New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-26
UNABLE TO AGREE.
REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE RESULTS IN
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF OP-
POSING SIDES.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.I


Washington, Feb. 25.-The effort TO unite the Re-
publicans OF the House in Puerto Rcan tariff
bill have failed. and at Midnight, after prolonged
conferences. it was stated that matters were sub
stantially where they yesterday. Other efforts
harmony may be made tomorrow. long con-
ference held tonight at the residence OF Rep
resentative Mccall, of Massachusetts. between the
committee appointed at the Republican conference
last night, representing the Republicans in favor
of the pending Puerto Rican bill. and committee
agreed upon to-day by those Republicans who are
opposed to the measure. The latter committee was
made up of Messrs. Powers, OF Vermont. Crum-
packer Of Indiana; Lormer, of Illinois; Mccall Of
Massachusetts, and Littehed, OF Maine.
Preliminary to this meeting the opponents Of the
bin 70 the number of about ten had assembled at
Mr.. McCalls house during the afternoon and deter
mined upon the stand they would take and upon
their five representatives. Mr.. Weeks, of Michigan,
was among those at the afternoon session, and he
remained with the committee of five to take part
in to-night's meeting.
Propositions were made by both sides, but none
of those made behalf OF the advocates Of the
pending bill amounted TO an abandonment of the
principle of the measure. namely. the right of the
United States to levy tariff on imports from
Puerto Rico. and It's opponents consider this
their fundamental objection TO the no
agreement could be reached. 1t stated after
the conference by members opposed to the bill that
both sides practically in the position as
they had been in before the motion. that substantial
ly no progress had been made and that there no
ference OF ReDuDNcanS called Tor tomorrow night.
From their statements 1t was evident they In
tended maintain the position they have held all
along. that under the Constitution the Government
has right TO tax the products Of territory under
control Of the United States.
1t was suggested by opponents of the pending
bill that the whole matter be left in the hands OF
the President, with the understanding that Puerto
Rico should have free trade with the United States
but thS objected to and nothing of it.
The opponents of the committee bill also suggested
that the original bill introduced by Mr.. Payne pro-
viding for free trade be substituted on the floor
of the House for the committee bill but this like
wise failed receive favorable consideration By
the advocates of the pending measure. Consider
able talk indulged in the proposition
made by the committee bill advocates TO fix a
time limit in which the tariff of 25 per cent against
the imports of Puerto Rico shall remain effective
this time varying from two years to an indefinite
period but the opposition indicated their unalter-
able opposition to any tariff matter how short
the time of It's imposition may be- Mr.. Bowers OF
stands. however 1t is said. favorable to its
passage with time limit, but his associates would
not concur in this. With view to meeting of
objections 10 the bill its advocates suggested
a change in its title which would indicate that IT
intended as an exigency measure for the pur-
pose of raising revenue, but this also found no
favor with the opposition. who reiterated their
hostility to the bill on principle; One of the ad-
vocates OF the measure after the conference ex-
pressed it to be his opinion that the, bill finally
would become law with provision limiting the
time in which II shall remain In force