The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-27
DAYS TO IHE RESCUE
MINNESOTA SENATOR AGAIN STEPS
IN TO SAVE HIS PARTY FROM
DISCOMFITURB
HE HAS A NEW LMEHDMRNT
1T PROVIDES For THE EXPENSES
OF THE GOVERNING OF
PUERTO RICO
SENATORS FAIL TO AGREE
Republicans Make a Final Futile
Effort to Reach AN Understand
ing on Puerto Rico Gov
ornamental Measure.

WASHINGTON, March 26.-The Repuo-
lican members OF the senate spent two
and half hours in caucus today in an
effort TO reach an agreement upon the
Puerto Rican legislation now pending in
the senate. The caucus was apparently.
however. without material result, the only
accomplishment being a decision to pro
ceed with the general bill as 1t now
stands, without separating the tariff fea-
ture, and to discharge the harmony COM
mittee from further services.
During the sitting there We're twenty or
moro speeches made. All Of them were
OF a more amiable tone than the speech
es In the caucus Of a fortnight ago. But
while good feeling was generally mani
tested, and all senators who spoke ex-
pressed themselves as desirous OF reach
ing an amicable understanding, there was
but little or no disposition manifested to
yield a point which would produce that
result. Indeed, the free traders on the
one hand and the tariff men on the 9th
er were quite as obdurate as they had
been at the previous caucus. This condi-
tion of affairs was made so manifest that
Senator Allison. acting as chairman of
meeting that there was no necessity for
putting a motion to continue as on past
lines, as it was very evident that no 9TH
er course was possible
Senator Foraker was instructed by the
caucus to press the Puerto Rlcan bill as
it now stood, the governmental bill incor-
porated with the tariff measure, to as
speedy a vote as possible The under
standing at the time this instruction was
given was that Senator Foraker would
offer an amendment to the tariff feature
of the bill adding the free list named by
the president in an executive order to the
exports going from the United States to
Puerto Rico duty free, but that the Is per
cent of the Dingley law carried in the
house bill upon goods coming from Puerto
Rico to the United States should be re-
tanned.
The vote by which this instruction was
given was taken viva voce, no record be-
ing made, but 1t was evident that q sub
stantial majority approved the PROPOSE
tion. Quite a number of senator's had
left the caucus before this vote was TAX
en-, but the position Of each senator was
understood
There are a number Of senators who will
oppose the bill, even with the amendment
recommended. They are, It Is understood,
Senators Davis, Beve.idge, Hoar, Yelling
ton, Mason, Simon, Proctor and Nelson
1t IS said that Senators Kyle, who here
tofore has acted with the Republicans,
and McCumber On. D. will not vote for
the house bill unamended, but it Is be-
heved they will vote for the amended
proposition, two senator's named IN the
list of the eight first given are claimed
by friends of the tariff measure as al
most sure to vote for the amended bill,
leaving six Republicans who will vote
finally against the measure. 1t is claimed
that two or three votes will be secured
for the tariff measure from the ranks of
the opposition parties in the senate and
in this way a majority will be secured.
While there was a great deal of discus
sion among senators as to what the house
will do when the amended bill IS sent
over there, and many conferences be-
tween senator's and members of the ways
and means committee, the only decision
is that the senate must act as seems bcst
under the circumstances, and the bill, if
passed, must take It's chances i'll the
house
Some members of the ways and means
committee advised this course today, at
the same time advising speedy action,
and this view found expression in the eau
Gus, the statement being made that delay
was more dangerous than anything else,
and the country and Puerto Rico ought
to know soon what to expect. Apparent
ly there was no disposition among the
free trade senators present at the caucus
to delay a vote upon the bill, though no
agreement was reached for an Immediate
vote.
THOSE WHO SPOKE.
Among the senators who addressed the
caucus were Messrs. Foraker, Allison,
Cullom, Chandler, Quarles, Davis, Wei
lington and Lodge.
The proceedings were opened with a
statement by Senator Foraker detailing
the proceedings of the harmony commit
tee to secure concessions from all fac
tions and of conferences with members
of the house ways and means committee,
and also explained the various amend
ments which had been suggested to Sc
cure harmony. He said that, with ref
erence to each and all of these amend
ments, objection was met from one
source or other. Many senators were
apparently irreconciliaby opposed to the
house tariff measure, while leading Re
publicans of the house had assured the
committee that any amendment of the
that end of the capitol. In view of this
condition of affairs in the house Mr. For
aker expressed the opinion that 1t would
be wise to pass the house bill amended
but, failing this, he called upon all ele-
ments to unite to pass the civil govern
ment bill as separate measure and with
such amendments as would concede much
the free traders wish to secure
Among the amendments looking to this
end as possible of enactment, he cited
one for the continuation of the presi-
dents free list, which would practically
secure the admission of all necessaries
such as breadstuffs and clothing. into
Puerto Rico free of duty. He suggested
the possibility Of amendment leaving the
Puerto Rican authorities to be consti.
tuted by the civil government to say
when any duty which might be imposed
should be. removed. These and other
amendments would, however, he said
necessarily go on the civil government
bill because of the probable unwillingness
of the house to accept notifications of its
tariff measure.
Senator GaIlinger offered resolution
directing Ne separation of the house tar.