The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-23
Agreement Reached to Formulate n
Substitute for the House Bill and
Make Ii "a Party Measure.
REDUCTION OF 25 PER CENT
MAY BE PROPOSED BY THE SENATE
COMMITTEE on CUBA.
Provision for Striking Ont the Differ
entail Duty on Refined Sugar to
Be Eliminated.

WASHINGTON, April 22.-The question
of reciprocity with Cuba formed the sub
ject of important preliminary confer
ence on the part of majority of the Re
publican senator's to-day. This conference
was held in the room of the Senate finance
committee during the afternoon sitting OF
the Senate and was extended for some time
after adjournment. The meeting was called
largely as the result of a general exchange
of ideas on the floor of the Senate. In the
main the senator's invited to participate
were those friendly to reciprocity legisla-
ton, but some of the opposition Republican
members were present. In the absence of
Senator Allison, who is chairman both of
the Republican caucus and the Republican
steering committee, Senator Hale presided.
The result of the meeting may be summed
up as follows: There will be early
meeting of the Senate committee on rela-
tons with Cuba to take up the question
on the basis of the House bill which is now
before that committee; the Republican
members of the committee will act to-
gether in formulating a substitute for the
House bill, and none of them is to CO.
| operate with the Democratic members of
the committee; the bill thus agreed upon
! by the Republican members TO be sub
mitted to a Republican caucus of the Sem
ate and made party measure.
With the exception of Senator Spooner
all the Republican members of the Cuban
| committee attended to-day's meeting, and
it is understood tacitly or openly gave their
adherence to the programme. The leaders
OF the movement express confidence that
| it will be possible to report a bill out Of
the committee. and say their confidence also
extends to the point of the passage of the
! bill by the Senate.
There were no set speeches at the meet
| ing to-day. senators talking back and forth
with great freedom and informality. SEN
ators Aldrich, Hale, Platt of Connecticut
! and Hanna were most outspoken in their
! expressions of opinion that reciprocity leg
islation is demanded by the exigencies of
/ the occasion. Senator Aldrich expressed
| the belief that internal complications in
| Cuba might result in case no relief should
| be given to the planters of the island. Sen
ator Hanna declared that the Republican
! party is pledged TO a guardianship of the
! interests of the Cuban people and said tht
| ii was one of the dearest wishes OF President
! Mckinley that Cuban industry should be
fostered by the United States by a recip-
rocal arrangement such as was proposed.
| Senator Foraker agreed fully with his col
| league to the necessity of legislation
! along the lines suggested and minated
| that he would be willing to concede great
er reduction from the Dingley rates than
! had been suggested
Senator Cullom said that he would be
willing to grant reduction of one-fourth
but no more. One or two other senators
suggested SO 1-9 per cent as an equitable
rate. and few expressed the opinion that
| there should be reduction whatever,
saying that they felt that the United states
already had done enough for Cuba, and
! the protection that the existing law gives
it, Frequent reference was made in the
discussion to the attitude of absent Repub-
lican senators as we'll as to that of Demo-
cratic senators. 1t was stated That quite
a number of the Democrats were favorable
to the proposed reciprocal ARRANGEMENT,
and the opinion was vOuchsafed that in the
end all the Republicans could be brought
| into line fair bill
1t was generally agreed that most of the
opposing Republican senators were from
sugar-beet growing States, but the fact was
brought out that there are some Republican
senators who are inclined to oppose the
legisatio for other reasons 1t was stated.
for instance, that Senator Elkins objects to
the legislation on the ground that it is un-
| fair TO other nations and can be justly COM
planned of by them.
The consensus seemed to be that bill
granting not TO exceed Is per cent. reduc-
ton should be reported by the committee,
and there was general unanirnity as 10
the advisability of eliminating the House
provision striking out the differential duty
on refined sugar
The Democratic senators also were more
or less engaged to-day with the sugar ques-
ton, but their conferences were all held on
the floor OF the Senate and in the Demo-
cratic cloakrooms, and none of them were
so formal or so we'll attended as the Re
publican conference. The Democratic con-
situations generally had reference to Sen
ator Tellers resolution providing for an
inquiry as to the holdings of the present
stock of sugar, and there was at one time
a practical assurance that sufficient votes
could be secured TO pass the resolution.
1t would seem probable. however, that the
result of the Republican conference may
change the situation i'm that respect