The sun., 1902-03-11
FIGHT FOR CUBA NEARLY WON
AN AGREEMENT EXPECTED
WITHIN A FEW DAYS.
Republican Leaders working Night and
Day 10 BrinG Their Colleagues Into
Line with the Administration-The
Rect Sugar Men Noisy and Conndcnt.

WASHINGTON, March 10--Slowly but
surely the parliamentary tangie over the
question Of Cuban tariff legislation Is being
unwound, and within a few days there is
almost certain to be an agreement. between
the Republicans Of the House OF Representa-
tives to stand by the proposition Of the
Ways and Means Committee for reciprocal
reduction in the tariff rates between Cuba
and the United States. Republicans will
get together tomorrow night In the fourth
attempt TO harmonic the conflicting inter-
ests, and while il Is not certain that the
controversy will be ended then, it will
not be many days before harmonious action
will be reached Speaker Henderson
and Representative Cannon are working
night and day TO bring their colleagues
into line with the Administration, and the
President and members Of the Cabinet
and one or two Senators noted especially
for their skill In steering legislation through
rocky and narrow channels are super
vising the work.
The beet sugar men are more than ever
noisy to-day In claiming that they will
never yield and in declaring that II to-
morrow's conference. or one TO be called
subsequently,, takes any action il will be 10
indefinitely postpone the whole subject.
But even while making these announce
ments many OF the beet sugar men are
anxiously seeking a plan Of compromise,
as they recognize the fact that some legisla-
ton must be enacted In line with the Presi-
dents recommendations and that they
are not justified in standing out against
their party colleagues.
Every possible argument is being used
by the Administration and the leaders
in the Senate and House to demonstrate
the absolute necessity Of united party
action In line with the policy of the Govern
ment and in emphasizing the Importance
of unanimity Of action in any agreement
that is reached. Some OF the moro radical
Republicans still insist that the President
| should send to Congress a special message
| embodying his views, but in doing this
| they lose sight Of the situation as II exists
| In the House. There are now 200 Republican
Representatives and they constitute
majority Of A Of the whole House. The
plan of the Ways and Means Committee
| involves of course, the adoption OF special
rule for the consideration OF their pending
| proposition, under which no amendments
| can be offered to Ii and no debate will be
allowed. The Democrats, a large number
| Of whom are ready TO vote for tar1h re-
| duction, would never vote for such rule
as that, but would offer amendments to
any plan that might be brought tII into otlN the
mittee. Then. II Speaker Henderson
should decide that amendments providing
for a change In the general tarih laws were
not gerniane to the subject, twenty-three
beet sugar members voting with the Demo-
Gratis would destroy the Republican ma
jority OF ~ in the house and upset the whole
plan,
outlined above. the necessity of having
unanimous agreement among the Repubh-
cans before any programme is adopted IS
plain. The list in possession of those in
charge Of the canvass to-day shows that
there would be no trouble whatever in
getting a majority now for any proposition
OF the Ways and Means Committee, but IL Is
not majority that is wanted. II is unani-
nous agreement, and this Is what the Re-
publican leaders confidently expect TO
get within a day OF two.
The latest proposition submitted by the
leaders OF both houses as n compromise
agreement should one become necessary,
provides for the gradual Increase OF the
amount Of tariff reduction to Cuba each
year for three or four years until II should
cease altogether.
The conference tonight Of the Republi-
can members Of the House who are opposed
10 tariff concessions to Cuba adopted,
after some three hours debate, resolu-
tions reciting the declaration OF the Repub-
lican platform Of 1900 with regard TO the
protective tariff and asserting that the
Republican party in Congress means 10
| stand by that declaration.
The resolution also declare that in line
with this policy all propositions looking
to any disarrangement OF the existing
| tariff through concessions TO Cuba be in
| definitely postponed.
The Steering Committee appointed by
| the conference made its report and an
| nounced that a majority Of the Republican
| members Of the House we're pledged against
the concessions proposed by the Ways and
Means Committee, and with this conf
! dence Il was agreed that at Tomorrow
nights caucus a vote be had II possible on
that and all other propositions pending or
| offered.
The Steering Committee was directed
70 reach. II possible. an amicable arrange
ment with the supporters OF the Ways
| and Means Committee for taking a vote
on the various propositions at 10 o'clock
| Tomorrow night.
The members Of the conference expressed
| absolute confidence this evening that they
would be able to defeat the proposed con-
| cessions TO Cuba at tomorrow nights
caucus and that the motion to indefinitely
| postpone the matter would be carried.