New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-13
A COMPROMISE ON CUBA
PARTY HARHONY NOW AP
PARENTLY ASSURED.
PLAN TO GRANT 20 PER CENT TARIFF
LIMITED To DECEMBER. 1908
TEY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


Washington. March 12-The expected calm
among House Republicans to-day succeeded last
nights storm in conference over the Ways and
Means Committees Cuban reciprocity bill. As
the only real test vote taken at the conference
showed plainly that the supporters of reci-
procity had a safe majority. the insurgents
to-day seemed willing to surrender or at least
TO beg terms of the resoute and unyielding ad-
vocates Of the administrations policy. on the
whole. therefore, it seems more than likely that
at the fifth conference. TO be held next Tuesday
night tie faltional differences will be com
posed without leaving dangerous wounds. and
that the reciprocity bill will be approved as a
party measure. Had the Presidents supporters
not practised the patience and forbearancc that
have characterized their course from the begin
ming of this fight, 1t is quite probable that Gu
ban reciprocity would have been provided for
only with the aid of Democratic votes and thus
a schism of more or less seriousness would have
been created in the party. To say nothing Of the
credit the Democratic managers would have
taken 10 themselves in the coming Congress
campaign for the wise and benefcent legisIa-
tlon for Cuba
NO PRINCIPLE SURRENDERED
At no time has there been any reasona BILE
doubt Of the overwhelming strength of the
Cuban reciprocity sentiment in both branches
root lobby has succeeded in making but at diff
fe7ent stages OF the discussion there has been
some danger that there would be an embar-
RAISING party split the question All this
darger now is past however. and within ten
days it is confidently expected the party will
present a practically solid front It is true that
this will not have been accomplished wholly
without concessions on both sides but as the
reciprocity forces have surrendered no conten-
ion 1r1A Oh,
tentatively on a basis Of harmonious co-opera-
tion the insurgents cannot rEhtfully claim to
have carried single point of their fight. The
basis OF their contention has been for no tariff
concessions to Cuba under any arrangement
reciprocity or otherwise. When they were
driven from this position they fell back on
ground that demanded a rebate or bounty to a
particular interest in Cuba. Now they are Will
Ing 10 give this up and support the reciprocity
policy of the President and the House leaders
in slightly modified form-so slight it may be
said as not to amount in reality to a concession
on the part of the supporters of reciprocity.
THE BASIS OF COMPROMISE
In brief. it is believed that at the conference
next Tuesday the Ways and Means Commit
tees bill will be amended so as to limit the
period Of the reciprocity arrangement to a day
in December, 1903, yet to be agreed upon This
=
conference by Mr.. Sibley. of Pennsylvania. and
Immediately met with marked favor all around
In the interest of harmony. it will probably be
accepted by the majority and, as most of the
Insurgents seen to-day expressed a Willingness
TO accept the Ways and Means Committees bill
amended as suggested by Mr.. Sibley there is
every reason to believe that it will go through
in that form at the next conference 1t is ex-
pected, however that some of the more uncom-
promising beet sugar people will attempt to hold
their lines intact for several days yet, so that
much exploitation of their threats and claims
may be looked for In fact, it would not be sur
prising if some of the extremists, perhaps to the
number of fifteen twenty. should hold out 10
the end and against the bill when the
measure is put on its passage. This detection.
however. would not interfere with or hamper
the party programme.
BEET SUGAR SUBSIDY PROPOSED.
1t is also believed that the beet root peonIs
will urge their newest and most novel proposi
tion part of the scheme of Cuban reciproc-
ity. This is for the government to subsidize the
beet sugar industry for term of years. or at
exempting the whiskey and other spirits made
from the by-products of beets from the internal
revenue tax. PrepOsterous as this proposition
may sound it is. nevertheless being seriously
advocated by the beet root lobby. and has con-
siderable support among the insurgents II
is estimated that If the exemption asked shouId
be granted, II would amount to the government
paying a bounty of about half cent a pound
on beet sugar. 1t is not at all probable how
ever, that even IL the House should feel inclined
TO give this request serious consideration the
other manufacturers of Whiskey and snirits
w. GaB- q