first given are claimed by the
friends Of the tariff measure as almost
sure to vote for the amended bill, leav-
ng six republicans who will vote finally
against the measure. 1t is claimed that
two or three votes will be secured for
she tariff measure from the ranks of
he opposition parties in the senate, and
hat in this way a majority will be Sc
,ured.
While there hae been a great deal of
discussion among senators as to what
he house will do when the amended bill
s sent over there, and many conferences
the senator's and members of
he ways and means committee are
leld the only result has been a decision
hat the senate must act as seems best
lnder the circumstances, and the bill,
{ passed, must take it's chances in the
louse.
Some members of the ways and means
committee advised this course to-day,
It the same time urging speedy action,
nd this view found expression in the
aucus, the statement being made that
elay was more dangerous than any
hing else and that the country and
'uerto Rico ought to know soon what
o expect Apparently there was no
isposition among the free trade sena- ,
ors present at the caucus to-day to de-
ay a vote upon the bill, though no
greement was reached for an immedi-
tie vote.