Evening star., 1902-02-01
That Body Favorable to Reciprocity
With Cuba.
WILL NOT PASS HOUSE BILL
Ways and Means Committee
FIayed by the Press.
CONFER WITH PRESIDENT

1t is considered practically certain that
the Senate Will refuse to make the sweep
Ing reduction Of war taxes recommended
by the ways and means committee. II is
also probable that If the House does not do
something for Cuba in the meantime the
war tax reduction bill viii ceme back 10
the House with further amendment pro-
vidihg for a p per cent reduction of the
tariff on Cuban products
The Senate republicans are convinced that
limited reciprocity with Cuba is advisable,
and will not ravage American industries
The Senate has been waiting for the House
to act and will wait a little longer, but Just
as certain as the ways and means commit
tees policy with regard to Philippines tariff
legislation has been reversed by the Senate,
just as surely is 1t expected that the Senate
will set the pace for Cuban tariff legislation
If the House does not.
What Was Contemplated.
The republican senator's who favor Cuban
reciprocity, believing the ways and means
committee was hostile, contemplated at one
time tacking a Cuban amendment to the
Philippines bill. This idea was abandoned.
however, by request of the senator's having
charge of the bill. who earnestly urged that
the bill should not be hampered, but should
stand as an urgency measure to meet the
tarin situation In the Philippines raised by
the United States Supreme Court decision
1t is admitted however, that it would be
in order to amend a strictly revenue bill.
such as the war tax reduction bill. with A
Cuban tariff provision and it Will be done
accordingly il the House does not act in
the meantime.
Not Approved by the People.
The war tax reduction proposed by tho
ways and means committee has not re-
ceived that need of unqualified approval
from the country which the committee ex-
cd he fe n,
in the fact that the tax burdens of which
the mass of the people complained had
been removed at the last session. The
taxes now proposed to be removed rested
mainly upon beer, wines. tobacco. stock
deals, etc, legitimate objects of taxation in
the estimation of many people. The only
real pressure upon the committee for fur
ther reduction came from the brewers.
They received a partial reduction last ses-
sion, but We're not content, and continued
the agitation for more. Wall street WIS
mainly interested in the game to keep The
money paid In taxes in circulation instead
of paying ii into the treasury.
These facts are not overlooked by Sena-
tors opposed to such a sweeping reduction
! OF the revenues of the government at this
time, and II is said Will weigh in the con-
sideration of the war tax reduction bill
when it comes before the Senate.
FIayed by the Press.
Not in recent years has the ways and
means committee received such a flayine az
it is now undergoing at the hands of the
influential republican press OF New York,
Philadelphia, Chicago and other cities for
its action in the war tax reduction case asd
its non-action in Cuba's cause. Notwith-
standing Chairman Paynes assurance that
the committee has not abandoned considera-
ton of Cuban reciprocity there is general
tendency to look to the Senate for practical
legislation upon that subject, and all tax
now centers upon the Senate's probable
course.
Speaker Henderson and Mr.. Dalzell were
in conference with the President today, and
the friends of Cuban reciprocity are expect
ing In view of the Presidents expression 70
the cabinet yesterday of his advocacy OF 4
% per cent cut in the tariff, that the Pres
ident's views may find reflection In tho
House soon, at least to the extent of remOv-
ing opposition to the Senate's program fr
Cuban reciprocity.