The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-20
THE PORTO RICAN POLICY
Purpose of Mr. Beveridge's Amend
ment Not Understood.
The Indiana. Senator's Declaration
in Favor of Free Trade Follows
Frequent Conferences With the
President - Probable Fate of the
House BiII-Its Passage in Doubt.

-No ithuNds was ludut Ntottludy by NhS
Senate compromise committee OF seven In
their efforts to secure harmony of action by
the Republicans on the Porto Rican ques-
tion. Owing to the absence of Senator
Spooner, one Of its members, no meeting
of the committee was held, the last one
having taken place on Friday. At least
ten of the ffty-two Republican Senators
still hold out for the adoption of a fres
trade policy with Porto Rico, although
some Of the sanguine tariff Senators claim
that it will be very easy matter to Sc
cure the pledges of the forty-four Senator's
necessary to control the situation. that
number being Il majority of the Senate,
the full membership being eighty-seven.
owing to the existing vacancies from Penn
sylyania, Delaware, and Utah.
Although the compromise committee did
not meet yesterday conferences, discus
siuns, button -holing, and wirepulling went
on more persistently and more animatedly
than usual. The three features Of the day 8
canvass of the situation were:
First-The action of Senator Beveridge
ir following his conference with the Presi-
btbAs NiiilI hllulu Il nEch, ny TIC IN
PRODUCTION OF a free trade amendment
coupled with declaration in live with the
resolutioL adopted by the Senate last Fri
day that the Constitution does not follow
the flag into acquired territory;
Second-The semi official statement BY a
colleague that Senator Hears advocacy of
free trade with Porto Rico is for the pur-
pose OF reminding the American people
that this means free trade with Cuba and
the Philippines. thus furnishing them an
object lesson on this subject. and
Third--The revival of the controversy as
to whether President Mckinley has or has
net changed his attitude on the question
STAGE ac1uieseing in the passage of the
House bill.
The Presidents Views.
One Senator who has talked freely with
the President on the subject represents
him as saying that he is more than ever
impressed with the importance OF enact
ing form of government for Porto Rico
as provided in the Foraker bill, and that
in view of all the circumstances he now
favors an amendment to that measure In
the shape OF the House provision for the
1evying of tariff to the amount OF 10 per
cent OF the DingIey law rates.
Another Senator quotes the President
as expressing no decided opinion one way
or another. contenting himself with the
statement that the whole question is now
in the hands Of the Republican Senators.
to be decided as they think best. The
Senator who thus states the Presidents
attitude adds, however, that while declin
ing to advise the Senate what to do he
plainly admits the force OF the arguments
of Senator Beveridge today that as the
tariff taxes collected on Porto Rican
products are to be returned there is no
reason in the world for collecting a 10
per cent duty, which, in three years, will
not amount to as much as the 5000 00e
given back to the island.
The truth appears to be that the Presi-
dent still adheres to his free trade recon-
menda.ion, but that as a majority of the
Republicans in the House and Senate evi-
IDENTITY favor the imposition of tariff du-
ties. he is not disposed to disagree with
them.
Although the work af the compromise
committee has proceeded no further than
to make a general poll OF the. Senate to
form basis 10 work on. the fact has
developed that there is a very strong
sentiment in the committee and on the
Republican side Of the chamber generally
in favor OF taking the House bill as it
stands, if any tariff provision is to be
adopted, without amendment abolish
ing the export DUTY or any other sort.
With a certain number OF Senators the
strongest arguments to hold them in line
for the tariff provision is that it was
adopted by the House after a bitter party
fight. and that II any change at all is
made it should be to strike 1t out and
not TO amend it. Appeals to party loyalty
are all that can save the House bill now,
and the most influential OF the Repub-
lican Senators are strongly Of the belief
that whether il be free trade or a tariff
the House bill. which is included YER
batim in the Foraker bill as an amend
ment. must stand or fall as it Is.
WouId Like to Drop II.
II is evident also that the canvass of the
committee has proceeded far
enough TO show that il left TO their own
desires a large number Of the Republican
Senators would like to drop the whole sub
ject of Porto Rico and let the laws remain
as they are. More than one member CT the
harmony committee favors this plan even
now. A majority. however. are convincei
that as a matter OF party policy scme pro-
vision must be made for a Porto Rican
tariff, and they are influenced in this be-
lief very largely by the action of the litor
vi lSdulEdtIOES, WHlCH are very dCIlS Z,
in the West, In bringing pres
sure TO bear or Senators rot to let dop
the tariff barriers that stand against Porto
Rico for fear such action would be used as
a precedent when the time comes for en-
acting legislation for Cuba and the Philip
pines. Porto Rico could have free trade for
the asking even now were IL not for the |
fear OF establishing precedent that might |
prove most embarrassing in the future.
The compromise committee will be in no !
haste to make formal report of their |
work OF counting noses. The Senators now |
in Cuba, Messrs. Platt of Connecticut Al !
dffch. and Teller. will rot return for ten |
days or two weeks. and no caucus action |
is likely to be taken in the mean time |
Mr. Teller IS counted on to vote with two |
Or three Democrats in favor of the tariff |
The ten Republican Senators who. it is |
thought, will stand firm in favor OF free |
-rade are Messrs. Davis and Nelson OF |
Cullom and Mason of Illinois
8eyeridge Of Indiana, Proctor Of Vermont,
Hoar OF Massachusetts. Simon OF Oregon,
Wellington OF Maryland, and McCumber of !
North Dakota.
The BcveridGe Amendment
The amendment offered by Mr. Beveridge |
vas the occasion for his first public express
sion OF views on the Porto R'can tariff.
The amendment reads:
'All articles coming into the United
states from Porto Rico. or going into Porto
Rico from the United States shall be ad-
nitted free OF duty; but this act shall not
,e construed as extending the Constitution
# the United States. or any part thereof
ver Porto Rico; and it is hereby declared
..s a weak na.s. ,.om,