New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-28
TARIFF DEBATE CLOSED.
FATE OF PUERTO RICAN BILL
IN DOUBT
THE VOTE TO-DAY WILL BE EXTREMELY
CLOSE-GREAT SPEECHES BY CAN
NON AND DOLLIVER.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BUxE.I

| Fuerto Rlcan Tariff bill has been a memorable
one. and well beftting the close Of the discus
| sion Of such important questions Of policy as
are involved In the pending measure. The de-
| bate has been remarkably we'll sustained from
| the outset. and to-day 1t was marked by the
| delivery Of three four able and powerful
speeches, either one Of which would have well
| repaid the crowds OF spectators who thronged
| the galleries
Messrs De Almond and Bailey spoke on the
| Democratic side, the latter having been chosen
to close for the opposition to the bill Mr. De
| Almonds argument was a good one from his
| point Of view, and fully sustained his reputa-
| ton as a logical and incisive speaker Mr.
| Bailey had evidently made diligent and thor
| ough preparation, and had spent nearly all his
time for fortnight in seclusion studying the
subject and getting ammunition ready TO defend
the Constitution. Since Mr. Bailey has been
| trying to fit himself with the toga Of a Senator,
| he appears to have become somewhat Careless
in his every day attire but he is still beautirsI.
and his voice has lost none of its softer and
more seductive tones. He was frequently ap-
! plauded by his party associates, and he spoke
| with his usual force and luency.
| NOTABLE SPEECHES FOR THE Bill.
! Notable speeches in favor Of the bill were de-
/ lvered by Mr.. Cannon. of Illinois, and Mr. Dol
| liver of Iowa The latter is a member of the
! Ways and Means Committee. and his speech
|
speeches the false pretences and actual purposes
| of the opposition thoroughly exposed and
unmasked, and in doing this both Of the speak
ers rendered great public service.
| Mr.. Cannon spoke in his most picturesque and
! attractive vein. and dissected the aims Of the
Democratic leaders and the Republicans who
are aiding them in most skIfuI and effective
/ manner. He paid his respects to the latter in
fashion which excited the admiration even OF
| his victims, and which was cheered Justify by
| the friends of the bill. Uncle joe as he Is
Familiarity called by his fellow members and
| everybody else who knows him we'll was In his
| happiest mood to-day. and his appeals to the Re
| publicans to stand solidly together in support
of the bill and the Presidents policy brought
more than one Republican who wavering
back into line with the rest Of his party. When
he had finished congratulations and commenda-
! tions were showered upon the hero of a hundred
battles in the House, and it five minutes
| before Mr.. Bailey could proceed.
| Mr.. Delivers speech was one OF the best and
| most effective he ever delivered in the House.
| The Iowan's indignant denunciation of the as
saults of the free trade anti-expansionists not
only on the Administration. but also on the
Nations honor and duty in dealing with ques-
| tiOns relating to the newly acquired possessions
! of the United States and his mastery ridicule
| of the pretensions of Mr.. Bryan and his follow
ers, we'll his keen thrusts a the assistant
| Democrats on the Republican side of the House.
were keenly reIished and heartily applauded on
/ the Republican side. and even Democrats could
not withhold their admiration. little as they ep-
preciated his trenchant criticisms of the attitude
of their party
| Both Mr.. Cannon and Mr.. Dolliver explained
| the provisions of the pending bill and their ne
| cessity as a means of relief for Puerto Rico, ard
they effectively repelled the charge that the
measure is designed to Cypress the people OF the
| island by adding to their burdens.
| RESULT IMPOSSIBLE To PREDICT
! Great as was the interest of members in the
/ debate. the efforts of the friends and opponent
of the bill to win votes for their respective side
were not abated for an instant. As the time
| the decisive test draws nearer anxiety on bdE
| sides increases. and has already become ca
| and painful. The majority. it is now beIiey
| will not be more than three or five either YrS
| and whether it will be in the affirmative or neg
ative those best informed on either side con-
slider TO be in doubt. Mr.. Mccall this after
noon expressed the opinion that the bill would
pass. while Mr.. Bormer one of his coadjutors
regarded its defeat as a foregone conclusion.
Some of the leading supporters of the measure
on the other hand consider success certain
! while others regard the prospect extremely
uncertain and a few predict defeat.
| The Republicans. with a total membership OF
| 1S4, seriously handicapped not only by de-
fectOnS which they have found n difficult IL NOT
/ impossible to measure, but also by the absence
on account of illness Of several OF their mem
| bers for whom pairs have not vet been ar
/ ranged. \ loss of eight votes without gain OF
/ three votes from the Democrats would result IN
tie and defeat the bill. Under the circuu-
stances no safe prediction can be made as to
the result, but as it now appears IL is quite as
| likely to be unfavorable the reverse One
favorable symptom. however. is that at least
three Republicans who had been claimed bv +ha
| opposition have decided to vote with tba,-
party, one of them having expressed his inten-
| ton TO do so after visit 10 the White House
| this morning
| CLAIMS OF REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION
After revising their estimates Tonight. the
! leaders of the Republican opposition claimed
| eight votes besides that OF MIR. Warner They
are Heatwole and Fletcher, of Minnesota: Lit
tleheld. OF Maine Lorimer, of Illinois; Mccall
of Massachusetts; Loud. Of California and
Crumpacker, of Indiana. These nine votes de-
! Quoted from the Republican membership OF 1S4
would leave 40. The total opposition member
ship is 100. and adding nine votes to that would
make LIS and give them a majority OF three
| votes.
| Three or four Democratic votes viii be cast In
the affirmative. despite the desperate efforts the
| Democratic leaders. Messrs. Bailey and Rich
| ardson. are making tonight to sohdify their
forces. If only two OF the four Democrats who
| are counted tonight for the bill hold out the
| majority on that side VIII be one vote Fut tha
| Republican leaders have assurances that ~
least two Of the Republicans claimed bv the On
position VIII vote for the bin, and that four
Democrats Will certainly do so. II that tTIYns
out 10 be true the result Will be a majority 80
nine votes Tor the Dill, pair having been ar