The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-19
Many short Speeches Made at Last
Nights Meeting, but Apparently
without Effect.
SEVENTEEN BEET-SUGAR MEN
ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD NOT VOTE
FOR CONCESSIONS TO CUBA.
Another Conference to BE Held Fri
day Night-Little Possibility of
Action by Congress.

on the subject of Cuban reciprocity, and,
after a flood of short speeches. adjourned
until next Friday without action of any
sort. Seventeen senator's, one after another.
duction of the duty on Cuban sugars, and
announcement was made that two others
not present stood with them. Senators
Plat of Connecticut, and Spooner, of Wis
consin, took the lead in behalf of the pro-
posed legislation and endeavored to con-
vince the beet-sugar senators that the
measure they had framed jointly would not
injure any American interest, but their
speeches made no impression on the oppo-
sition and the conference adjourned until
Friday at the desire of the friends of Cuban
reciprocity in order that they might have a
last opportunity TO try 10 agree on a meas
ure that the beet-sugar senator's will ac-
cept. 1t was the general opinion after the
conference that this session of Congress
would adjourn without Cuban reciprocity
legislation of any sort.
The meeting was held in the marble room,
just off the Senate chamber. When. at
o CLOCK, Senator Allison. as chairman Of the
caucus called the meeting 10 order all the
Republican senators. with six exceptions,
were present. Four of the six absentees
were out of the city The six senator's who
were not present were Messrs. Depew,
Dolliver, Frye Kcarns and Simon. Senator
Wellington, who has not acted with his
party for the past two years, was among
those in attendance and was among the
first to present himself.
The conference was preceded by two
meetings to which some signifcane was
attached. The first OF these was a gath
ering of the Republican steering commit
tee, and the second a dinner given by
Senator Burrows in his committee room to
the beet sugar senators. The steering
committee discussed nothing but the or
der of business in the Senate and decided
to recommend that the reciprocity bill be
made the unfinished business after the dis
posal tomorrow of the isthmian canal bill,
subject, of course, to the action or to-
nights conference. This is as far as the
committee felt that 1t could go indicating
its opinion to the conference, but this was
accepted as 4 pronouncement favorable TO
the proposed legislation.
BEET SUGAR REBELS"
The Burrows dinner was attended by
seventeen of the nineteen senators who
are pledged to opposition to the reciprocity
bill There was no effort to transform the
dinner into a conference, but the senators
present gathered in small groups for the
discussion of the situation. A poll led TO
the announcement that one-third of the
Republican membership of the Senate was
present at the dinner, that eleven States
were represented and that they were as
firmly united as they ever had been.
Senator Allison made a brief address in
calling the conference to order and he was
followed by Senator Plat, of Connecticut,
and Senator Burrows, of Michigan, for and
against tariff reduction. Senator Allison
pleaded for harmony, good feeling and a
solid marty front.
Senator Platt explained the standpoint
of those who favor reduction of the tariff
on Cuban goods, saying that the proposed
reduction was in the direct line of policy
which had been outlined by President Nc
Kinley and faithfully presented by
President Roosevelt. He dwelt somewhat
on the necessity of preserving cordial re-
lations with the Cuban people and advo-
Gated the bill which was yesterday promul-
gated by the Republican members of the
| Cuban committee, which bill was the joint
product of himself and Senator Spooner.
Senator Burrows presented the opposite
view speaking for the beet-sugar advo-
| from a Republican and protective stand
point of the position of the beet-sugar
men. He said they were not opposed to
| doing something for Cuba, but they did
| not believe it necessary to reduce the tariff
| for that purpose. or if necessary to take
that step, that the entire burden should
| fall on the one industry of farming. He
| argued that the beet-sugar men were the
| real protectionists.
BEET-SUGAR MEN SPOKE.
The discussion continued until the con-
| ference adjourned at 10:45 to meet on the
| adjournment of the Senate on Friday aft
ernoon No conclusion was reached but
| the opinion was expressed. even by those
| who would vote for a reciprocity bill, that
there was little possibility of passing such
! a measure at this session of Congress. The
seventeen beet-sugar senators present each
| do a Cnnpph that would not
| support the Spooner bill any measure
/ of that character. Statements were made
for Senators Simon, OF oregon, and Mason
| of Illinois, TO the effect that they thor
| oughly agreed with their colleagues in
| opposition TO the reciprocity bill. The nine
teen senators thus accounted for are;
and Simon of Oregon, Foster Of Washing
| ton Gamble and Kittridge of South Da-
kota. Nelson am, and clsPp of Minn Esi,c.1
and Scott of West Virginia. Jones and
| Stewart of Nevada, Burton of Kansas,
Burrows of Michigan, Mason of Illinois
| and Wellington of Maryland.
| At the conclusion of the speeches Senator
| Quay said what had been developed indi-
Gated that neither the original House bill
| nor the proposed Spo0ner substitute could
| pass, and he therefore moved adjourn
| ment. Senator Dietrich suggested that the
| conference might as well adjourn sine die,
| but this received no encouragement. SEN
ator Foraker said there were thirty other
| Republicans who had not been heard from,
| and il would be well for them to express
| their opinions even if there should be no
| one to listen 10 them. He took occasion to
say that he admired the organization of the
| beet sugar Republicans which had been
| shown in the course of the evening.
| Senator Platt, of Connecticut, in his
| speech early in the evening insisted that
| the proposed substitute for the House bill
| would not harm the beet sugar interests,
and said that If he thought so he would
| not be for il. He also went into the sub
ject OF the relations Of the United States
with Cuba and dwelt on the fact that there
! had been an implied promise of tariff con-
l CesSions for Cuban products. Senator Bur
| rows in the course of his reply said the
| ostensible purpose of the proposed reci-
| procity measure to benefit a foreign
| country, but that its real purpose would be
| 10 benefit the largest purchaser of raw
| sugar, and that the concession granted
10 the consumer of raw sugar in the United
| States-the sugar trust.
REBATE FAVORED BY ELKINS.
Senator Elkins said he thought il unwise
and inexpedient to attempt 10 revise the
tariff on any particular schedule, and de-
clared there was no necessity Of doing any
thing more for Cuba. and that the island
would be prosperous under it's new condi-
| tions. He said that the best method to afd
| Cuba If such aid was granted at all. was 2
rebate paid directly into the Cuban treas
ury.
Senator Mitchell said that the Republican
party had always been a unit on the sub
ject of protection. and this first division
had grown out OF an attempt 10 reduce tn,
duty on one single product. He said tina
nineteen senators from twelve States