New-York tribune., 1902-02-17
LOWER WAR TAXES LIKELY
BOTH HOUSES NOT OPPOSED TO BILL
CUBAN ADHERENTs HOPEFUL.
LBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BUvE.I

lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.l
" aShlhston, Feb. l6-The War Revenue Re
uuction bill will be disposed of by the House on
Wednesday under the special rule limiting de-
pate TO o'clock that day, and then the Ways
ana Means Committee again will take up seri-
ousIy the subject of tariff concessions to Cuba.
me Revenue Reduction bill will be passed just
as II was reported by the Ways and Means
committee as there obviously is no disposition
among either Democrats or Republicans to
amend it in any particular. except probably the
retention in whole of the tax on tea nor is there
any pronounced disposition in the Finance Com
mlttee OF the Senate, which Will deal with the
DILL materially 70 modify the measure on the
contrary, there seems TO be a strong determine
ton in the Finance Committee 10 approve IN
HetalI the Houses action in cutting down taxa
ton, one Of the leaders of the committee saying
TO Tribune correspondent to-day that he be-
HeVed the cut of bout S15.O00OO made by this
Dill was demanded by the people, and that il
would in no way embarrass the Treasury.
There is. Of course. a possibility that circum-
stances may arise before the Senate finally dis
poses Of the bill making so heavy a cut in the
revenues inadvisable at this time since river
and harbOr and canal legislation may make
extraordinary drafts on the Treasury for the
next fiscal year, but if both even one of these
measures should fail at this session. not alto
gether improbable event-there would. in the
present light Of affairs, be no excuse for replac
ing much of the tax Topped off by the Ways and
Means Committee.
CUBAN RECIPROCITY HEARINGS.
It is thought that the Ways and Means Com
mittee will resume the hearings on Cuban reci-
procty next Thursday. What new arguments
the committee expects to develop cannot now be
surmised. The whole ground already has been
so thoroughly covered that it is difficult to
understand what more light the committee
needs to see the wisdom of taking the initiative
in providing for tariff concessions on Cuban
sugar and tobacco under a reciprocal trade
agreement.
The Presidents attitude is as firm and reso-
lutte as it ever was and while he has not con-
sidered il necessary to advise with the leaders
of Congress on the subject since his return from
the sick bed Of his son. his views are so we'll
known that further expression of them is not
deemed requisite 1t is known, for example,
that he did not refer 10 this subject at all yes
terday at the conference he held at the White
House with Senators Aldrich. Allison and
Spooner, Speaker Henderson and Representa-
tives Cannon and GrOsvenOr The sole theme
Of discussion at this conference was the Schley
appeal, the President telling his visitors frankly
what the main points of his decision are in that
and requesting them to to il that no
further legislative effort in behalf OF Schley be
made.
It is unnecessary 10 point out that had the
President wanted 10 discuss concessions to
Cuba he would have called Senator Platt, of
Connecticut. into the conference, as the Con-
necticut Senator is the leader of this movement
in Congress. Mr.. PIatt had a short talk with
the President a short time before the much
vaunted and much misunderstood conference
was held. and Cuba was the only topic Of their
discussion Senator Platt Is still confident that
cuba. which he characterizes as the adopted
child Of the United States viii be treated fairly
and maEuaninously before the close of the ses-
sion, and is only TOO eager 20 render all the aid
in his power to the Presidents efforts 10 bring
this about.
II is understood that the Connecticut Senator
would vote for a heavier reduction than - per
cent II he thought greater concession than this
could be obtained at this time, but he is under
stood 10 doubt the wisdom of striving 20 secure
more than p per cent reduction on either
sugar tobacco at present. Stiu II IL not inn
possible that even Senator Piatt may be mis-
taken in this instance and that a reduction Of
at least SO l-3 per cent may be obtainable.