New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-14

made an extended speech taking strong grounds
in favor of free trade with Puerto Rico He
said i; not because the tariff would keep
out or let in certain products that Congress
should act, but because the almost universal
opinion of the people should be heeded-a senti-
nent which, he said. had been kindled by the
manner in which Puerto Rico had come into the
United States. He thought there was no need
to fear that in extending the Constitution
over Puerto Rico 1t would mean like action
when legislation for the Philippines was under
consideration. Each island and group should
be and would be dealt with separately and IN
5ependenty. II would be time enough to con-
slider the Philippine tariff when it was reached.
Senator Perkins, well other members OF
the Puerto Rico Committee, wanted the Dill
agreed upon without compromise or amendment
A number of Senators expressed the opinion that
majority would vote for the bill as reported
and took occasion criticise the unstable pol
icy which being pursued, saying that the
constant changing had done more to shake the
faith Of the country than anything else
Senator Simon. of oregon, whose position was
not known, went further than any other Senator
in declaring his unalterable position in favor Of
free trade with Puerto Rico. He said no right
existed TO tax dependencies and that if it
was not intended TO treat the new acquisitions
as other acquired territory had been treated.
they should not be retained. He menace
TO labor, manufacturing or agriculture in free
trade with the islands. but promise Of far
greater increase of commerce.
Senator Mason also took strong ground in
favor of free trade with the islands, if they We're
TO be retained as possessions or a part of the
United States. He said that the trouble not
with Puerto Rico. but with the Philippines.
This could be easily averted by asserting de-
termination not to hold the Philippines, but to
grant them freedom and assist them 10 form a
stable government. 1t would not be difficult
then TO enter into satisfactory trade relations
with them, and laboring men would not then be
threatened with cheap Malay labor, which. he
said seemed to be troubling great many advo-
Gates of the present tariff
Senator Spooner urged party harmony, and
believed that the Senators would find some COM
mon ground on which differences could be ad-
justed. He for the committee BILL as was
also Senator Hale, who spoke against what he
called the dangers lurking in attempting to con-
troll and to legislate for the distant islands of
the Pacific.
SENATE AND HOUSE MAY NOT AGREE.
A good deal was said in the caucus regarding
the reception that the free trade proposition or
the compromise would meet in the House OF
Representatives, where the tariff provision was
adopted by a narrow majority, after hard and
bitter contest.
1t was urged in favor of free trade that it
would not be difficult for the House to reverse
fits action. especially in view of the fact that
number Of Representatives had supported it
with more or less reluctance, and that the ap-
prehensions OF others had been aroused by the
public camor excited by that action On the
other hand, the advocates of the compromise
argued that the principle of the House provision
was preserved by their proposition, and there
fore that body would not seriously oppose it.
Whatever the result may be- however, in the
Senate there will be stubborn opposition to
either proposition in the House of Representa-
tives unless present indications are wholly mis-
ieadng-so stubborn. indeed. to excite ap-
prehenson that if the majority of the Senate
should adopt either free trade or the halfway
tariff proposed the House would refuse to agree
70 il. Inquiries among leading Republican Rep
resentatives to-day disclosed bitter hostility to
both plans.