The Washington times., 1902-02-02
HANGLE over THE
CUBAN CONCESSION
Administration Senators De-
termined to Force 1t.
CUBA'S NOT AN ORDINARY CASE
Public Sentiment Expected to Cause
the Ways and Means Committee to
Act in Accordance with the De-
sires of the Asiministr

Administration Senators are on the
warpath and Republican members of the
Ways and Means Committee who are hold
ing off relief for Cuba are hunting cover.
The general belief is that before any
action is taken looking toward relief for
Cuba the majority of the Ways and Means
Committee will have to be forced into it
by public sentiment, which is strongly
behind the Administration.
President Roosevelt talked over the Gu
ban question with the Cabinet at consid-
cradle length Friday. and after the
meeting it was announced that the Admin
istration would press the question before
Congress with all the power it possesses.
1t was also announced that IL the conces-
sions could not be made to amount to so
per cent or 80 per cent of the present
rate 25 per cent would be accepted-any-
thing, so long as some relief bill is
passed.
Cubn n Special Case.
.@ Spokesman for the Administration in
the Senate insist that the House leaders.
including Speaker Henderson. who is now
said to be the leader against Cuba. are
acting in opposition to public sentiment.
to the Administration, to a majority of
the Senate and to majority of the
House. They do not seem to realize that
the question of Cuba. over which the
United States holds sovereignty, is far
different from that of other countries
with which reciprocity has been proposed.
The Administration thinks it extreme
ly bad policy and a violation of all of
our obligations to appear to be forcing
Cuba TO come into the United States. In
view of the resolutions which brought the
war with Spain, which expressly stated
that the object was not the acquisition
of territory. such action. it is declared
would put America in al extremely un-
fortunte position before the world.
To Give Committee n Chance.
Ways and Means Committee another
chance to yield TO public sentiment and
bring in a bill 1t was the original in
tention to put Cuban relief in the Philip
pine tariff bill but as this will be passed
within ten days or two weeks it has been
decided to give the House more time to
act, and then. if nothing is done, the bill
granting concessions TO Cuba Will come to
the House on the war revenue reduction
measure.
Administration Senators insist that
there are not twenty members of the up
per branch VINO will vote against relief,
and these come almost entirely from
the sugar beet States. They further say
that a bill for relief would undoubtedly
pass the House by a safe majority, and
that the committee, in postponing action,
manifestly acts against the sentiment of
both branches.
VIII Amend Philippine Bill.
The Senate will amend the Philippine
tariff bill, and it now seems probable
that some amendment will be put in the
war revenue reduction measure. Some of
the more conservative Senators think
bill providing for complete repeal of war
taxes is altogether too sweeping in view
of the large appropriations that will be
called for. They also think the House is
missing its opportunity as representa-
tive body in enacting so much hasty leg
islation. as they term it.
Representative Hopkins, who is publicly
in favor of substantial concessions, still
thinks bill will come from the commit
tee. Meanwhile. the Democrats of the
committee, with the exception of Mr..
Robertson of Louisiana, are finding much
amusement in the present state of affairs
and are inclined to allow the Republican
Administration and Republican leaders in
the House to fight ii out among them
selves.
Mr.. Payne's Statement.
Chairman Payne, in a prepared state
ment, denied that in taking up the war
tax question the committee had sought to
dispose of Cuban reciprocity.
The fact is" said Mr.. Payne, that the
Ways and Means Committee has taken no
vote on the subject OF Cuban reciprocity,
nor has there been any such conference or
exchange OF views among the members, or
among the Republicans of the committee.
as would warrant any conclusion that
there was no purpose to deal with the
subject OF Cuban reciprocity. That sub
ject is TO receive the full and early at
tention of the Ways and Means Commit
tee, and any report suggesting that 1t has
been covertly prejudiced is unwarranted
by the facts.
Equally unwarranted is the statement
that any informal exchanges among the
members OF the committee disclose a ma
jority against any action on Cuban reci-
procity-"