The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-03-25
REPRESENTATIVES,
CONFER WITH PRESIDENT.
ALL PLANS ARE CANvASSED
Leaders of Opposition to Reciprocity
Plan Invited to White House
by Roosevelt.

Washington, March PA confer
ence was held at the white house this
afternoon between the president and
several republican members of the
house who have been foremost in op-
posing the plan of Cuban reciprocity
urged by the ways and means commit
tee which is understood to have the
support of the administration. The
members were Messrs. Tawney and
Morrison of Minnesota, Dick Of Ohio.
VIM. A. Smith of Michigan, Minor of
Wisconsin. Metcalf of California and
Dayton of West Virginia.
The call was at the request of the
president who desired an exchange OF
views, to the end that harmonious ac-
tion might be secured in such steps
as are taken in behalf of Cuba.
Governor General Wood had arriv-
ed here from Cuba and as several
members of the cabinet were at the
white house while the congressman
were there, a report gained circulation
that Secretary Root and General Wood
were present at the conference. This,
however, was not the case, as the pres
dent and congressman remained alone
in the cabinet room together for the
hour and half they were together.
The talk took wide range covering
various conditions in Cuba. What
should be done to meet the conditions
and also the question of harmonizing
the conflicting interests so that there.
might be unanimity of action on the
part of congress was the chief topic
discussed.
1t was stated afterwards by those
who participated in the conference
that it was of the most amiable and
pleasant character and there was not
the remotest suggestion on the part Of
the executive which could be constru-
ed as seeking to urge them to yield
their positions or conviction. On the
contrary it was stated that the pres
ident listened to the recital of the
difficulties which had been encounter
ed by those who opposed the reciproc-
ity plan and also heard from them the
various plans by which they had hop
ed to reach an agreement.
The callers were frank to concede
that they found the president desirous
of extending effective relief to Cuba,
by the reciprocity plan. In this con-
nection, it was staten, the president
drew attention to the fact that the
Sibley amendment, limiting the reci-
procity period to December /, 1908,
gave the Payne bill a rather one-sided
aspect as it asked Cuba to adopt our
naturalization and immigration laws
and give us tariff concessions without
limit of time, and in return give the
Cuban tariff concessions limit of
about year and a half
Some of the congressman present
were inclined to admit that we were
asking a great deal from Cuba
The interchange of views became
quite general. there being nothing in
the way of definite propositions one
way or the other, but merely an agree
able expression of opinion as to what
was best to be done under all the cir
cumstances of the situation. In the
course of this general talk the sug-
gestion was made that if the Payne
bill had been modified so as to take
off the differential on refined sugar,
some of the grounds of opposition
might have been removed. However,
there was no request, so far as can be
learned, that the bill be amended in
this particular at the present stage.
The plan Of rebate, which was urged
at one time, also came in for discus
sion and explanation.
At the conclusion of the conference
the general understanding was reach
ed that any statement made to the
public would be to the general effect
that no conclusions were reached, and
that the conference was confined to
general interchange OF, views. It is
understood that the president will see
some of the members of the ways and
means committee tomorrow at the
white house. thus familiarizing him
self with the different points at is
sue. He hopes that this general inter
change with the leaders from both
sides NAV bring about unanimity Of
action in whatever is best in behalf.
of Cuba.