New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-06
80 MESSAGE At PRESENT
TIE PRESIDENT ANXIOUS FOR
PARTY HARNONY.
r,s ATTITUDE TOWARD CUBAN RE
LIEF FUNCHANGED-ACTIO OF THE
CAUCUS IN DOUBT
re- TELEGRAPH - rITF TRIBUNE !


z-.,,rg+on March 5.-while not receding an
- ,,on7 his firm qnd resoure stand for rect
-,o,v with Cuba. President Roosevelt has de-
-. not 70 send a special message to Congress
,,sss tnat course is shown to be absolutely
.,ssssrv Speaker Henderson and Chairman
-,,,o7 of the House Appropriations Commit
=. uera in conference with the President on
-. suhizct Tor half an hour today. and the
president learned from them the exact condition
:, the Cuban case ~ present.
0-Aerher or not rho House Republicans AT
,bs,r third conference tomorrow night will
s5opt the PAYNE bill providing for general reci-
nrocitv OF = 20 per cent basis. IS still a mat
tsr Of speculation. Although the beet root
,obbvists assert that they have made poll of
,bs Repuhllcan side Of the House which shows
rirerv-fve votes pledged against reciprocity. ii
,s not denied bv members most outspoken in
their opposition that If the supporters Of reci-
,,ocitv should force vote at to-rnorrow's con
ference between the Tawney rebate proposition
and the bill reported by Chairman Payne for
the wavs and Means Committee. the latter
would win by & substantial majority.
HOPE FOR AN AGREEMENT.
But even then the trouble would not he over.
On the contrary. It is feared that if an early
escision IN favor Of reciprocity should be forced
~ the majority. q strong and stubborn opposi-
tlon would spring up on the Republican side Of
the House which would lead to a form Of party
embarra ssment that none Of the leaders want 10
.scs a. this time Hence, the only reason for
o. much careful consultation over Cuba at this
1uncture IS the strong and determined desire
n high circles TO prevent anything like party
spl,t over this or any other question. There
ere 50 many Western members and some from
the Easr who have been made 10 believe by the
teet root lobbyists that they VIII be defeated
fer reelection II Cuban reciprocity legislation IS
enacted a. this session that II is dangerous to
party harmony n precipitate the question on
the House this time. and so 1t IS probable
that it viii be postponed To the last moment in
The confident belief, not only that the measure
will pass with large majority. but also that
& wil get nearly every Republican vote
Speaker Henderson and the Committee Rules
could easily prevent all this trouble If they
reporting a special rule preventing amendments
snd limiting debate the bill
At the conference tomorrow night II is ex-
TeCted that the friends Of reciprocity will rally
end make demonstration Of their real strength
70 put end 10 the stories that they
are in the minority This does not necessarily
mean that they are determined to show the beet
root people that they have strength enough 20
vote from the beet root districts II is gen
orally conceded. however that they will wait
Until ths bill can be made party measure and
then VIII push IL.
But above and beyond all this doubt is the
certainty that even IL the House should con-
rfnue 70 delay relief for Cuba indefinitely the
Senate leaders can be depended upon to find a
way 10 bring the House into line In spite of all
reports 10 the contrary, the best Informed opin-
io1 II Washington is that Cuban reciprocity
lee'siaf0n VIII he enacted at this session.