The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-03-07

ton for Twenty Per Cent Reduc
tion-consuIt With the President.
Washington, March 6.-Speakel
Henderson and Representative Can.
non of Illinois called at the White
House and discussed with President
Roosevelt the subject of Cuban reel.
procity and sentiment thereon in the
house.
Active canvassing continued among
Republican members preliminary to
the third caucus on Cuban reciprocity.
The most positive claims were made
by those opposed to Representative
Payne's 20 per cent reciprocity plan
that there was clear majority against
it. Mr.. Payne and mis- associates did
not concede this, however, and ex-
pressed the belief that concession to
Cuba ultimately would be granted. It
was said in this connection that Speak
er Henderson is now favorable to the
position taken by the majority on the
ways and means committee, and that
this would exert much influence in
shaping the final outcome.
During the day several members of
the cabinet were called on by Mr.
Tawney of the ways and means COM
mittee, who has proposed the rebate
plan as a substitute for Chairman
Payne's 20 per cent reciprocity plan,
and Mr.. Morris of Minnesota, who also
has proposed plan differing from
that of Mr.. Payne. AS an outcome OF
these calls it was asserted that three
members of the cabinet, namely, Post
master General Payne, Secretary
Shaw and Secretary Wilson, were
hopeful of seeing solution of the
problem which would not endanger
any American industry. This was
construed in some quarters to show a
division In the cabinet, but it was
stated by those conversant with the
situation that the attitude of the cab
met members did not warrant any
such construction.
Later in the day Representative
Tawney called at the White House
and had a conference lasting nearly
an hour and half with the president.
At it's conclusion MIR. Tawney joined
several of his associates who are
Opposed to the Payne Resolution.
It developed that Mr.. Tawney told tn
president there was little or no posi-
bility of adoption of the Payne plan
by the Republican conference and that
If it was adopted some 40 Republican
members would not consider them
selves bound and would carry the
question to the floor of the house,
where there would be additional COM
plications owing to the attitude of
Democratic members. The president
Is understood to have made his propo-
sition quite clear, and in so doing is
said to have removed several misap-
prehensions which have been afoat OF
late. He said he had no intention at
present of sending special message
to congress on the subject. The presi-
dent expressed the most earnest
solicitude that a satisfactory adjust
ment be reached by congress, saying
that this was IAN inherited problem"
Mckinley administration. Further
more, the president, it is assesrted, in
dicated no positive determination in
favor of any particular idea, but
rather a desire that congress should
deal with the subject according to its
best lights. .....
After hearing from Mr.. Tawney his
associates expressed the belief that
the president would accept the rebate
proposition if congress sent it to him.
They also were considerably encour-
aged to hear from Mr.. Tawney that
the president was not laying down
any emphatic ultimatum in favor Of
the plan as presented by Mr.. Payne.
While these conferences were going
on at the White House Chairman
Payne and members of the ways and
means committee supporting him
were in conference. Later one Of the
members said that he was confident
the Payne reciprocity proposition
commanded a majority of the Repub-
lican members, but that the minority
was so large and was so disposed to
carry the contest into the house that
Mr.. Payne and his friends recognized
the seriousness of the situation. How
ever, there was no disposition, he said,
to accept the rebate plan, as it was
stated that this was merely repeti-
ton Of the plan proposed by the head
of the beet sugar organization two
he