New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-02-26
CAUCUS TAKES NO ACTION.
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE DIS
CUSS RECIPROCITY WITH CUBA.
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE BILL AND
SUBSTITUTE PRESENTED-AD-
JOURNMENT UNTIL MONDAY.


Washington. Feb 25-The Republican MEM
bers of the House of Representatives met in
conference at SIS o'clock tonight to consider
the question of Cuban reciprocity, the Repubh-
can members of the Ways and Means Commit
tee having reached an agreement TO grant con-
cessons of about 20 per cent. There was an
unusually large attendance, about one hundred
and twenty-five members being present. Rep
resentative Cannon, of Illinois, acted as chair
man, and Mr.. Loudenslager, of New-Jersey,
as secretary.
Chairman Payne of the Ways and Means Com
mittee presented bill on the lines authorized
by the Republican members of the committee,
as follows:
That for the purpose of equalizlng the trade of
the United States with Cuba the President is
hereby authorized soon as may be after the
establishment of an independent government IN
Cuba and the enactment by said government OF
immigration and exclusion laws as fully re-
strictive of immigration as the laws or the
United States, to enter into negotiations with
said government, with view to the arrange
ment OF a commercial agreement IN Whlch re-
ciprocal and equivalent concessions may be Sc
cured in favor of the products and manufactures
of the United States by rates of duty which
shall be less by an amount equivalent to at least
20 per cent ad valorem than the rates imposed
upon the like articles when imported into Cuba
from the most favored of other countries and
whenever the government of Cuba shall enact
such immigration laws and shall enter into such
and shall make such concessions in favor OF the
products and manufactures thereof as afore-
said, and which agreement in the judgment of
the President shall be reciprocal and equivalent,
he shall be authorized to proclaim such facts,
both to the enactment of such immigration
laws and the making of such agreement, ana
thereafter the imposition of the duties imposed
by law all articles from Cuba into the United
States shall be suspended, and in lieu thereof
there shall be levied upon all articles imported
from Cuba so per centum of the rate of duty
now levied upon like articles imported from for
eign countries.
The President shall have power. and 1t shall
be his duty, whenever he shall be satisfied that
either such immigration laws or such agree
ment mentioned in this act is not being fully
executed by the government of Cuba, to notify
such government thereof. and thereafter there
shall be levied upon all articles imported from
Cuba the full rate of duty provided by law upon
articles imported from foreign countries
MR.. PAYNE SPEAKS FOR RECIPROCITY.
Mr. Payne spoke for more than an hour in
support of this plan. He frequently inter
rupted by questions from Representatives Will
lam Alden Smith, Gardner, Weeks and Hamil-
ton. of Michigan. and Lessler, of New York. Mr..
Smiths question contained the statement that,
relying the Republican assurance of protec-
ton, bout $1OO00OO0 has been invested in the
beet sugar industry in Michigan, and this would
be imperilled If the proposed concession was
made.
Mr.. Payne replied that in his judgment there
dustry after the 90 per cent concession was al
lowed. the remaining protection would
amount TO about 81 per cent advaIorem He
referred also to the Presidents recommended
lions of reciprocity.
Representative Grosvenor, of Ohio advocated
the committee plan as the best means of avoid
ing a dilemma.
MR.. TAWNEYS SUBSTITUTE
Representative Tawney, OF Minnesota, a MEM
Der of the Ways and Means Committee, then
proposed the following substitute:
Resved, That the Ways and Means Commit
tee be and it is hereby directed TO prepare and
report to the House bill for the relief OF Cuba
and to extend the trade between the United
states and that island, which bill shall In sub
stance authorize the President. in consideration
of our securing on goods wares and rnerchan-
disc the product or growth Of the United States
going into Cuba, substantially lower duties than
those imposed upon Ike articles imported into
Cuba from other countries. to agree to pay and
to pay. during each year that said reciprocal
trade agreement shall be in force. from the
Treasury Of the United States 70 the govern
ment Of Cuba, when fully established out Of the
moneys collected in the United States as i'm
port duties on merchandise the product
growth Of the island OF Cuba imported into the
United states. a sum nearly equivalent In
amount to 20 per cent of the duties now col
lected on all such goods, an dthat so much Of
said sum as shall be equivalent to 20 per cent
OF the duty collected sugar imported from
Cuba into the United States. shall be distributed
by the government of Cuba, or through such
other or additional agents agencies as the
President of the United States shall direct I'M
der rules and regulations TO be prescribed by
the government of Cuba and approved by the
President Of the United States to actual bona
noe resident sugar planters OF the ISL
and OF Cuba, in proportion to the quantity
or sugar produced from cane grown by them
during the year preceding the date of said rec-
procal trade agreement, and every wear there
after during the continuance thereof; and that
SAID reciprocal trade agreement shall continue in
iorce Tor period OF three years from the date of
II and cold .,l,,I
VIDE that before the payment of said sum or
any portion thereof, TO the government of Cuba
or before any of the conditions of said agree
ment shall become operative, Cuba shall first
enact our immigration laws
Mr.. Tawney spoke in support of his substi-
tute It was now after II p. M. and as it was
clear that no final results could be secured an
adjournment was taken until 8 p. m. next Mon