New-York tribune., 1902-03-03
FIRM ON RECIPROCITY.
ADVOCATES FOR CUBA NOT
TO BE DISCOURAGED.
OPPONENTS OF REDUCTION WILL MAKE
ARGUMENTS TO-DAY-SENATE
UNDISMAYED.
[BT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

[BY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUHEl
Washington, March AT the second confer
ence Of House Republicans tomorrow night to
consider the question OF reciprocity with Cuba,
II is not generally expected that any definite
conclusion will be reached. In fact, 1t would
not be surprising If tho enemies of reciprocity
should claim a victory when the conference is
over, for il Is thought they will be permitted to
do most of the talking. Some of the heaviest
artillery on that side is to be allowed full play
in order that the ammunition of the opposition
may be exhausted at the earliest moment and
IT is expected that especially notable speeches
will be made by Mr. Littlefeld of Maine and
Mr.. Tawney. of Minnesota. The latter repre-
sentative will advocate his impractical and
makeshift rebate proposition as a substitute for
the bill being prepared by the Ways and Means
Committee for reciprocity a basis of a 20
per cent tariff concession, and it is thought that
Mr.. Littlefleld will oppose the whole scheme of
Cuban reciprocity and all the other propositions
for securing closer trade relations with Cuba
which involve revision of the Dingley rates
With the exception of Mr.. Long. of Kansas. It
is thought that the advocates of reciprocity will
content themselves by merely plying the oppos-
tion orators with questions. and IN this way
break the force of their arguments and lay the
foundation for the adoption of the Ways and
Means Committees bill at another conference to
be held a week or ten days hence. However.
the beet lobbymen are still explanatory
their alleged victory. and ostentatiously de-
fant Of the administrations urgent demands for
Cuban reciprocity legislation at this session
NO FEAR OF BEET ROOT INTERESTS.
Whatever the outcome Of to-morrow's con-
ference may be, the supporters of reciprocity
Will not be discouraged. They aware that
the House Is facing a most embarrassing situa-
tion, and that the threats of the beet root sugar
70 lect 10 axr
fall. If a reciprocal trade arrangement with
Cuba is provided for at this session. have fright
ened a number of the Western members to the
point OF Mysteries. but they also aware that
the votes sustain the Ways and Means Com
mittee Will be forthcoming whenever the issue
is squarely made between the beet root rep
resentatives and the demand of the country for
reciprocity legislation.
Fortified as they are with this knowledge. the
supporters of reciprocity. both in the House and
Senate, devotng their attention TO the
details of the plan to be proposed to Cuba for
ratification when the insular government is in
stalled at Havana next May. Itiis not consid-
cred probable that the Senate will consent to q
less concession than % per cent, and tn this
reduction must apply TO all articles alike at
both ends of the line. Thus, the reciprocity
scheme already has been expanded from the
narrow limits of sugar and tobacco to include
every article that enters into the commerce be-
tween Cuba and the United States. With the
provision that Cuba adopt the United States i'm
migration laws S a condition precedent to the
negotiation Of reciprocity treaty, II is pointed
out that the working OF this country will
he carefully protected from any danger of the
Cuban labor market being flooded with cheap
Ia Dor from Europe and Asia
The original proposition may be further
amended before taking final shape by pre-
scribing a condition that the Cuban Congress
also give to the United States an advantage in
the islands carrying trade, which would more
completely shut Europe out from the Cuban
trade than any general scheme OF reciprocity
could do