New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-06
SENATE AND RECIPROCITY.
MISLEADING REPORTS OF OPPOSITION
TO THE CUBAN BILL.
a., spooSER EXPECTED TO SUPPORT THF
NEAsURE-CUBA AND THE PLATr
AMENDMENT.
rnr TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BrSE.

fBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRlBrNE-i
Washington. April 5-various reports. mis-
leading in character and without fouhoa-
tion in fact Were sent out from Washing
ton last night to the effect that there was SUCH
division among Senate Republicans on the ques-
tor and such compact among senate Dei"o
Gratis that the Payne bill. authorizing the Presi-
dent TO negotiate a reciprocity treaty with Cuoa'
was doomed to defeat in the upper chamber
even II it uassed the House. The basis OF TINS
story II appears rests neutrality-suspicious.
unwittineiy put on hurried conversation held
with Senator Spooner, of Wisconsin. MI
Spooner's attitude toward Cuban RECIPROCITY Is
somewhat in doubt, but the supporters OF the
administration satisfied that when the GEN
ate is called to meet the issue Of RECIPROCITY Win
Cuba -be Wisconsin Senator's support will be
given to that measure. He left Washington last
night and therefore it is impossible TO get from
him a more definite statement Of his positoh
than he made yesterday in a cursory converse
ton with several newspaper friends. and which
was represented as foreshadowing his purpose
IN raise objections to the passage of the Payne
bill which would SO divide the Republican side
of the chamber as to defeat the measure with
the aid of free trade Democratic votes
According 10 the story to which reference Is
here made the opponents Of reciprocity with
Cuba are put in the illogical position Of not
understanding the plain provisions OF the fl"l'
amendment measure which nearly all OF lheIl
voted for at the last session Of Congress 1he'
are reported TO fear that the Cubans Will not
carry out their part Of the contract cohtaliled
IN the Platt amendment. when the fact Is tha'
that enactment is now and has been since last
July an Integral part Of the constitution OF
f-,ha The Platt amendment binds the CUBAN
Congress 10 provide for permanent pe"'S
with the United States as soon as the lHsu'o'
government is organized. Even If there Were
q disposition among any considerable eieiieii
IN the Congress which soon Will be asseilloieu
at Havana 20 repudiate the contract "n'O
binds Cuba TO the Urited States, IL Woulo NC
co,..it,,tionallv impossible for this element TO
,c .o-,rlish its purpose until the Cuban consul
,,.,ioo was amended by eliminating completely
from the. instrument the Plett anehq,lleht''
This however is so well understood III c.
ington that all reports and rumorS 10 ln '1, -,
-hot ~ CONGRESS- Of the United States Will nave
20 go slow in the matter of Cuban reclplocIts
Medication ,ntil the Cuban Congress proVldeS
r % +-.aties demanded by the Plat amend
rneut have no influence whatever on the faS III
bill in either house. al, ,,z.
THAT measure will be taken up In the HOUSE
-sxt Tuesday as the special order of business
sn6 IL is confidently believed that 1t can De as
posed Of there within a week WITHOUT ,ls aIu ~
a special rule II is almost certain 70 seI go
T9enuhlcan vote except a few from Call1of-
MIA and Michigan. and. regardless OF "nat tiie
Democratic free traders may 90 10 "elshI a. a,
down with tariff revision amendments, It VIII
GO through the House as strict party meas
1Ire When the bill reaches the Senate IL VII
he referred to the Committee on Relations win
Cuha of which Senator Platt, of CONNECTICUT
IS chairman. and il is expected that 1T VIII ne
-enor-ed from that committee in ample time 10
Get Through ST this session with amendment
Increasing the tariff reduction 10 at least % per
cent Indeed it is not Impossible that the re
duction may be increased TO 81 Id per cent
Toroha bIv about half the Democratic senators
viii vote with the Republican Senators from the
beet sugar States against the Dill out II Is d d
diNTfO
less than fifty votes when put on It's passage
in the Senate MI Teller, Of Colorado, ana NJ T.
clark of Montana, will lead the fight Tor the
democrats against The bill. and Mr.. Burrows OF
Michigan will head whatever Republican op-
position TO the measure Is held IN line 10 'he
final vote.
LEE DOES NOT WANT TO BE MINISTER
charlottesville Va, April 5-Generai Fitzhugh
Lee authorized The Associated Press to say that he
1. ro. 9 candidate for the position of Minister or
Consul General 10 Cuba. He seeks no diplomatic