Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-21
RECIPROCITY TREATY
One to Be Negotiated With
Cuba.
THE PRESIDENTS PLAN
UNCERTAIN WHEN IT WILL GO
TO SENATE.
Talk With Leaders Today on the Sub
ject-Gossip at the
Capitol.
THE PRESIDENTS PLAN


session Of Congress and that it is absolute
ly useless to attempt to bring about acton
The President has received the information
with regret. but he is fully determined that
this shall not mean the permanent defeat
Of reciprocity with the island and it is al
most fOregOne conclusion that he will
gOtiate a commercial treaty with Cuba
either at once OF during the recess of Con-
gress and submit II to the Senate at what
he considers the most Opportune moment.
He VIII do this under his general power to
make treaties.
There will be less chance Of postponing
action on the treaty, ard the beet sugar
senators and democrats will be forced TO
vote on the direct question of extending
help to Cuba of defeating such help.
Complicated amendments and political
maneuvers will he side-tracked and the
straight question will be presented of con-
tirning or rejecting the treaty.
The President is today considering the
question of what he shall do, and until he
concludes his deliberations it is by no
means settled that there will not be Az
extra session of the Senate or that Congress
can get away in July. The Presidents
lighting blood is aroused. and it is at this
moment simply a question of policy and
6ood Observation-Disclosures to make the treaty
Immediately and present 1t to the Senate
or wait until later A decision will be
reached before week has passed.
Talk With Leaders.
The President talked today with Sena-
tors Allison. Foraker, Proctor and Bev-
eridge and Representative Long of Kan
sas. They did not see him together and
he did not send for them or other leaders
They dropped in on him singly and all of
them talked Cuban reciprocity. 1t is pretty
safe to say, also, that these men are for
treaty by the President, and think II
20 De wise policy They are believed to
concur in the Presidents determination to
negotiate one and to make reciprocity a
I'VE question until il is definitely settled
Ihe only thing the republican advisers of
the President possibly differ about is the
Iine Tor sending the treaty to the Senate
some faVor immediate action. some advise
special session of the Senate in October or
november, some advise special session in
august or September, as soon as
treaty can be negotiated, while others de-
care tnat little can be gained by pushing
the question before December when Con-
sresS meets II is even suggested that the
treaty might be negotiated within ten days
or TWO weeks. and submitted to the Senate
al once. So the President is to settle
whether there is to be a treaty and when
1t is TO be submitted. He Will have plenty
OF advice. but will take time to consider
all the phases of the situation
The perfection of an immediate treaty
and sending ii to Congress before the close
OF the present session is urged as the best
means OF solution of the trouble. Practi-
cally no time would be required in arrang-
ing a treaty. The commercial conditions
are thoroughly understood by Gen Leonard
WOOD and other American officers and
PRESIDENT Palma could direc. Minister
Suesada by cable to sign the treaty for
cuba. All this could be done in a day n
deemed necessary
Suggestion has been made that the Pres
l0ent mas had the foresight to have the
treaty prepared at the State Department
and that he has had President Palma made
acquainted with its contents, all as a pre-
liminary to speedy action should the sftua-
tion demand that. 1t Is not unlikely that
such course, or part of it, has been fol-
lowed by the President
The treaty would provide for a reduction
on Cuban products of ~ or 23 per cent. and
the prediction was made today that such a
treaty would compel democratic aid and
allow beet sugar senator's TO recede from
their position of obstruction to the wishes
or the PreslCent and the majority Of the
party.
Gossip at the Capitol.
The administration has determined TO
obtain reciprocity with Cuba and expects
TO accomplish that end although not
through the means of bill. In the con-
ference OF republican senator's last night
the determination TO carry out the Presi-
dents plan was unmistakably announced
In order 10 avoid political complications
which would follow bringing the Spooner
bill into the Senate and opening up gen
eral tariff discussion the administration
leaders decided not to force that measure
The beet sugar senators have a temporary
victory. and can say to their constituents,
II hereafter they should be proud of the
achievement. that they whipped out the
party managers on the reciprocity bill.
treaty with Cuba which is to be rati-
fled by a two-thirds vote of the Senate Is
now In course OF preparation, and Will be
submitted at n time later to be decided
upon. That treaty will be considered in
executive session of the Senate. and any
senator who desires to open up a tariff de-
bate may 90 So but he will not speak to
hP of IL,
sessions are not published in the Record
and no political capital can be made ont
of a tariff debate on the reciprocity treaty.
The two-thirds vote necessary for ratif-
cation is expected to be contributed by the
democrats. They committed to tariff
reduction and are favorable to helping
Cuba No question OF the sugar differentiai
duty can be raiseC~in connection with the
treaty because the differential does not ap-
ply TO Cuban sugars, no refined sugar COM
Ing from the island.
Trend of Public Opinion.
Between now and the time when the recl-
proctty treaty Will be submitted to the
Senate the administration leaders expect
that there will be great outburst of public
opinion in favor OF reciprocity The coun-
try, they say, is just beginning to be warm
ed to the subject and to appreciate the fact
that little group Of eighteen senator's
some of whom have been repudiated by
their own constituents this question
have been holding up the party in Its action
Several more republican state conventions
are due In little while. Some of these are
in states which are the homes OF beet sugar
senators, and their action will be watched
with a great deal OF interest. Michigan will
hold q convention June 26, and undoubtedly
Cuban reciprocity will come up for discus
sion in the platform. Some curiosity is be-
ing manifested as TO who will be indorsed.
! Senator Hanna's statement to the confer
ence last night that II was his opinion as
chairman of the republican national COM
mittee that Cuban reciprocity ought to be
I effected aroused a great deal of interest
among republican politicians at both ends Of
the Capitol today. The general opinion was
that Senator Hanna was right in his state
ment that the failure to provide for Cuba,
q recommended by the President, would
react seriously upon the party at next No
vember's elections.