The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-14

Introduces and express the belief that 1t
win for "a the basis Of " wha,svsr ssttlsn ents
are agreed upon. This opinion ID based
upon what was said In q general way and
not upon any poll Of the caucus. One
In dication thai an agreement is expected
tomorrow is the oontinued liberalization
OF the Cuban sub-comwittee to leave here
tomorrow night for tour of Cuba.
Those Senators who favored the propo-
si,ion for . tariff on Porto Rioan goods
coming into the county and free trade
for eoc ds to Porto Rioo said shat this
course would be humane in principls
since it would atferd free entry OF food
and supplies needed by the Porto Rioans
while the tariff on goods comiug into
this country would supply revenue fer the
island and also retain the principle Of
rrots ction.
Several times during the debate the
course Of the administration was men,
toned and the state ment was made that
the country was aroused because 10 had
sesmed that CONGRESS was acting CONTRARY
TO the wishes Of fhs Pre- ddsnt Several
Senators asserted that tn, President was
not anxious for the proposed tariff OF
fifteen per cent
Senator Foraker talked at contidsrabie
length and vigorouly supported the bill
and was especially dstsrminsd that the
governmental features should not be
abandoned. He declared that the bill as
amended BY the com,aittee levying fifteen
per csnt on products both ways was the
best measure that ,ould be pnsssd. but
said he was willing to accept the compro-
miss leying duty only on PortoI Rican
produ ctions coming to this country.
Senator Hanna made sresch that was
listened to with great interest He
favored tho House bill and especially the
tariff provisions.
Senator Proctor of Vermont said that
he believed in tree trade with Porto Rico
and thought the matter could be adjusted
by having a military governor and not
attempting q civil government or tarin
legislation at the present time.
Senator Fairbanks deplored the situa-
tion and expressed the hope that there
might be some adjustment. He said there
was no question as to the feeling Of the
people in his state, who were for free
trade with Porto Rico.
Senator Davis who recently introduced
an amendment extending the constitu-
tion relative TO taxation over the island
mads quite an extended speech taking
strong grounds In favor Of free trade
with Porto Rico. He said 1t was not be-
cause the tariff would keep out or let In
certain products that Congress should aot.
but because the almost universal opinion
Of the psople should be heeded, eenti-
ment which he said, had been kindled by
the manner In which Porto Rico had
come into the United States. He said
that there was no need to fear that In ex-
tending the constitution over Porto Ricu
SC s-or'A mean like aot,Sn when legisla-
tion for the Philippines was under con.
sideration.
Each island and group should and
would be dealt with separately and inds-
pendently. 1t would be time snUugh to
consider the Philippines tariff when 1t
was reached. Senator Aidrioh did not
take any particular side. but counselled
action which would unite the Re-
publican majority.
Senator Perkins as well as other mem.
bers of the Porto Rico committee
wanted the I'LL agreed upon without
compromise or amendment.
Quite O number OF senators expressed
the opinion that a majority would vote
for the bill as reported and criticised the
unstable policy which was being pursued,
saying that the constant changing had
done more to shake the faith Of the
country than anything else.
Senator Simon of Oregon, whose posi-
tion was not known, went further than
any other senator in declaring his unal-
tersble position in favor of fres trade
with Porto Rico. ne said that We had
no right to tax our dependencies and
that II ws did not intend to treat the new
acquisitions as We treated other 60
quill Fed territory. We should not retain
them. He saw no menace to labor.
manufacturing or agriculture in free
trade with ths islands, but = promise Of
ldr ETcobpE AAOAcoso VI OcAaAASASos
Senator Mason also took strong ground
In favor Of free trade with the islands II
they were to be retained as a possession
or q part of the United States. He said
that the trouble was not with Porto
Rico. but with the Philippines, This
could be easily ayertsd by announcing
our deter rmination not to hold the Philip
pines, but to grant them the freed ON
which many Of them sought and TO as
sist them to form stable government.
1t would not bs difficult then to en-
ter into satisfactory trade relations wit
them and our laboring men would net
then be threatened with cheap Malay
labor, which, he said. seemed to be
troubling Q great many of the advocates
Of the present tariff.