New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-29
TIME FOR A VOTE FIXED.
FINAL ACTION ON PUERTO RICAN BILL
NEXT TUESDAY.
FREE TRADE AMENDMENT NOT EXPECTED
TO PREvAIL-MR. DAVIS STATES HIS
OBJECTIONS TO A TARIFF
[Br TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1

OBJECTIONS TO A TARIFF.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
Washington March Ex-senator Foraker to-
dav succeeded in obtaining unanimous consent
FOR vote on the passage of the Puerto Rican
Tariff and Government bill at o'clock next
Tuesday afternoon, Senator Bacon, in behalf
of the Democratic minority suggested to-mor-
row which Mr. Foraker would have preferred
but Senator Proctor. speaking for the Republi-
can insurgents" insisted on Tuesday, and it
was so agreed This will give the latter fui
opportunity to be heard. which they expect to
improve. The agreement reached sooner
than even the most hopeful friends of the meas
ure expected, and for earlier date than had
been thought possible and this greatly en-
couraged them.
The prospect that a free trade amendment
which will be offered in various forms. will be
adopted appears less promising to some
Of its friends than ii did twenty-four hours
ago. The vote on such an amendment has been
regarded by the friends Of the bill the stage
Of greatest danger. and their apprehe nsions re-
garding il not yet wholly removed. That
point safely passed, they would regard the
passage of the bill by a safe majority as
sured.
OPPOSITION NOT LIKELY TO UNITE.
The amendment would seem to be more dan
eerous except for the fact that the Democrats
could not support it if it in any way yielded
or weakened their position on the constitutional
issue that has been raised and all the Repub-
leans, with perhaps three exceptions would not
vote for ii if il contained anything calculated
impair the strength of their contention in
regard to that question. 1t is not now believed
by the friends of the tariff that the opposition
will be able TO reconcile their differences and
hit upon any expedient whereby the ''irrepressi-
prtfa haap
question be quelied before the vote is
taken.
Senator Davis's amendment TO substitute IL
per cent of the taxes imposed under the internal
revenue law for II per cent of the duties under
the Dingley law means Of providing revenue
does not appear 10 be gaining favor among Re
publicans in the Senate, despite his able and
adroit speech to-day in support of it, which was
attentively listened to by a number of them. Of
course, in its present form, the amendment ap-
pears to the Democrats TO be even more OBJ
Jectionabe than the original proposition. Sem
ator Davis did not intimate in his speech what
course he would pursue if his internal revenue
amendment and his free trade amendment
should both be rejected when the time came for
The vote the bin itself. His argument, how
ever, mainly against the tariff provision,
and IN favor of the internal revenue provision
the ground OF expediency. He contended
also that whatever legislation may be enacted
for Puerto Rico will not furnish a precedent
which would be followed in future legislation
regarding the Philippines whatever party might
be in power; and he expressed the opinion that
within few years il would be practicable and
safe to bring Puerto Rico into closer political
relations with the United States than now
proposed. But he distinctly declared that Con-
gress possesses plenary power in regard to leg
islation for the territory acquired from Spain.
iO0 nd he
differs from the Democratic opponents of the
pending bin, and justified belief that he would
ultimately vote FOR il. tariff tariff.
Senator Davis took the floor after Senator
Morgans free silver amendment had been re-
iected by vote of more than two to one.
SENATOR DAvIs's SPEECH
Il am DESTROYS Of early vote upon this
bill" said Mr.. Davis. in beginning his speech,
that have thought il better TO address the
Senate this afternoon much more briefly than 1
otherwise would have done. This will cause me
to omit some discussion of constitutional ques-
,ions and many other matters auxiliary and col
lateral to the main subject After the elaborate
argument of Mr.. Lindsay. Mr.. Davis said he did
not think il necessary for him enter upon
a constitutional discussion of the subject. While
he deemed the question important he regarded
il entirely partisan, and felt that il
ought to be considered. His remarks he said
would be directed to the House bill. which had
become a part of the Senate measure. He said
that II could be denied that from the time
the measure was reported to the House until
to-day there had been rising tide of protest
against il. and that protest had eliminated in
righteous Indignation 1t had come from every
part of the country and from people in every
walk of life, and was based upon the principle
that Puerto Rico, under all the circumstances
should have free trade with the United States
Upon the question presented, he said there was
infinite variety of opinion After explaining
briefly amendment he had offered early il
the day. Mr.. Davis maintained that a tariff
could not DE levied as between Puerto Rico and
the United States. although it perfectly
competent for Congress TO provide for the collec
ton of internal revenue taxes on the island.
why do some insist that there is no Other
way Of solving the question presented, when
way is presented that is Individually constitu
tional?' inquired Mr.. Davis. Why insist upor
a tariff on the products OF the island by {
bin which is epheneral expire in Z
year and day? Why, indeed, insist upon tn,
provisions Of this measure when IL would be IA
better to let existing conditions continue?" Mr.
Davis contended that the amendment he haC
proposed would go far TO appease the storm o.