The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-25
while Cuba l. Asked To Adopt Our
In,mferation Laws and Give Com
cessions without Limit.
PRESIDENT WANTS HARMONY
But Is NOT TRYING TO FORCE HIS
OWN IDEAS on CONGRESS.
Gen. Palma Entertained at Dinner
Last Night-Transfer of Cuba Dis
cussed with the President.
Special TO the indianapolis Journal.

Special 20 the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. March 24-Cuba is occu-
pying the attention of the administration
this week This afternoon the President
conferred with Republican insurgents" Of
the House on the reciprocity question, and
while Governor General Wood is here ths
President will confer with T. Estrada
Palma, President of the Cuban republic. on
the coming withdrawal of the United States
forces from the island. Mr. Palma took
dinner at the White House tonight. One
of the principal reasons why Mr.. Palma
was called to Washington TO consult with
General Wood and the President is to
furnish an exchange of information as TO
the personnel Of the present government.
This is accepted as a convenient time and
place for General Wood 10 inform Pres
ident-eect Palma OF the merits and quail
fications of the chief officials of the gov
ernment. 1t is expected that Mr.. Palma
will prefer to take most OF Governor
Woods Cabinet as he finds il. Ii is con-
sidered that this would be safer than 10
attempt to make an entire change at the
beginning. While the United States is not
posing as a dictator. the administration
feels that it should be informed as to the
order that it may make its plans for the
gradual withdrawal of American authority.
1t is now considered that few troops viii
have to be kept there for some time. bus
they will exercise no direct authority. IL Is
understood that Mr.. Palma wants definite
understanding on this subject Inasmuch
as the island is to have no standing army
or navy, it is uncertain just when the
American soldiers can he retired.
The conference held this afternoon was
between the President and seven of the Re-
publican members of the House OF Repre-
sentatives, who have been foremost in op-
posing the plan of Cuban reciprocity. urged
by the ways and means committee and un-
derstood to have the support of the admin
istration. The members who called were
Representatives Tawney and Morris. OF
Minnesota: Dick Of Ohio; William A
Smith. of Michigan; Minor, of Wisconsin:
Metcalf, of California, and Dayton, OF West
Virginia.
HARMONY DESIRED.
The call was at the request OF the Presi-
dent, who desired an exchange of views TO
the end that harmonious action might be
secured in such steps taken in be-
half Of Cuba. AS General Wood has arriv-
ed here from Cuba, and as several members
OF the cabinet were at the White House
while the congressman were there. a report
gained circulation that Secretary Root and
General Wood were present during the con-
ference. This, however, was not the case.
as the President and the congressman re-
NAMED alone in the cabinet room for the
hour and a half they were together. The
talk took a wide range, covering the con-
ditiOns I'm Cuba, what should be done 10
meet these conditions. and also the ques-
ton Of harmonizing conflicting interests
that there might be unanirnity OF action on
the part Of the Republicans In Congress.
1t was stated afterwards by those who
had participated in the conference that it
was OF the most admirable and pleasant
character, and that there was not the re-
motest suggestion on the part of the chief
executive which could be constructed as
seeking 10 urge them 10 yield their per-
sOnal convictions. On the contrary. IL
stated the President listened TO the recital
OF difficulties which had been encountered
by those who opposed the reciprocity plan.
and also heard from them the various plans
by which they had hoped 10 reach an agree
ment The callers were frank TO concede
that they found the President desirous OF
extending effective relief TO Cuba by the
reciprocity plan. In this connection. IL was
stated the President drew attention 10 the
fact that the Sibley amendment, limiting
the reciprocity period TO Dec. !, 1903. gave
the Payne bill a rather one-sided aspect.
as il asked Cuba To adopt our naturaliza-
tion and immigration laws and give us
tariff concessions. without limit OF time.
and in return gave TO Cuba tariff cOnccss-
ions limited TO about "A year and a half
Some of the congressman present were in
clined 10 admit that We were asking a good
deal from Cuba in return for the little We
would grant to her.
The interchange Of views became quite
general, there being nothing in the way
OF definite propositions one way or the
other. but merely an agreeable expression
of opinion as 10 what was best 10 be done
under all the circumstances Of the stua-
ton. In the course Of this general talk
the suggestion was made that II the Payne
bill had been modified so as 10 take on the
differentiai refined sugar some OF the
grounds of opposition might have been
removed However. there Was no request
far as can be learned tnat the bin be
amended in this particular at the present
stage. The plan Of rebate which was urged
AT one time also came in for discussion
and explanation
WILL CONFER WITH OTHERS.
At the conclusion Of the conference the
general understanding was reached that
any statements made TO the public would
be to the general effect that no conclusions
were reached. and that the conference was
confined TO a general interchange OF views.
II IL understood that the President viii see
some Of the members OF the ways and
means committee Tomorrow. thus familiar
izihg himself with both sides OF the
issue which has recently arisen in the
House. lie hopes that this general inter-
change with the leaders from both sides
may bring about unanimity OF action In
whatever is done I'm behalf OF Cuba
General Palma. President-elect OF Cuba.
met President Roosevelt IA his official ca
pacity for the first time tonight when the
former was the guest or honor at an IN
formal dinner at the White House The af-
fair was intended a mark OF courtesy
TO President-elect Palma, who expressed
his high appreciation OF the honor shown
him The others present were Mrs. ROose-
velt Secretary and Mrs. Root. Minister
and Mrs. Beilamy Storsr. Gen. Leonard