The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-03-25
WHITE HOUSE
SUGAR C0NFAB
Congressman and Senators Dis
cuSS Cuban Situation.
OPPOSE PROPOSED MEASURE
CONSIDERABLE OPPOSITION HAS
DEVELOPED TO THE REBATE.
HTAsHINGToN. March PA con-

HTASHINGTON. March PA con-
w ference was held at the White
House this afternoon between
the president and several Republican
members Of the house of representa-
tives who have been foremost in op-
posing the plan of Cuban reciprocity
urged by the ways and means commit
tee, and understood to have the sup
port Of the administration.
The members who called were Rep
resentatives Tawney and Morris of
Minnesota, Dick Of Ohio, William 4.
Smith Of Michigan, Minor Of Wiscon-
sin, Metcalf of California and Dayton
Of West Virginia. The call was at the
request of the president, who desired
an exchange Of views to the end that
harmonious action might be secured in
such steps as are taken in behalf Of
Cuba. Governor General Wood has ar
rived here from Cuba, and as several
members Of the cabinet were at the
White House while the congressman
were there, a report gained circulation
that Secretary Root and General Wood
were present at the conference. This.
however, was not the case, as the pres
ident and congressman remained alone
IN the cabinet room for the hour and
half that they were together.
The talk took a wide range covering
the conditions in Cuba. What should
be done to meet these conditions, and
also the question OF harmonizing con-
hlcting interests so that there might
be unanimity Of action on the part of
the Republicans IN congress, was the
chief topic discussed. 1t was stated
atterward by those who participated in
the conference that it was of the most
admirable and pleasant character, and
that there was not the remotast sug-
gestiOn on the part of the chief execu-
tive which could be construed as seek
ing to urge them TO yield their personal
convictions. On the contrary. it was
stated that the president listened to
the recital of the difficulties which had
been encountered by those who opposed
the reciprocity plan and also heard
from them the various plans by which
they had hoped to reach an agreement
The callers We're frank to cOncede
that they found the president DESTROYS
of extending effective relief to Cuba
by the reciprocity plan. In this con-
nection, 1t was stated, the president
drew attention to the fact that the
Sibley amendment, limiting the reci-
procity period 10 Dec. 1, 1903, gave the
Payne bill q rather One-sided aspect. as
it asked Cuba TO adopt our naturaliza-
ton and immigration laws and give US
tariff concessions without limit of time,
and in return gave to Cuba tariff con-
cessiOns limited TO about year and a
half.
Some of the congressman present
were inclined to admit that we were
asking a great deal from Cuba in re-
turn for the little we would grant to
her.
The interchange OF views became
quite general, there being nothing IN
the way of definite propositions one
way or the other, but merely an agree
able expression Of opinion as to what
was best to be done under all the cir
Of the situation.
In the course Of this general talk,
the suggestion was made that if the
Payne bill had been modified so as to
take of the differential on refined
sugar, some Of the grounds Of opposi- /
ton might have been removed. How
ever. there was no request, so far as
can be learned that the bill be amend
ed in this particular at the present
stage