Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-05-20
CUBAN AFFAIRS.
Much Interest Being Manifested In
Them at Washington.
DEMOCRATS and The TARIFF BILL.
4uch Difference Of Opinion Among the
Minority on the Senate Finance Com.
mittee as to What Policy IL the
Best to Pursue.

WASHINGTON, May l5.--The fact that
the senate was not in session yesterday
and that comparatively few senators
were at the capitol had quieting
effect upon the situation in regard to
Cuban affairs. There was still, how
ever, much interest in the course that
the matter may take on Monday. Sen
ator Morgan said that the message of
the president If it should apply only
to relief measures in the way Of food
and clothing, would not cause him to
deviate from his purpose of pressing
his resolution for the recognition of a
state OF war as he had given notice he
would do before II was assumed that
the president would send in such
message.
The friends Of the Morgan resolu-
ton will not antagonise measures con-
templating temporary relief, but they
are not disposed to accept such meas
ures in place of more general and
far-reaching declaration. The opposi-
ton also probably will acquiesce in a
resolution appropriating money to re-
lieve immediate wants. Some OF the
pro-Cubans take the position that any
supplies sent to Cuba would only aid
the Spanish cause, as they would prac-
tically amount TO contribution to
Spain. Hence there is possibility Of
opposition even to the proposed charity,
The meeting of the cabinet yester-
day was devoted almost entirely to the
consideration Of the Cuban situation.
The discussion was upon the advisa-
bility OF asking congress TO provide
immediate relief TO the Americans who
are, according to the reports received
from Consul-General Lee, penned up in
the cities and in actual danger of star
walton. II had no bearing upon the
policy Of the administration toward
Spain or the Cuban insurgents, except
incidentally, but dealt with the direct
and immediate question Of reliev-
ing destitute Americans on the
island Secretary Sherman laid be-
fore the cabinet some of the most
Important documents in the state
department about the situation and
before the meeting was over Judge
Day. the assistant secretary of state,
brought personally to the white house
some additional papers for which the
secretary had sent. Every phase of
the matter was discussed, the advisa-
bility Of asking congress for an appro-
priation, Spain's attitude, the methods
for distributing relief II 1t should be
decided to enter upon it, the necessity
or advisability Of having warship ac-
company food supplies, but the
final decision Of the question was
postponed until Consul-General Lee
and other American consuls In
Cuba and probably Mr. Calhoun make
their reports by cable to the depart
ment. They have been requested to
cable the latest news as to the exist
ing situation. These reports will be
here probably when the president re-
turns from Philadelphia tonight, and
II II Is decided to send special mes
sage to congress early next week they,
with the other facts In the possession
Of the state department, will be made
the basis Of the request to congress.
II seems extremely probable now that
such a message will be sent to con-
gress, but hardly before Tuesday as
there would be no time 10 pfepare a
message before that day unless Mr..
Mckinley devoted Sunday to the task.
DEMOCRATS AND THE TARIFF BILL.
WASHINGTON, May l5.-There is some
difference Of opinion among the demo.
cratic members Of the senate commit
tee on finance as to the policy to be
pursued In regard to the tariff bill.
Some Of them, notably Senator Cor
man, are Of the opinion that the dem
I ocrats should prepare substitute bill
and introduce it They suggest that
this substitute should embody the
democratic idea as to the tariff, giving
uniformly lower rates than the repub-
lican bill, either as prepared
in the house or Us amended by
the senate committee on finance.
They contend that the Wilson law
is not clear embodiment of demo-
cratic tariff doctrine, In that 1t not
only does not produce sufficient rev.
enue, but that 1t carries many features
which were inserted at the instance of
republican senators In order to secure
Its passage through the senate. There
Is, however quite pronounced opposi-
tion to this programme on the part of
the many democratic senator's, includ-
ing several members of the committee
on finance They take the posi-.
ton that the safest course for
the party is to stand by the Wilson
bill which, while it is not perfect,
is still democratic measure The
party, they say, has taken the position
that no tariff legislation is necessary.
The campaign was fought on another
issue, and they hold that to raise the
tariff question on their own motion
would be inconsistent and unwise.
Those who hold to this idea are will
ing that amendments should be of
fered covering all the schedules, and
Il seems probable that this course will
be pursued. The amendments will
provide rates practically on the line of
the Wilson bill.
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