The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-13
A FRUITLESS CONFERENCE
Stormy Session Closes With Recipro-
city Apparently Gaining
THEY WILL MEET AGAIN NEXT TUESDAY
SibleY Offers Compromise Proposition For a
Reciprocity Arrangement Whieh He
Claims Has the Endorsement
of President Roosevelt.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press)
Washington, March 1.-THE fourth
conference of the House Republicans on
the reciprocity question was frutless, like
those that preceded it, the conference
adjourning at midnight until next Tues
day. The victory was with the advo-
Gates of reciprocity, as the motion to ad-
journ was carried ~ to 81 after a mo-
ton to amend the motion to make it
sine die adjournment, offered by Mr..
Littlefield, of Maine one of the leaders
of the opposition, had been voted down
81 to 49, The motion to adjourn was
made by Speaker Henderson, and the OPP
ponents of reciprocity claimed after the
adjournment that some of their friends
did not care to offend the Speaker by de-
clining to heed his appeal for further
conference Earlier in the evening the
opponents of reciprocity had insisted on
vote tonight upon the main proposition
The session tonight was a stormy one.
Mr.. Sibley, of Pennsylvania, offered
compromise proposition for a reciprocity
arrangement to last until December 1,
1903 which he claimed had the approval
and endorsement of President Roose-
welt He also said he had assurances
that if the House granted a 20 per cent
concession the Senate would not in
crease it
About one hundred and thirty mem
bers were present tonight at the
fourth conference of House Republicans,
called to consider the question of Cuban
reciprocity. Representative Long, of
Kansas, member of the Ways and
Means Committee, opened with an ex-
haustive argument in favor of the 20 per
cent concession advocated by his col
leagues of the Ways and Means Com
mittee. He argued that the maintenance
of a protective tariff was not involved in
the proposition of the Ways and Means
Committee, but that the policy of re-
ciprocity was. 1.-THE defeat of this bill,
said he means that the Republican
party has refused to follow the leader
ship of Blaine, of Mckinley and of
Roosevelt, and it would mean that reci-
proeity was no longer a part of the Re-
publican faith
He insisted that the hearings before
the Committee on Ways and Means
showed conclusively that concessions
made on Cuban sugar would not affect
the price of sugar in this country, and
that the best sugar industry would not be
injured. He espoused reciprocity with
Cuba, he said, not only because it would
be helpful to Cuba; but because he be-
lieved we would get an adequate return
and in support of that belief he instanced
the result of the reciprocity, with Cuba
under the Mckinley law.
Mr.. Long contended that in addition to
self interest there was a moral obliga
tion upon the United States to grant
concessions. He declared that when the
committee from Cuba was prevailed upon
to accept the Plat amendment President
Mckinley assured them that in consd-
GRAFTON of its acceptance he would do all
in his power to secure economic conces-
sions, and said that the commission so
reported to the Cuban convention.
In conclusion Mr.. Long said:
IF this legislation fails, and no con-
cession be made to Cuba. if the policy
of President Mckinley and President
Roosevelt be defeated by this House-it
does not mean that the best sugar in
dustry by the control of this House. can
prevent free sugar from Cuba. After the
establishment of the republic of Cuba. a
treaty can be negotiated with that coun-
try by the President. That treaty can
provide for the annexation of Cuba. and
that treaty can be submitted to the Sem
ate and ratified. The moment that the
notifications are exchanged under the
decision of the Supreme court in the
Porto Rican case, we would have free
trade with Cuba on all products The
House would be powerless to prevent it."
When Mr.. Long finished speaking Mr..
Taylor, of Ohio, presented a protest
against the plan of the Ways and Means
committee. 1t was in the nature of a
manifesto, setting out the grounds on
which their opposition was based, being
largely an amplification of the contention
that reduction of the duty on Cuban re-
ciprocity involved a relaxation of the
protective principle. In lieu of the Taw-
ney proposition for a rebate Mr. Taylor
ohered resolution declaring for ade-
0uate protection to the cane and the beet
sugar industries and the policy of re-
CsprocLty; faWoring COMMERCIAL agree
ments with Cuba i'm harmony with our
national policy of protection and re-
ciprocity, and that no further action be
taken respecting the proposition to re-
duce the tariff on Cuban products coming
into this country"
The manifesto says in part:
1.-THE Republican platform of 1896 con-
demned the Democratic party for not
keeping faith with the American sugar
growers: we seek not to merit for our
selves the same condemnation.
THE proposition to reduce the sugar
tariff constitutes, in essence, an aban-
donment of the protective principle. And
this abandonment is most unhappy be-