Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-06
NORFOLK LOCAL AND TELEGRAPH coNTINUED-BERKEY NEWS
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
PLAN TO TERMINATE PORTO
RCAN TARIFF PROBLEM.
tBy Telegraph to Virglnian-Pilot.)

10Y telegraph to Virglnian-Pilot.)
Washington. d. c., April 5.--The Re-
publicans Of the House, in a well-at-
tended caucus tonight. decided to take
the shortest possible route to a termi-
nation OK the Porto Rican tariff pro-
prem Dy concurring in all the Senate
anlenoment and sending the bill direct
~ 10 the President. There was a feeble
pto.ese from Mr. Cooper, of Wisconsin,
CHAIRMAN OF the insular committee, and
Mr.. Moody. of Massachusetts. who
favored standing out against some of
the features of the civil government
scheme attached to the bill BY the SEN
ste. They objected especially to the
senate provision making all the mem
Ders Oh Inc upper council OF the Porto
Sican legislature appointees of the
PRESIDENT. and clothing them with the
power TO grant franchises, but the SEN
timent or the caucus was overwhelm
lngly against them.
AS soon as the Republicans absent
rom washington can be summoned
mere. as early as Monday if possihIe
the matter will be brought before tho
rouse under special rule. ALTERNATIVES
motions probably will be cut off under
the rule. There has been no decision
as 10 the time to be allowed for debate
mere was a fairly large attendance
~ the conference of the House Repub-
~
ieseHtdliVeS TO agree upon n course of
action regarding the Porto Rican tariff
Dill. Not one OF the seven Republicans
VINO opposed the original bill (Messrs
hicCaii, or Massachusetts; Littlefield.
Oh Maine; Lorimer, of Illinois: Heat
Woie' Oh Minnesota; Crumpacker, of In
diana; McLane, of Iowa, and Mr..
Warner. of Iflinois) was present They
had conferred and decided not to re-
cede from their former position. and
consequently they considered II useless
10 attend the conference tonight. Mr..
cannon. of Illinois. chairman OF the
republican caucus, presided. Mr..
rayne. OF New York. the floor leader
Oh the majority, made short pre-
liminary statement as to the necessity
1or harmonious action. He said that
the Republicans OF the Ways and
Means Committee, were agreed that so
Tar as the Senate amendments to the
tariff provisions of the bill were con-
cerned they should be concurred In. He
pointed out that the amendments sup
ported the position of the House for a
tariff, and that concurrence involved
no abandonment of the course to which
the Republicans OF the House had COM
mitted themselves.
He further stated that the provisions,
excepting breadstuffs, from the tariff
would help to allay some of the popu-
the Dill. and commended the five-cent
duty on coffee as being in line with the
protective policy. He moved that the
caucus declare in favor of concurrence
In the amendments to the tariff proyi-
sions. With regard to the civil gov
eminent scheme embodied in the SEN
ate amendment, he thought 1t but
proper that the members of the insu-
lar committee who had evolved a bill
should be heard.
MIR. Cooper. of Wisconsin, made an
earnest speech against the acceptance
or certain features of the Senate bill
particularly that regarding the upper
house or council of the Porto Rican
Legislature. The Senate provided that
all the members should be appointed
py the President. whereas the House
bill makes half OF them elective. Tho
power given to the council to grant
franchises was another feature which
ne strenuously opposed. He advocated
concurrence in the tariff features and
non-concurrence in the Senate's civil
government scheme
Mr.. Moody, of Massachusetts,. fol-
lowed along the same lines. Mr.. Hem
inway. of Indiana, then offered an
amendment. moving concurrence In all
the Senate amendments
MT. Grosvenor, of Ohio: Mr.. Cannon.
or Illinois, and Mr.. Ray, of New York.
advocated concurrence In the entire
senate bill. AS the debate proceeded
the leaders. one after another, urged
this course. Speaker Henderson finally
concluded with rousing speech. urg-
ing concurrence in the Senate amend
ments in gross, and when the vote was
taken on Mr.. Heminway's motion the
chorus of ayes was overwhelming.
Without division 1t was declared car
ried. and the caucus adjourned.