The Washington times., 1902-04-05
CUBAN CONCESSIONS
A BONE OF DISCORD

willing to trust Cuba and viii insist upon
a legal guarantee in advance OF any tarin
concessions whatever.
The Senators who favor the prompt en-
actment of Cuban tariff legislation say
that this new proposition is but another
attempt to postpone the whole question
so that no action can be had a.: this ses-
sion of Congress. They contend that as
the new Cuban Government will not be
inaugurated until May goth, it will be a
physical impossibility to negotiate a
treaty and have 1t ratified before the ad-
journment of Congress.
Opposition From Democrats.
1t has been learned also that the Dem
ocrats of the Senate, as body, have de-
cided to stand together against any Gu
ban tariff legislation. and that they have
informally notified the Republicans that
they will fight the House bill or any other
bill that is reported TO the Senate by
every means in their power.
This is regarded as a most surprising
attitude for the Senate Democrats to as
sumo, in view Of the fact that their col
leagues in the, House are, as a rule. in
favor of granting tariff concessions to
Cuba. There were Democratic votes in
the Ways and Means Committee In favor
of the bill which was reported 10 the
House, and Representative Mcclellan and
others of the Democratic leaders have
publicly an. -i taat .E H.t .--
deavor to ir 'r- amour VI the gro
posed reduc su1 fl.irE De- tt--,
vote for the .a. -.H. -h'~
1t is thou; ni .. ..a -eE-.
Democrats age auIaarar..e Ya. -rii-
ties by helplH- ta H.e"a i4. --r an
leaders fro Gerry D '-
gramme. Ii 40 po.ss.v.U a.so ...-.r ...oy
think they can hasten the day when
Cuba will be annexed to the United States
by preventing tariff concessions and
thereby increasing tho strength of the
annexation movement in Cuba.
The Source of Danger.
But 1t is not this combination that is
feared by the friends of the Governments S
policy of tariff concessions to Cuba. The
danger they say lies in the attitude of a
few of the most influential Republicans
who has determined to demand that Cuba
shall make a treaty with the United
States before the tariff bill is passed.
But the plan to defer action upon the
House bill until Cuba shall have made
a treaty with the United States embody-
ing in it the provisions of the Platt
amendment is more serious, and is so re-
garded by those who favor the passage OF
the House bill in amended form.
President Roosevelt is as earnest as
ever in recomme nding commercial relief
to Cuba at the earliest possible moment
it can De secured. He and the Secretary
Of War will dc all in their power TO break
down the proposition that the new Cuban
Government cannot be trusted 10 live up
to the terms of the law which is the
basis of the relations that must exist be-
tween the United States and Cuba.
canvass has been in progress in the
House conducted by Representative Dal-
zsll Representative Payne, and others in
terested. for the purpose OF ascertaining
if possible, how many of the insurgents
will stand out to the end. AS they dis
covered more than they anticipated, they
are correspondingly disappointed.
The Plan of Campaign.
The plan OF campaign has been deter
mined upon. When the bill is offered
Representative Page Morris of Minnesota.
on behalf of the insurgents. is to submit
the Babcock bill as an amendment.
Speaker Henderson will rule that 1t is
not germane to the bill under considera
tion, holding that the Cuban bill is a
reciprocity measure and that general
tariff amendments are out of order
Mr. Morris will then appeal from the de-
cision of the Chair. supported by William
Alden Smith OF Michigan and Mr.. Taw-
ney of Minnesota, with, possibly others.
1t is expected the Democrats will vote
in body to sustain the appeal and the
Republican leaders fear that enough Re-
publicans will join them to sustain the
appeal. which would be almost a revolu-
tionary proceeding.
re M a dac
first that the Speaker may refuse to en-
tertain the appeal; second, that he may
submit the appeal to the House, and third.
that he may refer. the whole matter to
the House without ruling. The weight
of the precedents ia in favor of the
Speaker submitting the appeal to the
House.
Speaker Henderson has practically de-
cided to follow this course.