The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-15
REPUBLICAN SENATORS CAUCUS ON
THE VARIOUS PUERTO RICAN
MEASURES
WILL PROVIDE NEEDED RELIEF
DECIDE TO DEFER ACTION UPON
THE PROPOSED TARIFF BILL,
AND INDEFINITELY
DEBATE TAKES WIDE RANGE
Admit That Any Attempt TO Pass All
Measures as n Whole Would
Likely Fail Legal
Phases.

WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE Repub-
ncan senators In caucus today reached q
partial agreement on Puerto Rican leg
islation. The house bill appropriating So
100000 is to be taken up and passed I'm
mediately. The bill for a civil govern
ment of the island is to be taken up and
disposed Of as soon as possible, and the
tariff bill is to be delayed for the pres
ent while a committee Of seven senators
may be selected by Chairman Allison to
try to compromise differences on the rev.
enue bill, and secure a measure which Re
publican senators generally can support.
This partial agreement was reached after
a caucus lasting from o'clock until $50.
The temper of the debate today was
much milder than that OF yesterday. AS
soon as It was generally understood that
the tariff features of the legislation were
TO be postponed, the decision reverted to
the governmental features Of the bill, and
upon this subject the time was mostly
spent. Senator Foraker explained many
features of the bill, and was frequently
interrogated, so that he was on his feet
a great deal of the time. He was ques-
toned by different senators, most of
whom wanted to know the effect of differ
ent provisions of the bill. 1t was init
mated that the bill could be amended
If not satisfactory, and senators opposed
TO q tariff on Puerto Rican products said
that there would not be the least objec-
tion to passing the government bill.
Senator Elkins said that he favored
leaving out only the question of revenues.
but the government of the island, as well.
to the president. He thought the island
would be much better off under military
rule for the next two years than under
any government that could be devised by
congress. He particularly counseled de-
lay.
I'VE will know a lot more about this
whole question in a year or two than
we know now" he said, land the islands
viii be as well taken care of during that
time as they would be under any legisla-
tion we may pass"
Senator Elkins said that haste was not
necessary, and earnestly supported the
proposition to delay the tariff bill, and
said he thought the governmental bill
might we'll be delayed, too.
Senator Foraker said that the question
of dealing with the islands was before
congress, and he, for one, thought con-
gress should act. The committee on
Puerto Rico had given a great deal of
time TO the subject, and felt sure the bill
prepared would meet all emergencies
RELIEF MEASURE FAVORED.
There was general unanimity as to the
wisdom of providing for immediate action
on the $20O0,000 relief proposition, the
opinion Of all senators being that that
measure should be passed for humane
reasons There was some effort to have
the appropriation bill, the house tariff
bill and the senate bill considered at one
time, bat this was antagonized as likely
to result In too great delay in affordiug
the relief the appropriation bill was in
tended TO give.
Senator Platt, OF Connecticut, who was
not heard yesterday, expressed himself
as firmly convinced that the principle Of
a protective tariff in the interest of the
industries of the United States should be
sustained in whatever was done. He
showed a leaning towards the house tariff
bill, as did several other senators who
spoke. Some Of them expressed the opin-
ion that this measure would command
the votes Of two-thirds of the members
of the caucus If tested. Members of the
Puerto Rico committee were not willing
bill should be abandoned at this time.
Senator Foraker expressed the opinion
in this connection that the Puerto Ricans
themselves would not object to the tariff
provided by the house bill, and said that
some of the residents OF the island had
even gone so far as to say that they
would cheerfully accept a 2J per cent rate.
But, while this was true, he would have
a civil government provided as a con-
comtant of the tariff proposition.
Senator Hoar talked at considerable
length about the legal phase of the ques-
tion, expressing the opinion that the SEN
ate could not act with too great delibera-
ton in considering so momentous a sub
ject.
Senator Warren agreed with Mr.. Hoar
upon this latter point. He had, he said,
been favorable to absolute free trade be-
tween Puerto Rico and the United States
proper, but ne had listened with interest
and profit to the arguments on the other
eide. and he did not believe that the sub
Ject had been exhausted by any means.
He felt that everything was to be gained
and nothing to be lost by proceeding
deliberately, especially in view Of the fact
that the entire problem was new
Many other speeches were made In the
same line, notably by Senators Aldrich
and Mason.
At this point the suggestion of a COM
mittee was made, and as soon as the au-
thority for Its appointment was given the
caucus adjourned until tomorrow.