Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-16
CUBAN RECIPROCITY
NoChange in Situation Except
Strengthening the Lines.
BEET SUGAR MEN
WERE IN FREQUENT CONFER
ENcE DURING THE DAY.
President Palma Has Informed Presi-
dent Roosevelt That Rebate Propo-
sition is Excessively Objectionable.

| The only change in the situation OF the
Cuban reciprocity bill today was
| strengthening of the lines of the beet sugar
| senator's in opposition TO the bill and an in
crease OF defiance OF the administrator
policy. Some OF the beet sugar senator's
| insisted that there was no intention to re-
| cede from their position In favor of passing
| the bill as ii came from the House.
The administration republicans in the
Senate do not believe that the other side
are sincere in their declarations to that ef-
| feet. They think that the beet sugar men
are maintaining their present attitude In
the expectation that no legislation will re-
suit The beet sugar men think that rather
than pass the House bin through Congress
the reciprocity advocates would let the
whole plan of legislation go by default.
The beet sugar republicans of the House
| and Senate were I'm frequent conferences
! during the day. Their object is TO hit upon
/ plan Of procedure which will have the ef-
| feet OF causing the reciprocity men 10
abandon the bill. Thus far they have not
| disclosed any plan the working out Of
! which would have that effect.
Administration Senators Going Ahead.
The administration senators are going
ahead with the program decided upon last
Saturday and published at that time. The
| republicans OF the committee on relations
| with Cuba will meet tomorrow and Will re-
port a bill along the line of the Spooner
substitute. A general conference Of repuh-
licans of the Senate will follow next We'd
nesday. 1t is not al all certain that the
beet sugar senators will go into the con-
| ference. A few of the more radical oppo-
nents of reciprocity inclined 20 keep
out of the conferefce. Efforts viii be made
| to persuade them. however, that this con-
| ference is an undertaking Of republicans to
decide upon republican legislation and that
no republican senator should weaken the
effect OF the conference by absenting him
self.
The administration senator's did not de-
vote much time today to comforting among
| themselves. Their plan has already been
devised, and it now remains only for them
| to put 1t into execution, if possible. IL s in
| timated that efforts of the adm !nistration
senators to talk over the situation infor-
f! mally with individual opponents OF reci-
procity did not meet with success. a DISPOSE
tion to shyness and notable hes!tancy to
talk upon the outlook characterizing the
attitude of the beet sugar senator's.
President Palma Objects to Rebate.
President Palma has communicated 10
President Roosevelt his conviction that the
rebate proposition in regard to Cuban sugar
would be not only very Objectionable in it,
self but would be excessively expensive an1
almost impossible to carry out in the dis
tribution.
1T is not stated how this proposition was
communicated to President 70 1se welt. but Il
is assumed that Secretary Hay was the me
dunn, having been acquainted by Senor
Cuosada,- the Cuban minister, of Rresident
Palma opinion On that subject. The com
munication is regarded of the greatest
Importance and as demolishing the rebate
scheme, for though the message Is cour-
teous il is quite firm in tone. and IT, as
Sid m "a no rgh f4
ton is excessively obje ctionable," IL is as
sumed that he would not care to enter into
any treaty relations involving the adoption
of the rebate scheme.
The receipt Of the communication by the
President has added to the doubt which In
felt to the success OF the administra-
tons efforts to obtain satisfactory legisla-
tion upon the subject Of Cuban reciprocity
at the pending session Of Congress, for.
notwithstanding the Presidents antipathy
to the rebate plan, as set out In his mes
sage of last Friday to Congress II is un-
derstood that the thing was still possible
as extreme compromise. and the Prest-
dent might have been induced to yield his
own opinions rather than see the total de-
feat of all legislation in that line.
Should il become apparent that there fs
no possibility of an agreement between the
Senate and House upon the pending reci-
procity propositions, and, as already stated,
the prospects are regarded as less promis-
| ing from the administrators standpoint.
| then the President will probably endeayor
| TO Simplify the DrODltm 10y cropping inc
| House out of the calculation and negotist-
| ing treaty directly with President Palma
| 1t is true such a treaty would require the
approval of two-thirds of the Senate, but
| It is believed that under the changed con-
ditions that would not be impossible OF at
| tainment. At any rate, the situation would
be clarified by the omission Of the House
| from the calculation, and hence the project
| is being earnestly considered.
Another Alternative"
The beet sugar republicans were this
afternoon discussing another alternative"
which. If they decide to go into conferences
with their republican colleagues. may be
urged. The suggestion is that legislation
be abandoned for this session. and that
the President of the United States nego-
tiates during the summer and fall a reci-
procity treaty with Cuba to be submitted
to the next session of Congress. The best
sugar men claim for this plan the ad-
vantage that ii will unite the republican
party on the eve of the election and posf-
pone further talk about reciprocity until
after the election. They urge further that
the treaty would take The question out Of
the hands of the House altogether and
make il subject for the Senate TO act
upon alone.
The alternative was quite generally dis
cussed among senators this afternoon but
did not seem to appeal To the advocates OF
reciprocity. In the first place the scheme,
they say, fails TO accomplish the one thing
deemed necessary, namely, prompt and gen.
erous relief for Cuba However, if the plan
is formally broached at the republican con-
ference next "Wednesday there is no doubt
that it will receive consideration at the
hands of the advocates of reciprocity who
will hear what is claimed in behalf OF II,
if they are not able to acknowledge the
cogency of the reasons put forward.
Steps were taken by the beet sugar sena-
tors late this afternoon to bring the fore
going compromise to the attention Of the
reciprocity advocates Immediately, so that
il may be freely discussed before the con-
ference Of republicans assemblies next We'd
nesday. The proposed compromise was pre-
sented to the supporters of the administra-
tion policy in what might be termed a for
NAL manner, and Immediately pressure was
begun to be brought to bear by the beet
sugar men upon their colleagues to induce
them to consider the suggestion favoraby.
Cyclone and Tidal Wave. in India
BOMBAY, June 16.-A bad cyclone. ac-
companied by tidal wave. has swept over
Kurrachee. the princiDal scaport towu a