New-York tribune., 1902-01-29
RELIEF FOR CUBA ASSURED
LEADERS OF THE SENATE DETER
MINED TO ACT.
HOPE THAT THE HOUSE MAY YET TAKE
THE INITIATIVE IN RECIPROCITY
LEGISLATION.
[BY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.I


Washington, Jan. 2S.-While the leaders of the
Senate have not yet despaired of the House TAX
ing the initiative in reciprocity legislation for
Cuba, still they are prepared to give Cuba tariff
relief should the House get into such tangle
as to be unable to pass bill for the benefit of
the island. In spite of widespread reports to
the contrary based mainly on conclusions
drawn from the supposed attitude of a majority
of the Ways and Means Committee during the
hearings the subject of Cuban reciprocity, 1t
is not at all certain that the House will not pass
a bill carrying liberal concessions to Cuban
sugar and tobacco. At to-day's hearings it was
made plain that Mr.. Hopkins. of Illinois, hearth
ly favors the reciprocity proposition, and that
he intends to make hard fight for Cuba from
now on in the Ways and Means Committee, of
which he is one of the most influential members.
The necessity and the obligation of concessions
to the island have been so amply demonstrated
by the hearings before the Ways and Means
Committee that virtually what little opposition
that existed at one time in the Senate has dis
appeared. and. in the opinion of many of the
most influential members of that body. the op-
position in the House also has been very greatly
weakened. 1t is therefore. beginning to be gem
orally believed that within week or two bill
for substantial tariff reductions to Cuba will
he introduced in the House. and though it may
not reach final vote, there until near the close
of the session. there is now very little doubt
that 1t will get through.
But even If the House should show a set de-
termination to do nothing for Cuba. the Senate
be depended upon to make reciprocity
treaty with the island when the govern
ment is formed. There is no longer much ques-
tion to the power Of the Senate to do this
and the constitutional issue involved soon will
be discussed upon the floor of the Senate, and
settled finally and definitely. Nor is there
longer any uneasiness to danger of violating
the favored nation clause by entering into
reciprocity arrangement with Cuba. This ques-
tion has been carefully studied by Senator Platt
of Connecticut: Senator Spooner, of Wisconsin
and other leaders OF the Senate, with the result
that means relief for Cuba through the treaty
1t is decided to resort TO that means.
1t is understood that the War Depart
ment has abandoned it's intention of framing a
bill for reciprocity with Cuba At time II
thought that Secretary Root would be
asked TO frame measure embodying the ideas
of Governor General Wood the subject an
aid TO the legislation that eventually will be
enacted. But Senator Platt and other members
OF the Committee on Relations with Cuba have
so familiarized themselves with the situation
viewed by the War Department that ii is be-
lieVed Mr.. Root docs not now consider II neces-
sary for him TO put his ideas in the form of
bill.
The Senate's attitude toward the House on
at all likely that anything will be done in the
upper chamber that would be calculated to hu-
initiate aggravate the House to the extent of
endangering the cause Of Cuba.