The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-03-06
CUBAN RECIPROCITY.
President and Members OF
Congress Discuss Plans.
THIRD CAUCUS TO Be HELD TONIGHT
There Seems to BE a Majority Against
Chairman Payne's Twenty Per
Cent SeheRie-RebRte PROPOSE
tiOn Gains Supporters.

| OF Illinois called at the White Hous,
yesterday and discussed with I'rcsi
dent Roosevelt the subject Of CubaI
reciprocity and the sentiment thereon
| in the house.
Active cHnvasSing continued among
Republican members preliminary tc
the third caucus on Cuban reciprocity
to be held tonight. The most positive
claims were made by those opposed tC
Representative Payne's 20 per con,
reciprocity plan that there was Il clcal
majority against it.
Mr.. Payne and his associates did not
concede this. however, and expressed
the belief that Il concession to Cuba III
timately will be granted. 1t was said
in this connection that Speaker Hen.
derson 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 Messrs.
Tawley of the ways and means CON.
mittee. who has proposed the rebate
plan as IL substitute for Chairman
Payne's 20 per cent reciprocity plan,
and Morris of Minnesota, who also has
proposed Il plan differing from that of
Mr.. Payne As an outcome of these
calls it was asserted that three mem
hcrs Of the cabinet namely, Postmas.
ter General Payne Secretary Shaw
md Secretary Wilson-were hopeful of
seeing solution Of the problem which
would not endanger any American M
duStry. This was construed in some
quarters to show a division in the cab
met, but it was stated by those CONVEX
tude of cabinet members did not war
rant any such construction.
Later in the day Representative
Tawnpy called al the W~.ite House and
had Il conference lasting nearly an
hour and half with the president. At
its conclusion Mr. Tawney joined sew
cial of his associates who are opposed
to the Payne resolution. 1t developed
that Mr.. Iawnry had told the presi-
dent there was little or no possibility
of the adoption Of the Payne plan by
the Republican conference and that if
It was adopted some forty 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
pications owing to the attitude Of
Democratic members.
The president is understood to have
made his proposition quite clear and
in so doing is said TO have removed
several miSapprchcnsion which have
been atlnat of late. He said he had no
al present of sending II spe-
cial message 10 congress on the sub
iect.
The president expressed tho most
earnest Solicitude that Il satisfactory
be reached by congress,
saying that This was an ''inheritcd
problem" meaning that it had come
10 him from the Mckinley adminiStrti-
ton. Furthermore, the president. it is
asserted, Indicated no, positive lrtermi-
nation in favor OF any particular idea,
but rather Il desire that rnnurGSs
should deal With the subject according
10 its best lights.
After hearing from Mr.. Tawney his
.i.,t.
president would accept the rebate
if congress sent it to him.
They were also considerably cncollr-
lGrd to hear from Mr.. TAwney that the
emphatic ultilnHluul in favor of the
,Iau rs presented by Mr.. Payne.
While these conferences were going
III at III" White House Chairman
Payne ana members of the ways and
nranS committee supporting him were
II conference. Later one of the mem
,prs said that he was confident the
Payne reciprocity proposition COM
nandrd y majority Of the Republican
but that the minority was so
ilEr ana WAS 50 disposed to carry the
'ontes, into the house that Mr.. Payne
md his friends recognized the serious
ness of b" situation. However. there
yAs no disposition, he said, TO accept
he rebate piln. as it was stated that
his was merely II repetition Of the
nan proposed by the head of HE beet
sugar organization two months ago.
Th" house continued the debate ON
he bill to classify III" rural free de-
livery service. but. without action. ad.
ournrd out Of respect To the memory
# Representative" Polk Pa.l, whose
l"ath occurred suddenly at phiadel-
'hia on Tuesday.
II now appears likely that the senate
viii reach II vote On tn" pending ship. /
,.nG bill Il week from next Monday.