Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-03-08
No Settlement Of Reciprocity
Relations Yet in Sight.
The President Views the Difficulty as
an Inherited Problem With Which
He Is Loath to nks
Matter Should Be Dealt With by
Congress According to Its Best
Lights as He Has No Preference
for Any Special PIan-RepubIieans
Have Quite Job on Hand-Doinss
In Congress.

rocity and the sentiment thereon in the
house.
Active canvassing continued among
Republican members. preliminary TO
the third caucus on Cuban reciprocity,
to be held tonight. The most positive
claims We're made by those opposed to
Representative Paynes 20 percent
reciprocity plan that there was clear
majority against it.
Mr.. Payne and his associates did not
concede this. however, and expressed
the belief that Il concession to Cuba
ultimately will he granted. twas said
in this connection that Speaker llender-
son is now favorable to the position
taken by the majority on the ways and
means committee, and that this would
exert much influence in shaping the
final outcome.
During the day several members of
the cabinet called on MessrS. Tawnry
of the ways and means committee. who
has proposed the rebate plan asa sub
stitute for Chairman Payre's % per-
cent reciprocity plan and Mr.. Morris of
Minnesota, who also has proposed Il
plan differing from that Of MIR. Payne.
AS an outcome of these calls it was as
serted that three members Of the cab
met, namely. Postmaster General
Payne, Secretary Shaw aud Secretary
Wilson. We're hopeful of seeing Il solu-
ton of the problem which 5.ld not
endangeranN American Industry. This
was construed in some quarters to show
division in the cabinet, but it was
stated by those cOnverSant with the sit
uation that the attitude h" cabinet
did not warrant any such constr lction.
Later in the day Representative
Tawney called at the White House and
had IA long conference. 1t developed
that Mr.. Tawney had told the president
there was little or no possibility OfAd0p-
tion of the Payne plan by the Rcpllbli-
can conference and that. If it was
adopted. some 40 Republican members
would not consider themselves bound
and would carry the question to the
floor of the house.
The president is understood to have
made his position quite clear and in so
doing is said to have removed several
miSapprehensiOnS which have been
atioat of late. He said he had no in
tention at present of sending Il special
message to congress on the subject.
The president expressed the most
earnest sOlicitude that Il satisfactory
adjustment he reached by congress. say
ing that this was an "inllerited prob
lem" meaning that it had come to him
from the Mckinley administrn ton.
Furthermore the president. it is IS
serted, indicated no positive detrrmina-
tion in favor of any particular idea. but
rather n desire that congress sh0Il deal
with the subject according to its best
lights.
After hearing from Mr.. Tawney is
assistants expressed the belief that tie
president would accept the rrba le
proposition if congress sent it to him.
While these conferences were going
OH at the White House ChairmaE Payne
and members of the ways and means
committee supporting him We're in con-
ference. Later one of the members
said that he was confident that raynn's
reciprocity proposition commanded Il
majority Of the Republican men barS.
but that the minority was so large and
was so disposed to carry the cont st in
to the house that Mr.. Payne and bis
friends recognized the seriousness of
the situation. However. there was no
disposition, he said, to accept the re.
bate plan, as it was stated that this was
merely a repetition of the plan pro-
posed by the head of the beet sugar
organization two months ago.
Members Of the house were informed
that several members of the cabinet
would confer with the president on the
Cuban question. but SO far as could he
learned at the Capitol the only mem
bers OF the cabinet to call were Post
master General Payne and Secretary
Root and the nature Of their confer
ence were not divulge1.
Washington. March CT appears
likely now that the senate will reach
'ote VI lhe peh'ihS shippihS pi' ole
week from next Monday. Mr.. Clay ad-
dressed the senate yesterday in oppOsi-
ton to the bill and had not concluded
when the senate adjourned. Early in
the session the senate passed the leGis-
lntivc. executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill, the second of the big
supply mea sures to be acted on at this
session.
The house continued the debate on the
bill to classify the rural free delivery
service. but without action adjourned
out of respect to the memory of Repre-
sentative Polk of Pennsylvania.
Fowls Feasted on Gold.
Chicago March 6.-Nuggets of gold