The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-15
Three=HOur Caucus Held
by the Republicans of
the Senate.
HAWAII PASSED.
Treaty Developments
ForeshadoWed,

WASHINGTON, June 14.-The Re-
publican senators were in caucus for
| more than three hours tonight and
when adjournment was reached not
very much progress had been made.
The caucus was in session from 8 until
11:30 o'clock, and three propositions
only were under consideration. These
were: The question Of what to do
with the Hawaiian reciprocity treaty;
the advisability of giving bounty on
beet sugar, and the question Of an an
ti-trust amendment The Hawaiian
treaty question was passed over, the
sugar bounty proposition was with
drawn, and the antitrust amendment
was referred to the Republican mem
bers Of the judiciary committee.
The Hawaiian question was the first
matter taken up after the caucus open
ed. This subject had been referred to
the finance committee, and Senator AL
lison, speaking on behalf Of the COM
mntee said that it had been deemed
advisable to pass the matter over on
account of the strong probability Of
more important happenings in connec-
ton with Hawaii. He did not speak
in terms of an annexation treaty, but
he said that it was to be presumed
that senators had read the afternoon
| report of the Associated Press. He was
understood by all the senators present
to refer to the report that treaty OF
annexation had been negotiated, and
Senator Frye, speaking in behalf Of the
friends Of the reciprocity treaty, said
that in view Of these developments,
they were satisfied to have the subject
postponed until further developments
in connection with the general q0es-
ton of our future relations to Hawaii.
There was, therefore, no opposition
when it was suggested that the Ha-
waiian treaty be passed over.
The proposition of a beet sugar
bounty was then broached by Senator
Gear, of Iowa, who proposed that a
bounty be given Of one-half cent per
pound per annum, decreasing at the
rate Of ne-tenth of a cent a year fOl
five years, when the bounty should
cease The suggestion was opposed by
several Eastern senators as being bas-
ed upon an Objectionable system. 1t
was supported by Senators Gear,
Thurston and Shoup. The last two
! named senators dwelt especially upon
the necessity for a bounty in case the
sugar was to continue to come IN Tree,
saying that with the competition of
! Oriental labor by which the island
sugar was produced, it would be i'm
possible to establish the beet sugar
industry in the United States without
some such encouragement as bounty
would give They took occasion in
cidetally to score the Hawaiian reci-
| procity treaty as blight upon Ameri-
| can industries and to express the hope
| that if annexation should fail the rec
| iprocity treaty would be Cancelled for
with. There was such determined op-
| position to the bounty plan that Mr..
Gear first reduced the figure to Ac a
pound and then withdrew it entirely
without riSking a vote on it.
The principal speech on the question
of the advisability of an antitrust
amendment affecting the entire bill
which was the next matter taken up
was made by Senator Garter, of Mon
tana. who moved that the subject be
referred to the Republican members of
the judiciary committee with instruc-
tions to investigate the question
thoroughly with the view of deciding
| what action could be taken to limit
trusts within the bounds of the fed 9ral
constitutional limitations. The Petit
grew amendment and the Nelson
amendments, the latter senator having
two on the trust subject, were before
| the caucus and there was an evident
desire on the part of some of the SEN
ators, especially Mr.. Nelson, to have
that he was as anxious as any senator