The evening times., 1902-06-18

Unless all signs fail, the conference
tonight of the Republican Senators viii
result in postponing the Cuban reci-
procity question until next winter.
Exercising its prerogative of -adTis-
ing the President on treaty making.
the Senate will it is expected, adopt a
resolution authorizing the Chief Execu-
tive to negotiate a reciprocity treaty
with Cuba and submit 1t for ratification
next session.
Il is barely possible. however, that no
resolution advising the President
viii be passed upon, and the entire sub
Ject viii be permitted to drop.
President Disappointed
The President is greatly disappointed
at the failure OF the party IN Congress
to get together, but regards the outcome
as less of a personal disappointment
to hin than an injury to the Republican
party. He is still hopeful that the Sen
ate may yet agree upon some compro-
mise plan that VIII, at least, be q step
in the right direction.
In case the Senate eaucus tonight
should decide to let the matter drop
entirely, without any recommendations
for 2 treaty. the President would still
have the right to negotiate such a
treaty and cali special session to rat
1fy il.
Love Feast Anticipated.
OF the fifty four Republicans in the
Senate. all Of whom are expected to at
tend the conference IN the Marble Room
at O'Clock tonight there are said to
be thirty-fve who viii support this
method OF avoiding a disagreea5le party
split on the eve of the Congressional
campaign. Harmony, it is believed, viii
prevail. and instead of resulting in an
exciting fight that it was expected would
last for hours. the conference viii be
virtually love feast.
Administration Leaders Give Up.
Senators Mcmillan and AIdrich. who
have been among the foremost Of the
representatives of the Administration on
this question, admit that they expect
this action to be taken by the confer
ence. and unless something unexpeet-
ed happens, the Platt bill, with the
Spooner amendment attached, about
which so much has been heard recently,
VIII be abandoned
II the program goes through and the
question is referred to the Presi-
cent for settlement by treaty, it is
generally expected that Congress viii
adjourn for the session about the ID or
Sd of July, and nothing more viii be
heard about Cuban reciprocity. 1t is
hoped. until after the fall elections
The chief sufferers by the postponement
a Is thought. will be the people of
Cuba, and not the people of the United
States.
Conference Begins.
A conference Of the steering commit
tee, as arranged. Was begun this after
noon, and it is expected that plan will
be decided upon to be presented before
the caucus tonight.
The steering committee is composed
Of the following: Senators Aldrich OF
Rhode Island, Allison Of Iowa. Hale Of
Maine. CuIIom of Illinois. Lodge Of Mas
sschusetts. Clark of Wyoming. spooner
Of Wisconsin. Hanna Of Ohio, EIkins Of
West Virginia. Beveridge Of Indiana
and Perkins Of California
The plan that the steering committee
e considering. and which they may de-
eide TO report to the caucus, involves
the passage Of resolution postponine
far the present the question OF the
passage OF a Cuban tariff bill, and au-
thorizing the President to negotiate a
reciprocity treaty with Cuba to be sub