The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-30
OPPONENTS OF CUBAN RECIPROC-
TTY CONTINUE CONTEST DEs-
PITE BABCOCH'S DESERT
DATE SET FOR STRENGTH TEST
Bill viii BE Reported Next Week
and Tawney Is Expected to Take
Ep the Mantle Thrown Down
by Wisconsin Man
MAY NEED DEMOCRATIC AID
FROM THE GLOBE BUREAU,
Washington, ID. c.

Os -
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 29-OnIy
with the aid of Democratic votes, it now
appears, Will the bill granting reciprocity
to Cuba and 20 per cent reduction OF sug-
ar tariff be passed. Since Babcock went
over to the administration aid there has
not been any doubt that this bill would
soon be reported from the committee en-
ways and means and accompanied by a
rule cutting off amendments, but beet
sugar Republicans are still obdurate, and
there will be at least twoscore of them
who will vote against the bill.
This will make it necessary for the
leaders to ask Democratic aid. This they
are sorry to do as they would like to
make use of their charity to Cuba as
campaign material in the congressional
election.
Probably the most important effect Of
the Cuban tariff bill will be the opening Of
a way for a general tariff revision. Repre-
sentative Metcalf, member of the ways
and means committee, said today that
in mis- opinion, this would be the conse-
quence. He said he thought it was a
great mistake for party leaders to go
back on the party platform and desert
the cause of protection. The people Of
California. he declared, feel that the
party had broken faith with them and
deserted them. The first step having been
taken toward reciprocity that subject is
TO be pressed.
TaWney May Take Up CudgeI.
If Babcock recedes from advocacy of
removing protection from trust articles,
as he appears to have done, others will
take It Up aud push It. Tawney has been
leaning in this direction for some time,
and he may take UP the mantle of Bah
cock
Chairman Payne, of the ways and
means committee, announced today that
a SPECIAL meeting of the committee would
be held Monday to consider the Cuban
reciprocity bill. The announcement was
made after the situation had been thor
oughly convassed by Mr.. Payne and his
lieutenants and they had satisfied them
selves that the Payne bill granting ~ per
cent tariff concessions to Cuba command
ed sufficient strength to be reported from
the committee by Republican votes
While no specific claims were made, it
was well understood among the ways and
means leaders that reliance could be
placed on nine Republican members Of
the committee, or just one more than
majority.
Democrats Willing to Aid.
Aside from this the inquiries of the
ways and means leaders led them to be-
lieve that four and possibly five Demo-
cratic votes would be given to the bin.
Their desire, however had been to re-
rort the measure without the aid of the
minority, and this they are now confident
of being able to do.
There was some prospect, however, of
the pairing of members, which might re-
duce the total strength on each side, but
in such equal ratio that the reciprocity
measure would continue to have sufficient
Republican votes to report it without
amendment
Mr. Payne would not outline his plans
beyond Monday. But it is understood to
be the purpose not to take up the bill On
the floor of the house next week, as the
sundry civil appropriation bill is expected
to be considered, leaving the Cuban meas
ure to come up the following week.