The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-27

President Said to
Have Made His
Point.

| NEW YORK, February ia special
| to the Sun from Washington says:
President RooseveIts recommendations
| for tariff concessions to Cuba, submit
ted in his annual message to Congress,
will be acted upon during the coming
week AS soon as the bill abolishing
! the internal revenue war taxes shall
have passed the House, Tuesday after
noon, in accordance with a special rule
that will be adopted tomorrow for con-
sideration of the bill, the Republican
members of the Ways and Means Com
mittee will hold a conference and agree
upon programme for framing and
passing the Cuban tariff reduction bill
This programme was agreed to at a
White House conference this morning
between the President, who called it,
and Speaker Henderson, Representa-
tives Grosvenor and Cannon, and Sen
ators Plat of Connecticut, Spooner, AL
drich and Allison. President Roose-
welt told the Senators and Representa-
tives during the talk, which lasted for
an hour and a half, just how import
ant he thinks il is that the United
States shall keep its written and I'M
written pledges to Cuba, and said in
language so plain that it could not be
misunderstood that he had not weak
ened in the slightest degree since send
ing his message to Congress in De-
cember. Some one had reported him,
he said, as being willing to compro-
mise, but there was nothing for him
to compromise in view of the fact that
all he wants is legislation that will re-
lieve Cuba's crying distress and make
good to her the implied promises of the
United States
Before. this had been accomplished
the legislative situation in the House
was considered and the President was
especially anxious for information as to
the programme for the passage on
Tuesday of the bill aDolishing the war
revenue taxes. The Speaker and Rep !
reSentat tive GroSvenor explained to him !
the rule that would be adopted on Mon |
day setting aside that day and the next !
for debate on the bill and providing for |
a vote at o'clock Tuesday
The President was told that the re-
port of Representative Tawney, the Re
publican whip of the House, shows that
there would be majority of at least
twenty-five for the adoption of the
rule, although it is feared that a few
under the lead of Repre-
sentative Babcock may refuse to vote
for the rule. being disgruntled at the
recent action of the Ways and Means
Committee in refusing to accept the
Babcock tariff reduction bill an
amendment, or to accept any Sugges-
tons as to general tariff changes.
Another important matter decided is
that the Senate VIII accept the bill
abolishing the war taxes as it passes
the House, with only such unimportant
as may be found desirable
when the bill is under consideration by
the Finance Committee. The House
plan to wipe out all. the war taxes will
pc agreed to, and the attempt at tar
If changes or tariff debate will thus
De checkmated. 1t was the unanimous
opinion that there is every reason why
here should be no tariff legislation at
his session, and there will be none.
AS to the precise form of the bill re-
Iucing the tariff on imports OF Cuban
PRODUCTS into the United States, there
5 still much uncertainty. Some Re
publican members of the Ways and
Means Committee are adverse to sup
PORTING any bill of this kind. At least
wo Of the gentlemen who were at the
White House conference represent So
allied beet-sugar States, and they say
hat to lower the duty on Cuban sugar
would be to ruin the beet sugar indus
~ of their constituents.
In view, however. of the earnestness
f the Presidents recommendations {
hat the appeals of Cuba be needed, and
ccepting the advice of their party col
aagues in the Senate and House. these
zen agree to stand by the programme
f enacting a bill for Cuba's relief. The
FORK viii be taken up as soon as the
-ar tax bill is disposed of Tuesday. t
10