The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-23
SENATan.S WILL
stan TOGETHER
No Change Of Spirit on Cuban
Reciprocity Bill
REPUBLICANS IN CAUCUS
ProfitIng BY Experience Of Leaders In
the House, They Decide to Work
and Vote Togther-WiIling
to a Larger Reduction.

washingtofI,s April 22.-The question of
reciprocity with Cuba formed the subject
of an important preliminary conference
on the part of majority of the Republi-
can Senators today. In the main the
Senators invited to participate were those
friendly to Ieciprocity legislation, but
some of the Opposition Republican mem
bers were present.
The result of the meeting may be SUNNI
ed up as fololws: There will be an early
meeting of the Senate committee on re-
lations with Cuba to take up the question
on the basis Of the House bill which Is
now before that committee the Republi-
can members of the committee Will act
together In formulating a substitute for
the House bill and none of them Is to
cooperate with the Democratic members
Of the committee; the bill thus agreed
upon by the Republican members to be
submitted to Republican caucus of the
Senate and made a party measure. With
the exception of Senator Spooner all the
Republican members OF the Cuban COM
mittee attended today's meeting and 1t
is understood tacitly end openly gave
their adherence to the programme. The
leaders of the movement express conf
dence that 1t will be possible to report
a bill out of the committee and say their
confidence also extends to the point of the
passage of the bill by the Senate.
Reciprocity ls Demanded.
Senators Aldrich, Hale, Platt of Con-
necticut and Hanna were most outspoken
In their expression that reciprocity legis-
lation is demanded. Senator Foraker
agreed. fully with his colleague as to the
necessity OF legislation along the lines
suggested, and .ntimated that he would
be willing to concede greater reduction
from the Dingley rates than had been
suggested Senator COLON said that he
would be willing to grant reduction Of
but no more. One or two
other Senators suggested 30 1-3 per cent
as an equitable rate, and a few expressed
the opinion that there should be no re-
duction whatever, saying that they felt
that the United States alpready had done
enough for Cuba, and that our own sugar
interests deserve all the protection that
the cXlbItnB law gives H. Cl'4dCht hSA-
erence was made in the discussion of the
attitude of absent Republican Senators
as we'll as to that of Democratic Sena-
tors. 1t was stated that quite a num-
Der OF the Democrats were favorable to
the proposed reciprocity ARRANGEMENT
and the opinion was vouchsafed that in
the end all the Republicans could be
brought into line on a fair bill.
Unfair to Other Nations.
It was generally agreed that most of
the opposing Republican Senators were
from sugar beet growing states, but the
fact was brought out there are some Re-
publican Senators who are inclined to
oppose the legislation for other reasons.
1t was stated that Senator Elkins OBJ
jected to the legislation on the ground
that It Is unfair to other nations and
can be Justly complained of by them.
The consensus of opinion seemed to be
that bill not exceeding 25 per cent re-
duction should be reported by the COM
mittee and there was general unanimity
as to the advisability of eliminating the
House provision striking out the differen-
tial duty on refined sugar. The Demo-
cratic Senators were also more or less
engaged today with the sugar question
but their conferences were all informal
and were held on the floor of the Senate
and In the Democratic cloak rooms They
had reference to Senator Tel
ler's resolution providing for an inquiry
as to the holding of the present stock OF
sugar and there was at one time prac-
tical assurance that sufficient votes could
be secured to pass the resolution. 1t
would seem probable, however, that the
result of the Republican conference may
change the situation In that respect