Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-05
CUBAN RECIPROCITY
Republican Leaders in Senate
Are Unperturbed.
DEMOCRATS DIVIDED
FORMER BELIEVE THAT THE BILL
WILL PASS.
Administration Confident That the
Treaty Will Be Negotiated
in Due Time.

The republican leaders In the Senate. IN
accord with the ADMINISTRATORS views on
Cuban reciprocity, are not perturbed over
the outlook for the passage of the biIl
when it comes from the House. They think
the bill will be passed without embarrass-
ing amendment, after reasonable discuss
sion and some anticipated but not obstruc-
zionist opposition by the beet sugar sena-
tors.
1t is not impossible that the beet sugar
senator's in order to hamper the opera
tion Of the bill, may propose an amendment
to entangle the reciprocity bill with the
permanent Cuban treaty contemplated by
the Platt amendment. Such an attempt
will not receive the sanction OF the repub-
lican leaders.
distinct and VIII so be maintained. They
can be negotiated and enforced simultane-
ously but Independently.
Section eight of the Platt amendment pro-
vided follows:
THAT by way Of further assurance. the
government of Cuba Will embody the fore
going provisions in permanent treaty with
the United States"
Administration Has No Fears.
That section was formally adopted by the
Cubans in their constitution as a condition
of the withdrawal OF the American forces
from Cuba. 1t is said the administration
has no reason to fear it Will not be lived up
to by the Cubans. and the treaty will be
negotiated in due time.
In the meantime, I'm order to start the
Cubans along the road to Industrial pros
perity, the President is. by the terms OF
the Payne bill, to remit ~ per cent of the
tariff duties on Cuban products entering the
United States
Ii is said that the definite temporary COM
mercial purpose contemplated by the Payne
bill is not to be hampered by or coBfounded
with the negotiations of the permanent no.
litical relations of the two governments
The administration leaders of the Senate
will not consent to such an arrangement
nor would the House sponsors of the reci-
prccity bill agree to IL.
The possible democratic attitude toward
the reciprocity bill in the Senate, il is said.
is not causing the republicans any concern.
If all the democrats should vote against
reciprocity they would not be sufficient,
with the beet sugar republicans, TO defeat
the bill as the opposition new stands.
Democrats Are Divided.
But the democrats are divided on the
question. Some OF them are unable to see
how they can afford. on the final vote. to
vote against 20 per cent tariff reduction
because they could not get 50 per cent re-
duction or free trade. They will undoubt-
edly try to amend the bill, but will be OPP
posed by the solid republican vote in those
attempts.
The Only Question.
The only question which now concerns
the House leaders IN connection with the
Cuban reciprocity bill is whether any con-
siderable number of republicans will vote
with the democrats TO overrule the decision
of the chair that other tariff amendments
are not germane to the bill.
Careful inquiry among the beet sugar re-
lfaaf, fsfla
will resort to revolutionary methods to EN-
barrass the progress of the bill. One of
the beet sugar protectionist leaders said to
Star reporter today:
IF the chairs decision is fair and logical,
/ can see no reason for overturning ii mere
ly because It is against / know Of no
concerted intention I'm this regard. / think
that our men will use their individual dis
cretion in upholding or not the chairs de-
cision, according to the way II appeals 10
their reason and sense OF its fairness"
What House Leaders Claim.
The House leaders claim that there is no
doubt as TO the correctness Of the point Of
order that general tariff amendments will
not be germane. They say the precedents
for such a decision are overwhelming and
conclusive.
The amendment upon which the test will
come will probably be the Tawney amend
ment to reduce the dfferential duty on re-
fined sugar. This amendment has been
skillfully drawn, and is follows:
And upon the making Of said agreement
and the issuance If said proclamation. and
while said agreement shall remain in force,
there shah be levied, collected and paid in
lieu of the duties thereon now provided by
law on all sugar above number sixteen
Dutch standard in color, and on all sugar
which has gone through process of re-
filming, imported into the United States,
.S25 per pound.
1t is contended that the words 'and uopn
the making of said agreement and the is
suance of said proclamation and while said
agreement shall remain in force" will make
the amendment germane. but this conten-
tion is denied 10y the supporters OF rhe
bill.
What Beet Sugar Men Will Do.
1t is certain that some of the beet sugar
republicans will vote against the amend
ment to reduce the differential sugar
and will not vote TO overrule the chairs de-
cison
Mr.. Metcalf of California, one of the
most persistent opponents of the Cuban
BILL is among this number.
Il cannot consistently" he said today.
vote to revise the tariff on refined sugar
when l have opposed reducing the tariff
on raw sugar"
Messrs. Robertson of Louisiana. New
lends of Nevada and Cooper of Texas.
members of the ways and means commit
tee. today submitted minority reports
against the Cuban reciprocity bill. Mr..
Cooper and Mr.. Robertson contend that the
sugar trust will receive the main benefit
from the bill. Mr. Newlands makes
al gument for annexation as the solution OF
the question of Cuban relief.