New-York tribune., 1902-06-13
A NEW BEET SUGAR PLAN
TO PASS The HOUSE CUBAN
RECIPROCITY BILL.
SUGAR DIFFERENTIAL AMENDMENT
AND ALI-SCHE1IE NOT LIKE
LY TO SUCCEED.
(nr TELEGRAPH To The rR1BUSE-I

[BY TELEGRAPH To The TRIRUSE-1
Washington. June 12.-Encouraged by the
testimony given yesterday by F. B. Thurber be-
fore the subcommittee of the Committee on Re-
lations with Cuba, the beet sugar Republicans ot
the Senate who. because of their opposition to-
the administration have come to be known as
Boxers" held another conference this after
in the committee room of Senator Elkins.
They were in session about two hours. and. al
though those who attended the conference de-
cIined 10 talk about the discussion or the de-
cision reached it is intimated that they are
more determined than ever to persist in their
course Of obstruction to reciprocity legislation
al this session. and their plan. it is said to-
night is to pass the House Cuban Reciprocity
bill with the amendment abolishing the diff
ferential on refined sugar This they hope TO
do with the aid of the Democrats. Among
those present AT the conference it is said.
were Senators Burrows of Michigan. EIkins
and Scott Of West Virginia: AIiIIaTd of Ne
braska: Stewart Of Nevada. Perkins and Bard
of California: Burton. of Kansas: Wellington. OF
Maryland: Nelson and CIspp. Of Minnesota and
Kittredge and Gamble. of South Dakota Mr..
Dietrich of Nebraska and Mr. Jones of Ne
vada. who are known 70 be uncompromisinsly
hostile 10 the Presidents plan of reciprocity.
were not present. they went down the river
on an excursion before they knew the confer
ence was 70 be held Mr. Kearns Of Utah. and
Mr.. Foster. of Washington. who attended the
first conference in Senator EIkins's room. week
ago were not there to-day. because il is well
known that they no longer favor the course or
purpose of the Boxers" Mr.. Stewart. Of Ne
vada was the only recruit the leaders Of the
Boxers say they have enlisted since they or
ganized their fusurreCtion. Mr. Burrows was
authorized to make statement of what was
done at the conference. together with
sertion of the aims and purposes of those VINO
took part in IL
CANNOT HOLD ALL THEIR MEN.
Whatever they may assert. however. II is
positively known that they cannot hold five or
six of the Senators whose names are here given
when the final test comes Thus their strength
will be reduced 10 about nine votes. and with
this poor showing they cannot hope to defeat the
administrations measure 1t is highly probable.
in fact that only four or five of the Boxers
will hold out TO the end. IT is now the in
tention of the Senate leaders TO call a. caucus
next week and adopt the Spooner substitute bill
as a party measure While there is no rule
which binds Senators to caucus action. still the
opinion among the Republicans Of the Senate is
that the caucus speaks for the party. and the
Senator who defies this recognized authority
places himself in a rather unenviable position
in the organization for future work There =
only one notable instance in which Republicans
of the Senate have ignored the action of the
caucus. and that in the fight over the So
called Force bill a leading Senator said to-
night Significantly that those who bolted at that
time have not enjoyed high places in the party
councils since 1t is safe to predict, therefore.
that when the caucus acts next week the Fe-
publCans of the Senate Will be lined up almost
soIidIy for the administrations Cuban poncy.
and this will guarantee the passage or the
Spooner bill at the earliest practicable date
The Democrats. of course, will oppose that
measure almost TO a man. under the guise OF an
effort TO broaden the bill into a general and
radical tariff revision movement. but even II
they have the support of q few Republican
bolters in this scheme. they will not be strong
enough to defeat the administration
TELLER HAS MORE WITNESSES
Senator Teller. whose examination Of Mr.
Thurber yesterday developed what the Demo-
Gratis and the Republican Boxers" call sem
sation. said to-day that he still had six or
seven more witnesses whose testimony would
be even more damaging to reciprocity than was
that of Mr. Thurber. Although Mr. Teller re-
fuses to Indicate the character of the testimony
he homes to secure from his other witnesses. the
Republican leaders have no fear of his being
able to infifct any harm the movement for
straight reciprocity. and say they hope he VIII
bring his witnesses to Washington immediately
the farCiCdl investigation started oy MS reso-
luton alleging that the Sugar Trust owns most
of the Cuban sugar crop can be brought TO a
close to the end that the Boxers VIII no
longer have excuse to delay action on tns
SpOOner bill Under the agreement redcheu
Yesterday the Senate will dispose OF the 18TH
mian Canal bill next Thursday. and it is desired
TO bring the Reciprocity Dill IN lmmedlateE
% HOURS NEW YORK AND CHICAGO.
sLora I.fI1 make the time between New York and
Chicago in either direction in 20 hours IL Is ap-