The age-herald., 1901-02-15
HARD CONFERENCE FIGHT
 OVER WAR REVENUE BILL
BY ALBERT HALsTEAD.

somewhat in order to help the shipping subsidy bill, but if even there was no shipping bill the committee could proba- bly, not agree. It has been proposed that the bill, with the additions made, be cut down one-half, each item being reduced fifty percent. That would do away with the objections to the bill on the score of it's extravagence, but 1t would leave an incomplete and very unsatisfactory measure.
 Even if the bill should be reported to the Senate it would have a hard time there. The western Senators are deter mined that some provision for the irrI- gation of arid lands be added, while otn- CT Senators not directly interested in the project object to it on the ground of lis great cost, holding out that the addition of the irrigation scheme would so load the bill down as to make it impossible of pas sage.
 The final obstacle to the measure, should it finally get through the Senate and then be agreed to in conference would be the president. He has been disturbed by the steady increase in ap- propriations and Is understood to have said that the rivers and harbors bill was entirely too extravagant. Carrying, as 1t would, If passed, a total of at least seventy millions, the President would be fully justified in vetoing it, and it can not by any possibility reach him in time for his veto to be considered by Congess and the bill passed over it. Even if there were time it is doubtful if two-thirds of each house could be found to vote for 1t in that case.
 Argument Against Extra Session
 There Is very good authority for the statement that the President has been greatly impressed by the argument made to him by several Republicans Senators that it would be unwise to call Congress together in extra session for the purpose of considering the Cuban question. He has been urged to let the matter drift a little on the ground that the Cubans will be better able to appreciate the necessity of having the United States maintain the position of protector over the Island. Then the fact that Congress is far from being agreed as to exactly what should be done is further argument against calling them together to debate and fight over the question. It is thought that when December comes Congress will be more of a mind on the Cuban question, the intervening recess giving the Sena- tors and members ample opportunity to study the question and reach a conclu- sion.
 The Democratic Senators are strongly impressed with the view that the united Sates has no business in imposing con ditions upon Cuba-and that view Is held by some Republicans. Those who take this position insist that the United States is governed absolutely by the letter of the resolution of intervention, which declares that the United States did not intend to exercise sovereignty but proposed to re- tire as soon as the Island was pacified.
 Those who argue for delay maintain that before imposing stringent condi- tions the Cubans should be given an opportunity to organize their govern ment by approving the constitution at the polls, electing officers and making other preparations for self-govcrnmcnt. Then, it is argued by some. they could make treaty with the United States which would impose every condition upon which the United States is inclined to insist, In making the appointments to ueuten- antcies in the regular army created by | the new army bill the presidents inten- | tion is understood to be to divide the | appointments as nearly as possible among the states on the basis of their popula- tion, with the idea that the new officers | shall be thus representative of the en- | tire country.