The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-19
Republican Senatorial Confer snce Fails to Bring Peace
 and Is Postponed
CUBAN LEGISLATION
 MORE REMOTE THAN EVER
Minority Favors Fighting It Out, But Leaders Fear the Result of Open Discussion on the Party's
 Chances.
BY WATTERsoN sTEALEY.

BY WATTERSoN STEALEY.
 Washington, June 1S.-(Special.) .)-The Republican senatorial caucus met to- night and after two hours of fruitless discussion adjourned over until next Fri day The beet sugar Republicans were organized to do all the talking tonight, and shut out the administrations spokes- man. There seems to be no definite change in the situation and the admin istration with a pronounced Republican majority In the upper branch or Con- eress seems unable to rally enough votes to its aid to pass the Cuban re- lief measure.
 A number of administration senators are in favor of fighting 1t out on the floor of the Senate, but probably major ity prefer to postpone all Legislation un- less the necessary forty-fve votes are forthcoming from the Republican side. They argue that the open debate will be injurious to the party, accentuate Republican differences, and after all may not result in the passage Of the bill. It Is believed here that the Spooner bill would pass the Senate if 1t ever came to a vote
 Fear the Democrats.
 The administration leaders fear, how ever. that there would not be a clear Renublican majority and Democratic votes would be instrumental in passing it. number of Democrats are known to be favorable to any reciprocity bill, Morris amendment or not. The fact that the House would probably not accept the Spooner bill is an additional argu- ment with reciprocity senators, that the hest thing for them to do is to throw the bill over. If reciprocity fails as is probable the administration leaders are as much to blame as the beet sugar he- publicans. If the former are really sin cere they can accept the house Dill un- amended giving Cuba twenty per cent. Of course the Morris amendment on the house bills hits the sugar trust to the extent of nearly five million dollars an- nually, but it would be thought that since Congress is bound by every con- sideration of honor and expectancy to assist Cuba that the sugar trust ought not to be allowed to stand in the way. Rather than injure the sugar trust, how ever, the Republican majority seems to prefer no legislation for Cuba.
 Seventeen Oppose 1t.
 At the conference tonight seventeen senators. one after another announced unalterable opposition to a reduction of the duty on Cuban sugars, and announce ment was made that two others not pres ent 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 polntly would not injure and 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 been sugar senators will accept. It was the general opin- ion after the conference that this ses- sion of congress would adjourn without Cuban reciprocity legislation of any sort. The meeting was held In the marble room just off the senate chamber There at 8 o'clock Senator Allison. as chair man of the caucus. called the meeting to order all the Republican senators with six exceptions being present.
 Six Senators Absent.
 The six senators who were not present were Messrs. Depew, Mason, Deliver. Frye, Kearns and Simon. Senator Wel-- lington, who has not acted with his party for the past two years, was among those in attendance The conference was pre- ceded by two meetings to which some sig nifcance was attached. The first of these was a gathering of the Republican steer ing committee and the second dinner given by Senator Burrows in his com mittee room to the beet sugar senators. The steering committee decided to rec ommend that the reciprocity bill be made the unfinished business after the disposal tomorrow of the isthmian canal bill sub feet, of course, to the action of tonights conference.
 The Burrows dinner was attended by seventeen of the nineteen Senators who are pledged to the opposition of the reef procity bill A pool led to the announce nent that one-third of the Republican, ship of the Senate was present at the sinner; that eleven states were represent ed 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 Cor and against tariff reduction. Senator Allison pleaded for harmony, good feel tnG and solid party front.
 Senator Platt explained the standpoint cf those who favor reduction of the tariff on Cuban goods, saying that the nrcposed reduction was in the direct line of policy which had been outlined by president Mckinley and as faithfully nresented by President Roosevelt. He dwelt somewhat or tke necessity of pre- serving cordial relations with the Cuban pecple and advocated the bill which was yesterday promulgated by the Republican members of the Cuban committee, which hill was the joint product of himself and Senator Spooner
 contended for Popularity.
 Senator Burrows presented the oppo-