The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-16
Result Was a Determination to Push
the War Tax Repeal Bill and
Then Take Up Cuban Matter.
sCHLEY CASE DISCUSSED
PRESIDENT ANXIOUS HIS DECISION
WILL BE THE END.
Sounded Congressman i'm Regard to
Prospective Legislation-Santia-
go Victory Won by All.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 - There will
be no delay with the war revenue tax
measure in the House A very i'm
portant conference was held in the
Cabinet room of the White House to-
day. At the Presidents request. he was
joined there shortly after 10 o'clock this
morning by Senators Allison. Aldrich and
Spooner, Speaker Henderson and Repre-
sentatives Cannon and Grosvenor, and the
conference lasted until a few minutes after
II. 1t is something of a coincidence that
those at the conference to-day were, with
the exception of the President himself and
Senator Spooner, the same men who took
part in the famous conference few weeks
prior to the Spanish war, which resulted in
the definite conclusion that Congress should
appropriate $5OOOO,OOO to be placed at the
disposal of the President to prepare for
Not since that momentous occasion,
until to-day, have the same men been
formally summoned for a conference at the
White House. Previous to the conference
the President breakfasted at the White
House with Attorney General Knox, Post
master General Payne and Senator Hanna
When the conference broke up those who
participated in 1t were extremely and un-
usually reticent The fact that the sena-
tors are members of the steering commit
tee of the Senate, and Speaker Henderson
and his two ieutenants, who were pres
ent to-day, practically control legislation
in the House, gave rise to the belief that the
consultation referred to the legislative pro-
gramme in Congress, and might have a
bearing on the shaping of Cuban, Phil
ippine and war-revenue repeal legislation
There also was an intimation that the
President talked with his party leaders
in Congress about the Schley case, and
color was given to this surmise by a re-
mark dropped by one of the senator's
These surmises were seemingly verified
tonight,
The Post tomorrow will say concerning
ing the conference of the President with
Republicans leaders of the House and SEN
ate at the White House that the chief topic
was the ways and means committees bill
for the reduction of war revenue taxes
The Post will say that Speaker Henderson
and Representative Grosvenor explained
the reason for pushing that measure
through the House without permitting
amendment, the reason being that they
feared the reopening of the whole tariff
question should any other course be
adopted The Post further will say:
THE conference. IL is understood. re-
suited In the President consenting to the
plans of the House leaders and informing
them that he desired 10 have the war reve-
nue. reduction bill disposed OF as quickly as
possible. He shared the belief of the
speaker and Mr.. Grosvenor that delay was
menacing TO the chance of the bill passing.
Ii was decided that conference of the
Republican members of the committee
WAYS and means should be held immediate
" after the war revenue bill passes the
House for the purpose of ascertaining how
the members stand on the Presidents
proposition for a reduction in the tariff on
Cuban sugar 1t was agreed that this
should be the next important question
taken UP in the House.
THE Schley case was also under discus
sion at the conference. the President being
anxious that this disposition of the case
should not be followed by action in Con-
gress. Speaker Henderson was able to as
sure the President that legislation could be
blocked in the House. but il was pointed
out 10 him by the senators that the situa-
ton In the Senate was different. the more
liberal rules of that body allowing any