The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-19
REPUBLICANS | HOLD CAUCUS  Cannot Agree on Reci- prOcs Bill. BEET 5. 2 JAR MEN FIRM
 Unalterably Opposed to Any Concession. Evident That Congress Will Adjourn Without Taking Any Action for the Relief of the Cuban Republic.

Washington. June 1s.-The Republican Senators held a conference tonight on the subject of Cuban reciprocity. and after q flood of short speeches. adjourned until
 next Friday without action of any sort. Seventeen Senators, one after another, announced unalterabie position to a re- duction of the duty on Cuban sugars. and announcement was made that two oth- CTS not present stood with them.
 Senators Platt of Connecticut and Spooner of Wisconsin took the lead in
 behalf of the proposed legislation. and endeavored to convince the beet sugar
 Senators that the measure they had framed jointly would not injure any American interest, but their speeches made no impression on the opposition. and the conference adjourned until Friday at the desire of the friends of Cuban reel
 procity in order that they might have a
 last opportunity to try to agree on measure that the beet sugar Senators will accept.
 It was the general opinion after the conference that this session of Congress would adjourn without Cuban reciprocity legislation of any sort. The meeting was held in the Marble Room just off the Senate chamber. When at 8 o'clock Senator Allison, as chairman of the caucus. called the meeting to order, all the Republican Senators with six ex- captions were present. The six Senators who were not present were Messrs. De- pew. Deliver, Frye, Kearns, Mason and Simon.
 Senator Wellington, who has not acted with his party for the past two years, was among those in attendance. The conference was preceded fby two meetings, to which some significance was attached. The first of these was a gath ering of the Republican Steering Com mittee and the second. a dinner given by Senator Burrows in his committee room to the beet sugar Senators. The Steering Committee decided to rec
 ommend that the reciprocity bill he made
 the unfinished business after the disposal
 tomorrow of the isthmian canal bill. sub- ject of course, to the action of tonIght's conference.
 The Burrows dinner was attended by seventeen of the nineteen Senators who are pledged to opposition to the reel procity bill. A pool led to the announce ment that one-third of the Republican membership of the Senate was present at the dinner; that eleven States were represented, and that they were as firmly united as they ever had been.
 Senator Allison made a brief address in calling the conference to order and he was followed by Senator Platt of Connec- tiCut and Senator Burrows of Michigan, fof and against tariff reduction.
 Senator Allison pleaded for harmony and good feeling and a solid party front.
 Senator Platt explained the standpoint of those who favor a reduction of the tariff on Cuban goods. saying that the proposed reduction was in the direct line of policy which had been outlined by President Mckinley and as faithfully presented by President Roosevelt He dwelt somewhat on the necessity of pre- serving cordial relations with the Cuban people and advocated the bill which was yesterday promulgated by the Republi- can members of the Cuban committee, which bill was the joint product of him self and Senator Spooner.
 Senator Burrows presented to opposite view. speaking for the beet sugar advo- yates. He contended for the regularity from a Republican and from a protec- tive standpoint, of the position of the sugar men, He said he was not opposed to doing something for Cuba, but he did not be- iieve 1t is necessary to reduce the tariff fo- the purpose. or, if necessary to take that step, the entire burden should fall on one industry of farming. He argued that the beet sugar men were the real protectionists.
 Speeches were also made by Senators Elkins. Mitchell and Dietrich In opposi- ton to the measure.
 Senator Spooner made a conciliatory speech, urging the importance of the Re publicans agreeing. if possible. and ex- pressing the opinion that American in-. dustries would not be injured by the small concession 1t was proposed 10 grant to Cuba. and intimating that it would meet a demand that something be done for the Republic. The other beet sugar Senator's expressed themselves much in the same line as their predecessors. and declared unalterable opposition to the re- ciprocity bill.
 The discussion continued until the con- ference adjourned at 10:45 to meet again on the adjournment of the Senate Friday afternoon. No conclusion was reached, but the opinion was expressed even by those who would vote for a reciprocity bill that there was little possibility of passing such a measure at this session of Congress.
 The seventeen beet sugar Senators pres ent each made a speech saying that he would not support the Spooner bill or any measure of that character. State ments were made for Senators simon of Oregon and Mason of Illinois. who at- tended the conference but left early to the effect that they thoroughly agreed with their colleagues in opposition to the reciprocity bill.
 It is understood to be the purpose of the Senators still favoring reciprocity to consider what if anything can be done before the conferenve meets again by which they can secure a cooperation of the beet sugar Senators
 Interstate Bankers Association.