New-York tribune., 1900-03-16
RELIEF FOR PUERTO RICO.
THE APPROPRIATION BILL TAKEN UP IN
THE SENATE
TBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE. !


Washington, March 15-When the Puerto
cay there were some indications on the Demo-
cratic side of intention TO embarrass its
speedy passage by Offering and supporting a
substitute and amendments. Senator Jones. of
Arkansas. seemed TO be not averse to putting
his party in the Senate in the same unenviable
and .ndefensible attitude which it assumed in
the House OF Representatives in regard to the
same measure under the leadership of Mr. Rich
ardson of Tennessee. and Mr.. Bailey, of Texas
when nearly every Democratic Representa- tive
was induced to record his vote in the negative.
Mr.. Jones offered a substitute bill to re-
turn the duties to those who had paid them and
providing for absolute free trade between the
United States and Puerto Rico.
Senator Cockrell did not mean to have his
party placed in such attitude If he could
prevent 1t, and he made a timely and effective
speech in favor of the bill. Senators Lindsay
and Bacon supported the BILL the former taking
substantially the same ground he did the other
day the question of the legality of the col
lection of duties on imports from Puerto Rico
and it seemed for a time as though split might
occur in the Democratic ranks. The prospect
of one was not entirely removed before the bill
was laid aside for the unfinished business. Mr.
Jones had not withdrawn his free trade substi-
tute, and when Mr.. Allison asked unanimous
consent that a vote might be taken the pas
sage of the bill tomorrow, although the Sena
tor from Arkansas did not object, Senator Pet
tus, of Alabama, did, and there were other
symptoms of opposition.
Mr.. Allison explained the provisions of the
bill, and Messrs. Spooner and Fairbanks advo-
Gated its passage, both of them urging prompt
action to relieve the needs of the Puerto Ricans.
Mr.. Hoar announced his Willingness to let the
appropriation bill pass for humanitarian rea-
sons but took occasion to repeat his views
the question of expansion.
In the course of the discussion Mr.. Bacon
caused to be read the petition of certain Puerto
Ricans in favor of free trade, which was pub
lished several days ago. Senator Foraker's re-
quest TO have read the interviews with San
Juan business which published in
duced in The Tribune of to-day, not OBJ
jected to by any Democratic Senator but
eral of them expressed a desire to have the
statements printed in The Record without be-
ing read, but this not done The publica-
tion of these interviews in The Tribune caused
considerable comment among Senators and Rep
resentatives to-day. Most of them had been
persuaded that the free trade sentiment among
business men In Puerto Rico unanimous
and that the Puerto Rican Tariff bill was being
even more bitterly denounced outrage
in San Juan than it has been in number of
newspapers in the United States, we'll in
Washington lobbies, and they were surprised
to find out their mistake.
The Republicans not in the least per-
turbed by the symptoms of Democratic opposi-
ton and attempt to force the free trade is
sue on the appropriation bill, because it had
been unanimously decided by the majority to
defeat any such attempt.