The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1902-06-21
Washington Letter.

being conducted by the Committee ,
On r. lation with Cuba elected from
Mr.. Thurber OF New York the ,
statement that he had secured from
Mr.. Havemeyer a cor rihution Of
50, 500 towards fund used to IN
huence pnbllc opinion IN favor of
reciprocal relations with Cuba and
that General Wood. on behalf of
the Cuban government, lad contn1-
huted 10 the same fund S2.SS0.
This testimony was regarded as ex
tremely sensational by the oppo
nents of reciprocity and. pa TALLY
as a result, thirteen republican Sc
majors who oppose a measure pro
viding for straight reciprocity. held
meatlsg at which they agreed 10
stand fp for the bill as passed by
the Household which removed the
,lifferent,al from refsaed sugar, or
for adjournment without action.
In addition to the thirteen senators
present 1t was stated by Senator
Elk,ns, who is acting as leade, of
the ''insurgents", that five Others
would consider themselves bound
BY the action of the%ennference.
| The total number of Senator'S Is IS,
of which 80 are democrats. II all
the democrats and Is republicans
voted against straight reciprocity
bill there would be left An affirma.
tive vote Of but SO.
When the prospects for an agree
ment Oh reciprocity bill looked
particularly blue, however, the
President, alleging that such action
he believed to be his 'plaln duty,
sent to Congress message urging
that body to carry to its highest
completion the pcllcy inaugurated
by the war undertaken to relieve
Cuba of Spanish oppression, by so
legislating ae to insure to the new
republic alnodieum of prosperity.
| Mr.. Roosevelt asserted that, in his
belief, certain reciprocal concess-
ions were essential to Cuba's pros
peritY and that such could be grant
ed without injury to any American
industry. He had been advised by
many Of bis political friends that a
message to Congress at this juno.
; ture would seriously lnjure his pros
poets of denomination bat he refused
10 listen to any suggestion of per
sonal profit or loss and sent to Con
gress a message which will com
mand the respect of his friends an(
opponents, and even of those wht
hold. that his reasoning is fallaclous
1t is too early to Judge what effec
the message will have upon the re
publicans who oppose Cuban reel
procity although Immediately afte
they had heard it number Of then
. stated that they saw no reason t
> change their views. On Saturda
= Senator Elklns introduced resolu
. ton to admit Cuba to the Union a
= q state.
J, During the past week the Senat
" passed the Naval Appropriation bll
3 lnstructlng the Secretary Of tn
= Navy to secure the construction G
il two first-class battle-ships, two a
le mored cruisers, two gun boats an
TT five submarine torpedo boats Of til
ir Holland type. The provision {
e. the House that one vessel of eac
W claes should be built in a govern
t. ment navy yard was stricken OF
and I understand that the Hou.
will seriously oppose this elimin,
r. ton of one of its pet schemes whe
N the bill is taken up in conferent
OF and also that it will object to Il
a. Senate amendment providing for {
s, many torpedo boats of one aud.
D. is claimed, insufficlently ttsle
1t type. The Senate will vote on ii
C. canal bill on Thursday.
. The House of Repre- sentative
has disposed OF number of bll
during the past week. On Monda
~ the bill Tor the protection Of til
= President was passed ~ a lare
- majority and on Friday tie Han
= brough- Newlands irrigation bill W.
enacted, 1t having been alread
- iavorably acted on by the Senat,
y On Tuesday the House rejected til