Evening star., 1902-02-24
CONCESSION TO CUBA
PROPOSED cur OF TWENTY PER
cEN31N ipoRT DUTIES.
Action Of fsRepubhcans on Ways and
Means Comlhittee- Opposition
Of Western Men.

The republicans Of the ways and means
committee bfougfft their series OF confer
ences over the Cuban tarin question to a
close at 5 o'clock Saturday evening by the
adoption Of the following resolution:
Resolved that It Is the sense Of the ma
jority members Of this committee subject
to the approval Of the republican members
Of the House In caucus assembled to be
held as soon as practicable, that the COM
mittee report a bill in substance authorlz-
Ing the President to negotiate reciprocity
treaty with the Cuban republic When es-
tablished providing for the entry OF our
products into Cuba upon such terms as
shall be deemed by him to be advantageous
to us; provided, however, that such treaty
shall secure for our products going INTO
Cuba dhtdes less than those allowed other
countries substantially equivalent to the
concessions made us; that the consideration
upon our part for such treaty SHAH De a
concession Of twenty per cent or our taruI
duties upon imports, the products OF Cuba
upon this condition: that Cuba shall hrst
enact our immigration laws.
The republicans of the House will hold a
conference tomorrow night to pass upon
the recommendation of the republicans or
the committee upon ways and means IL
Will not be caucus. The republican rep
resentatiVes of the western states Wnlcn
grow beets for sugar making have served
notice that they will not go into the meet
ing If it is to be caucus. and II the reso-
luton of the caucus Is to be binding upon
all republicans.
Western Opposition.
The Michigan, California. Washington,
Oregon. Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and
probably other delegations in the House
will fight the proposed reciprocity bull. The
Michigan delegation in the House held a
meeting yesterday afternoon and resolved
upon this course. All day today they were
In conference with republicans OF otner
western delegations urging them to join the
movement In opposition to the proposed
reciprocity bill.
4. - s.ateu explicitly that the action OF
the majority of the ways and means COM
Elittee Saturday was not unanimous. Mr.
Metcalf Of California. one of the members
of the committee said this afternoon to a
Star reporter that the statements that the
agreement was unanimous did injustice to
those members Of the committee who nave
steadfastly held out against any cut In the
tariff and against action detrimental to the
industries of this country. He said the
California delegation would not go into 4
caucus and bind themselves to abide by a
decision to accept bill which would do
such damage to a great American industry.
While not wishing to speak for any other
delegation he thought that other western
delegations would take the same stand
Tariff Revision Opposed.
The reciprocity bill will also be opposed,
1t is understood. by republicans who are
averse to anything like tariff revision They
say that this bill will open up the whole
question Of tariff revision. will let in amend
ments to revise other schedules and will
revive the agitation for reciprocity treaties
with Germany, France and the British West
IEdies.
There is every indication. therefore, that
the conference of republicans tomorrow
night will be a very lively affair. 1t will
be observed that the majority of the ways
and means committee put forward their bill
with the distinct reservation that it shall
be subject to the approval Of a majority of
the republicans of the House. The high pro-
tectionists claim that the action of the
committee was tentative, not intended to be
final, and that they have every encourage
ment to refuse 20 agree to the proposition
put forward.