Evening star., 1902-05-09
PERMANENT TREATY
President Palma's Reported
Declarations.
NO EFFECT Fl ON SENATE
MAY M USED BY BEET SUGAR
MEN.
Will Be No Combination With Demo-
Gratis on Account of Their
Present Course.
mo EFFECT ON SENATE

The reported declaration of President
Palma OF Cuba that the Cubans- would
withhold the permanent treaty with the
United States until the American Congress
grants tarff concessions causes little con-
Germ to senators interested IN the feeiproc
lty Dill, except so far as the alleged threat
may be used by the beet sugar men to urge
deferring action on the bill.
The beet sugar republicans in the Senate
are disposed to seize every opportunity for
delay which may present itself. Delay
seems about the only means of saving grace
that the prospect holds for them. The
hope Of max Ting combinations with the
democrats to indirectly defeat the bill by
attacking the differential duty on sugar,
attenuated at best has perished Of mani
tlon The decision of the republican lead
ers to insist upon the retention Of the diff
ferential duty and to make the reciprocity
bill party measure brought possible in
surgents face to face with a proposition
which they could not contemplate.
Course of Democrats.
The course of the democrats in the past
few days has been calculated to further
discourage republicans from entertaining
relations with them, for any reason what
ever. The action Of the republican leaders
In forcing the fighting on the Philippine
bill will compel republican senators to fol-
low, even If they had entertained sugges-
tions from the enemy for a combination on
the differential
There is no doubt the beet sugar senators
would be glad If President Palma should
hold back in the traces pending the passage
OF the Cuban reciprocity bill. They would
Immediately take the other end Of the situ-
alton and says, Don't let's pass the tariff
Dill until the Cubans agree to the perma-
nent treaty"
The, disposition Of the republican leaders
is to pay no attention to reports from Cuba
of the alleged utterances or attitude Of the
Cuban officials Two programs are to be
carried out simultaneously, and it makes
no difference which one is first completed.
Preparations for giving over the admins
tration of Cuba to the Cubans will proceed
steadily in Cuba; efforts to pass the Cuban
reciprocity bill as means of facilitating
the prosperity Of Cuba will continue un-
abated in, Congress.
Ed. Good Faith Assumed.
1t will be assumed that the Cubans, in
tend in good faith to carry out the promise
which is written In the Cuban constitution,
being section 8 of the Platt amendment, in
these words: sss
THAT by way of further assurance the
government Of Cuba will embody the fore
going provision in permanent treaty with
the United States" The REIMBURSEMENT Of
United States authority in the island goes
on apace, based upon that agreement.
There is no stipulation in the bond that
tariff concessions shall be made. 1t Is gen.
orally accepted that an unofficial promise
was made to try to effect such concessions,
and the republican administration Is con-
scientiously trying to fulfill that promise.
But, it is pointed out, there Is no just
ground for permitting the negotiation
along that line to interfere with tho carry
ing out of prior stipulationas upon which
the whole fabric of Cuba's liberty rests.