The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-15
WILL FORGE THE FIGHT.
Reciprocity Bill to Follow Isthmian
 Canal Measure.

Washington. June M--The present pian lof the Senatorial supporters ef Cuban jreciprocity are to press the question to an issue next week. This was the result
 of the conferences held today and yes- terday.
 According to the program as now arr ranged. the Republican members of the committee on Cuban rclatio will meet next Monday or Tuesday and finally agree upon the exact terms of the bill
 to be reported as d substitute for the
 House bill. Tho measure thus agreed
 upon will be reported to Republican caucus to be held Tuesday or Wednes- day and if the caucus endorses the meas- ure 1t then will he brought before meeting of the full committee on Cuban relations and reported to the Senate. The desire is to have all this done by the time the isthmian canal bill is disposed of on Thursday, so that the reciprocity bill may be given the first place in the order of business.
 The reciprocity advocates still profess the utmost confidence in their ability to. pass through the Senate any bill that may be recommended by the committee and caucus. They count largely upon the unwillingness of Republican mem bers to align themselves strictly with tho opposition against q bill which has been made a party measure by the Presidents message and there are indications that at least in some instances this prosnostica- tion will prove sound.
 The critical point will come upon tho acceptance of the House bill with it's amendment for the removal of the dif- ferential duty on refined sugar. The beet sugar Republicans are all protectionists and there has been from the beginning a division as to the expediency of adopt- ing a policy looking to the abolition Of this duty. This opposition found evidence in Thursdays beet sugar caucus, but the decision to stand by the House bill un- amended was secured largely upon the understanding it will Inevitably result in the defeat of all legislation. Recent de- velopments lead to the conclusion that if any considerable number of Republicans should adhere to the determination to vote with the Democrats to support the House bill 1t would pass the Senate.
 There would then be no chance for conference and the bill would go to tho President who, 1t is expected. would at- tach his signature and thus make law of the bill with the Morris amendment in- cIuded. This provision would. of course, affect the beet sugar interests equally with the trust, in proportion to the ex- tent of their refining industry and is not desired.
 The beet sugar reiners say that they would lose about $50oOO9 annually, while the cane sugar refners would lose $6,- GOO, 900, but they argue that the cane re- liners would still have an advantage in the reduction on Cuban raw sugar They also hesitate to violate the principle of protection.
 None of the beet sugar Republicans have gone so far as to announce his nom adherence to Thursdays agreement. but their discussion of the phase of the dues ton has given hope to the reciprocity ad- vocates and lends color to their claim that in the end they will secure Repub- lican vote sufficiently large for their pur- nose.