The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-15
A CAUCUS Compromise
An Understanding Reached Re-
garding the Porto Ric2n Bill.
senate Republicans to support Its
civil Government Provisions and
secure the PnSsaEe OF the Re
lief B1I-The Tariff Question Re
ferred to IA Committee of seven.

lief BnI-The Thrift Question RE
ferred to "a Committee of seven
After another caucus Of more than three
hours yesterday the Republican Senators
came TO an agreement on the Porto Rican
question. That is. they agreed TO dis
1 agree as to the sll-important matter OF
tariff legislation: for the present. at least,
TO stand by the bill providing a form of
civil government for the island and 10
pass at once the House bill refunding to
Porto Rico the tariff taxes collected since
Spanish control ended. In other words,
the caucus inaugurated a waiting game
While the civil government part Of the
Foraker bill is being debated in the Sen
ate a committee OF seven Senators. rep
resenting the various conflicting views, to
be appointed by Senator Allison. Chairman
Of the Caucus will attempt to bring about
an agreement as to the tariff question. ana
report to a future caucus. Senator For
aker Chairman OF the Porto Rican Gem
mittee. viii probably be the chairman Of
the compromise committee Of seven. and
il is the understanding that their report
shall not be submitted until Senators Al
drich and Platt return from Cuba where
they started yesterday as members of a
subcommittee Of Cuban Relations to
study and report upon the situation there
with a view Of recommending legislation
for the future
Il was no part Of the caucus agreement
that the work Of the committee of seven
should be prolonged until Senator's Aldrich
and Plstt returned, but as the former is
the tactical manager Of the Senate and
represents the radical free trade element
on the Porto Rican question. and the lat
ter one OF the most prominent and infu-
ential advocates OF even a higher rate of
duties than is provided for In the House
bill Il is safe to say that the Senate will
take no important action on the Porto
Rican question during their absence.
Talk with the President.
Before the caucus met yesterday Sena-
tors Aldrich and Spooner each had long
talk with the President, and reported later
to their colleagues that Mr.. Mckinley is
stili strongly of the opinion that civil gov
prufnFnA huNula ulShlaNt lAAlAAaAf ANAN IL
Porto Rico at the earliest practicable mo
ment. Mr.. Spooner. who is one of the
ahlesi lawyers in the Senate is opposed to
the passage Of a civil government code at
present. and is particularly opposed to Ger
tain features OF the pending Foraker bill
The fact was developed in the caucus
that while those Senators who insist upon
free trade with Porto Rico are more per
sistent and perhaps more plausible IN their
arguments. the Senators who favor stand
ing by the tariff bill as It came from the
House constitute a majority. These Sen
ators feel that it would be a~great mistake
10 ask the House OF Representatives 10
undo now all that it accomplished after
the determined party fight. and that Sena-
tors who used their influence to keep the
marty in the House intact cannot consist
entity now turn about face
The damaging political effect Of the lack
Of harmony and the daily demonstrations
TO the country that there is a serious dif-
ference OF opinion between the party n
the senate and in the House OF Representa-
tives and the Executive was pointed out
by several Senators in the caucus, and 1t
was chiefly for the purpose Of sidetraeklng
the whole question until an agreement can
be reached that the subject was turned
over to special committee Of seven
nine. but il was appointed without partic-
ular reference to the Porto Ricau subject
which. becoming acute. had prevented
any action by the steering commit
tee. The motion for this temporary
LAYING aside OF the question Of the Porto
Rican tarlf was made by Senator Aldrich.
who before II was disposed Of, left the
caucus to take the train for Miami, Fla,
whence the investigating committee VIII
sail for Cuba The motion followed a sus-
gestion from Senator Mcmillan OF Michi-
gan. who made a speech favoring a let
alone policy. both for political and eco
nomic reasons. He is one OF the Senators
whose influence was exerted TO keep the
party in the House in line for the caucus
btll that finally passed that body and he
protested against being compelled to exc
cute q flank movement and desert the
House members who listened to the advice
OF himself Senator Hanna, Chairman Of
the Republican National Committee, ana
others who worked for the House bill.
Mr.. Mcmillan objected to free trade with
Porto Rico. and pointed out that the capi-
talists OF Michigan and other Western
states who have large sums invested in
beet sugar factories and who have stood
ready to invest more would naturally fear
that a precedent established in Porto Rico
and the Philippines. The Michigauders
are not afraid OF Porto Rican competition.
Mr.. Mcmillan said. but have their eye on
the territory yet TO be dealt with. The
Michigan Senator thinks it would be
good thing for the Republican party on the
eve OF a Presidential election to stand by
what the party in the House Of Represent
atives has done and adjourn after having
passed as little legislation as possible.
No Set Speeches.
There were no set speeches yesterday.
The discussion was Of an informal ma
ture. Questions were asked and answered
first by one and then by another. and in
this way views were brought out and the
knots untangled. There were but two
lively passages in the whole two hours
discussion These were furnished by Sen
lto. Foraker and Senator Wellington. Sen
ito1. Foraker again explained the provisions
" the bill his committee had reported
Naturally. he was the target for many
luestious. Many Of these enquiries were
aimed at the civil government feature OF
he bill and some Of these questions indi-
.ated a desire on the part Of Senators to
separate the civil government feature from
he distiuClFe'y tariff parts of the pro- !
posed measure. hose suggested were Wig !
1ro lv eambatel by Mr. Foraker. He ex-
pressed himself IS being opposed TO any |
JroBos zion -haI looked to the abandonment |
lf iLo civil gov rnment scheme, and as
.arfed that ~ lG were attempted he should 1
81 with la0=e no believed in free trade |
sim the island ald do all he could to pass |
.uch q maasal p through the Senate
Senator Spoouer was particularly insist 1
mt ia some o. lis questions. and conveyed 1
be irlnression % Mr.. Foraksr's mind that |
.r.as |-rrlfar s-1riug to defeat the civil qov