New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-17
PRICE THREE CENTS.
RECIPROCITY In PERIL.
VICTORY FOR BEET SUGAR
RING FEA RED,
ICY DEFENDING On A TEST OF
STRENGTH IN THE SENATE

IBT TELEGRAPH TRIRUNE.I
Washington June 16-The Presidents Cuban
policy is nearer defeat than it's supporters in
Congress had thought it would be- and
they hope that it will get any closer
the line of failure and ruin than it is tonight
The Trihunes exclusive announcement two
weeks ago from Washington that the Sugar
Trust magnates had acquired control Of the
beet industry in the United States. and
that this accounted for the sudden lethargy that
had fallen the spirit of the lawmakers. Is
being verified by the almost hourly Develop
ments in Congress. 1t makes difference that
Henry o. Havemeyer. president of the Sugar
Trust, contributed $4,000 to the reciprocity
propaganda which F. B. Thurber. of New-York.
testified a week ago ne prosecuted in this coun-
try with funds appropriated from the Cuban
revenues by Governor General Wood When hs
made his contribution to Thurber Mr.. Have
meyer and his associates in the trust Were not
interested in the beet sugar industry. thero
is the most convincing evidence to prove that
they have since become Besides. 1t is well
known by everybody acquainted with Mr.. Have
meyers business methods that the he gave
to Thurber is mere bagatelle to him when he
has a big object IN view. In other words, it
the Sugar Trust people wanted a recfprocak
trade arrangement made with Cuba by this
Congress, they would have unhesitatingIy con-
tributed several times the amount given To
Thurber in order to the success Of tbs
movement. How much money the beet sugar
sing has spent TO bring about the present
aggravating1y confusing situation in Congress Is
not known. and in the very nature OF things
can never be known unless those opuent per-
sons who handled the money should be over
come by strange spell and volunteer the in
formation.
The plain and fndisputa BILE fact is that the
beet sugar ring is gaining ground IN Congress
every day, while the of reciprocity ap-
parently is losing strength. Whether OF not
the Presidents Cuban policy is doomed to fall
ure cannot be predicted with certainty until
there is and test of strength between
his supporters and opponents on the Republic
can side of the Senate Chamber. And the most
annoying feature of this phase Of the question
is that probably the crucial test cannot be made
until the Republican Senators brought
squarey face face with the administration's
proposition the floor of the Senate.
SENATE CAUCUS TOMORROW
A party conference caucus is scheduled for
! Wednesday morning which the sole topic OF
| discussion will be the Cuban question. but it is
| by no means certain that the Boxers will
make full showing of their strength there At
for consideration party measure the fve-
year reciprocity bill devised by Mr. Spooner.
of Wisconsin. which carries tariff reduction OF
| % per cent and provides that the President can
withhold the reduction on Cuban sugar imports
if il is made apparent to him that the sugar
Trust. as a corporation. through any group
| of it's stockholders. is sharing to any consid-
erable extent in the benefits of the tariff con-
| cession What the Boxers VIII propose is not
now known. Almost from hour to hour they
shift their position until it has become obvious
that their policy is wholly one of negation- At
first they said they favored the so-called rebate
| plan. When they learned that the President
would not accept this makeshift. then. with
singularly illogical recourse. they embraced the
House bill. which is piece of crazy patchworE
| that appeals with peculiar force only to the
Democratic free traders as it's principal feature
| is a reckless assault upon the Dingley TARIFF
| law To-day the Boxers" proclaimed that an
| other new and great light had burst on them.
| and that as they were now enabled 70 see tne
| question they should advocate hence1or"arU
| that the only action to be taken by Congress ac
this session be a joint resolution requesting the
| President to negotiate commercial treaty with
| Cuba in the vacation of Congress. 10 be SUD-
| mitted to the Senate for ratification in Decem-
| ber.
What other novel and startling propositions
will he evolved by the Boxers before tne
o.,,c,,s meets not even their ablest and most
,,.rsa,iIe Isaders-Mr Burrows of Michigan. and
Mr. FIkins of West Virginia-probably could
forecast Nor Is there any way TO tell where
tho ..Eoxers'' will stand when the caucus meets
Some of them may stick to the old rebate plan.
others NAV proclaim themselves for the Houss
bill while still another element may advocate
this newest scheme of delay and obstruction.
which contempIates doing the unheard of thing
of Congress reminding the President OF his con-
stitutionaI right and duty TO negotiate COM
mercfaI treaties which the Senate must ratify
before they can become effective
PRESIDENTS SUPPORTERS FIRM.
The Presidents suppOrters-that is, the Re-
publican Senators who are sincerely and ear
uestIy backing his efforts to bring Cuba into
closer commercial relations with the United
States irrespective of the wishes of any indus
trial trust or group of fnanCiers-stand to-day
where thev have stood all along. and that ts
for straight reciprocity, carrying the most lib
eral tariff reductions practicable at this time.
The seven majority members of the COMMITTEES
on Relations with Cuba-AIr. Platt, of Connecti-
cut. Mr AIdrich of Rhode Island; Mr. SpOOner.
of Wisconsin: Mr.. Mcmillan. Of Michigan; Mr.
Cullom of Illinois: Mr. Deboe. of Kentucky. and
Mr. Rurnham of New-Hampshire-will meet to-
morrow morning and formally agree upon the
Spooner substitute for the House bill They
will report this 10 the caucus on Wednesday
morning as the united expression of the Re
publican members of the committee. and this
will form the basis of the caucus action Al
though il is co:ceded that the Presidents sup
pnrters will be numerically strong enough 10
control the caucus. still there is a dangerous