Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-06-13

Washington, D. c., June 12.-The
Republican Senators were in caucus
for two hours to-day and devoted the
entire time to an effort TO agree upon
a course of action to be pursued with
regard TO the Hawaiian reciprocity
treaty in connection with the sugar
schedule of the tariff bill. The meet
ing Of the Senate at y o'clock forced
an adjournment before there was time
TO reach a conclusion, and the caucus
dispersed to meet again 3t 4:30 in the
afternoon. There were half a dozen
different propositions submitted to the
caucus, the pricipal OF which were the
following:
BY Senator Frye, to leave it absolute
ly to the President to say what shall
be done with the treaty, and providing
against any interference with the pro-
visions of the treaty pending any action
he may take.
BY Senator Allison, a proposition
very much in the same line as Senator
Fryes, but intimating more clearly to
the President the opinion of Congress
BY Senator Perkins, provision Civ
ing notice that unless something more
is done within year TO continue the
treaty in force it shall be abrogated.
BY Senator Nelson, to 1brogate the
treaty absolutely after one years no
tice and giving the notice rs a proviso
in connection with the sugar schedule.
Senator Nelson (Minn.), led the fight
in favor of the abrogation Of the treaty.
In support of his proposition. Mr..
Nelson presented many figures, show
ing that the imports from Hawaii to
this country were much greater than
the exports to Hawaii. and he claimed
that the reciprocity was in favor of
the Hawaiians. Senator Nelson said
that an attempt had been made to show
that the sugar trust was trying TO have
the treaty abrogated. This was con-
tradicted by the fact that the Senator
from Maine (Frye), the most earnest
advocate of the retention of the treaty
in a previous caucus, had moved that
the differential in favor of refined sugar
be made one-quarter of a cent, the
highest differential advocated by any
one.
Senator Frye emphatically resented
the inference Of the Minnesota Sena-
tor, and said that the two subjects
could in no way be coupled together in
that way Senator Frye made a vigor-
GUS denfense of the treaty and Of the
policy of maintaining the closest sort
Of relations with Hawaii. which had
been settled and civilized by Ameri-
cans.
Senator Davis also spoke in defense
of the treaty, going into a detailed ar
gument to show that the relations be-
tween this country and the Hawaiian
Islands should be maintained upon the
present reciprocal basis.
Senator'S Chandler, Hoar and others
also spoke for the maintenance of the
treaty.
Senator Perkins spoke at some length
in support of his proposition which, as
originally presented. provided for Civ
ing the Hawaiians a remission Of one
third of the duty on their importations.
At Senator Thurston's suggestion, he
modified the proposition so as to make
the rate in the future conform to the
requirements Of whatever treaty might
be negotiated in the future.
Senator Thurston announced himself
to be decidedly in favor Of abrogation,
though he was he said, a believer in
the wisdom of anneXing the Hawaiian
islands to the United States. He said
he had made his campaign last fall
largely on the charge that the Demo-
cratic party had sold out to the trust
and he did not view with equaninimity
the present prospect with regard to Re
publican legislation.
Senator Wellington also characterized
the Hawaiian sugar production as a
trust and also denounced the sugar
schedule as whole. He urged an i'm
mediate vote and expressed the hope
that the treaty would be abrogated on
proper notice
The caucus failed to reach any agree
ment on the treaty and adjourned with
the understanding that another caucus
would be held Monday.