The Washington times., 1902-03-14
Committees Of Both Fac
tons Discuss Cuban
Concessions.
NO AGREEMENT REACHED
To Meet Again Today-No Compromise
Submitted - Representatives Smith
and Tawney Decline TO Serve on Con-
ference Committee.

In spite Of the pacific assurances of the
desire for harmony on the part of all
those concerned in the question of Repub-
lican success. it was rather a soiled white
flag that waved over the Capitol yester
day.
The insurgents rallied and appointed a
committee consisting of Representatives
Metcalf of California, Morris of Mime
sofa, Tayler of Ohio, Dick of Ohio, and
Fordney of Michigan, as 4 joint commit
tee to confer with Representatives Dali
zell, Cannon, and Payne for the purpose
of efIecting q compromise if possible. The
two committees conferred yesterday after
noon, remaining in session until 6 o'clock.
and then adjourned until 2 o'clock this
afternoon, when the conference will be
continued.
Propositions Under Consideration.
The time yesterday was consumed prin-
cipally in going over the various PROPOSE
tions which had been presented to the
Means leaders were too shrewd to bring
forward the Sibley compromise immedi-
ately. as they hoped for even more favor
able terms. On the other hand, the con-
ferees representing the insurgents at
tempted to win over the memters of the
Ways and Means Committee to their
views, and advanced one proposition after
another without success.
Although the conference is called for
the purpose OF effecting compromise"
neither side has quite relinquished hope
that through some shift of changing for
tune they will be able to reconcile their
opponents to their way of thinking. and
thus in the end achieve a substantial vic
tory The insurgents have by no means
abandoned hooe.
Nursing Their Wounds.
The large attendance at the conference,
at which the mombers to represent them
or the conference committee were ap-
pointed. greatly encouraged those opposed
TO any compromise except victory. Many
of the members are still nursing the
wounds received in the recent conflicts,
and are by no means willing to accept
any overtures from the other side at pres
ent.
1t was almost the unanimous desire of
the forty-five insurgents who crowded
into the little committee room of Repre-
sentative Tayler that Representative
William Alden Smith of Michigan and
Representative Tawncy of Minnesota
should serve on the conference commit
tee. But both gentlemen declined.
Mr.. Smith felt that after the scathing
denunciation he had given the leaders at
the conference Tuesday night, in which
he condemned them SO severely for their
shift Of front on the question of Cuban
reciprocity. it would scarcely be agree
able for them to serve with him on a
conference committee. Mr.. Tawney was
similarly situated, as the sneering
charge of "pettyfcgger" rankles in his
breast.
Conferees Without Authority.
1t was decided to leave 10 discretion
in the hands of the conferees on the part
of the insurgents. but to require them to
report back to another conference TO be
called by them. This course was agree
able to the -conferees, who did not wish
to be buTdened with The responsibility of
acting on their own yolition and without
the approval of the men they represent.
The 'flast-ditchers,' as they are now ia
miliarly known, being the men who have
sworn never to accede to any proposition
which Will lower the tariff on Cuban
sugar, claim they will be able to control
twenty-five Republican votes, which will
be thrown to the Democrats to defeat a
rule for the consideration of Cuban rec
iprocity measure unless the privilege is
given of amending the bill in the House,
which means, of course, that the Babcock
bill would be attached as a rider
A Debatable Question
Whether these men can control this
number OF votes or not remains to be
seen. But one of the most thoughtful
and conservative members of this party
gave it as his opinion that when the
time came they would be able to show the
Democrats sufficient pledges of support
from the Republican side to assure them
of the defeat of the rule unless amended
10 admit the introduction OF other tariff
amendments.
The Democrats are expected to follow
their action on the Philippine tariff bill
ceive the support OF twenty-five last
they can easily defeat the rule.
II the Republicans who threaten TO bolt
can prove to the men in charge of the
compromise their intention of
boiling it will be a long time before
rule for the consideration of the compro-
misc iS prpSGnfpd the HpflSp