Evening star., 1901-02-12
Four Cabinet Members Absent From
Today's Session.
SUBJECTS INFORMALLY DISCUSSED
Chairman Payne's Opinion on Put
ting Steel on the Free List.
REV NUE. RED UCTION

Secretary Hay, Secretary Root, Attorney
Smith were absent from the cabinet meet
ing today, and that prevented considera-
ton OF matters of Importance. The foul
members who were present informally dis
cussed a variety Of subjects, including the
opposition that sprang up for a short time
to the nomination Of General Wood. The
President IS said to have been somewhat
surprised at the opposition, the main part
of which was apparently based on the
fact that it was possible for General Wood
to become lieutenant general and remain
a the head of the army for fifteen years.
When this was pointed out to the President
he said that General Wood could not reach
this high honor except by nominations by
future Presidents and combinations by the
Senate.
The President is still expecting the Cuban
constitutional convention to act early and
send its work on here before Congress has
adjourned.
Chairman Payne's Opinion.
Representative Payne, chairman of the
ways and means committee of the House,
was one of the Presidents callers today.
Mr.. Payne asked by a representative
Of The Star for his opinion of Representa-
tive Babcocks bill placing steel products
on the free list, the belief of the author
being that this would defeat the great steel
combination.
II think the bill would fail to do what
Mr. Babcock believes" said Mr.. Payne.
1T would bear most heavily on the small
manufacturers and give advantage to the
big steel combination. The main hope OF
defeating the big concerns is with compet-
ing concerns like that organized In Buffalo.
The bill has been introduced too late In
this session to hope to have it acted upon
before adjournment"
A Democratic Leaders View.
Senators James X. Jones, Money and
Culberson were in the list of the Presidents
callers. Senator Jones looks upon Mr.
Babcock's bill in a peculiar way.
'It seems to me to be false pretense,"
said the senator I'VE are sending steel to
England and underseling the English IN
their own markets I would be glad to see
the duties taken off. but / doubt If the bill
would In the least accomplish what it pur-
ports on it's face
Expecting Severe Examinations.
Candidates for army appointments who
visit the White House with. their senator's
or representatives are expecting severe eX-
aminations for those who are nominated to
the army. Some of them are gloomy
enough TO believe that a large per cent of
tie appointees will fail in these examina-
tions.
The President is fast adding to the list of
nomina tions Most of his visitors each
day are still looking after army places.
The Revenue Reduction Bill.
The conferees on the revenue. reduction
bill will begin their work this afternoon.
Chairman Payne of the ways and means
committee, and of the managers in con-
ference on the part Of the House, said this
morning: II am getting hundreds of letters
from business men and others throughout
the country, and they are all urging us to
stand solidly for the House bill Wherever
the two measures are understood this is the
prevailing view. The remission Of receipts
under the Senate bill, as Is we'll known,
will be chiefly upon beer and tobacco. II
is estimated that we should collect $4,000
600 less per year for beer 49, 900 600 less
from tobacco and snuff, and from $2OOO,-
900 to $4,OO0,O00 less from cigars and cigar
cites. l do not believe the country wants
these extreme reductions made at the ex-
pense of retaining the vexatious stamp
taxes upon bank checks and a great MANY
other things. Personally 1 am not talking
compromise. l am for the House bill be-
cause 1t is the one that the solid interests
of the country believe ought to prevail"