New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-12
NO ACTION BY CAUCUS.
PROLONGED CONTEST OVER
RELIEF FOR CUBA.
ADJOURNMENT TAKEN UNTIL TUESDAY
AFTER HOT DEBATE-A COM
PROMISE PROPOSED.


ence OF the House Republicans on the Cuban
reciprocity question was fruitless. like those
tnat preceded il, adjourning at midnight until
next Tuesday The victory was with the advo-
Gates OF reciprocity as the motion to adjourn
was carried, - TO ~. after motion 10 amend
so as 10 make II sine die adjournment. offered
by Mr.. Littleheld. OF Maine one Of the leaders
/ OF the opposition had been voted dovrn. 81 to 70
Inc motion 70 adjourn was made by Speaker
Henderson. and the opponents Of reciprocity as
serted aTter the adjournment that shine OF their
| friends did not care to offend the Speaker by
! oeclinlns to heed his appeal for a further con-
ference Early in the evening the opponents or
reciprocity had insisted on a vote tonight on the
main proposition
Inc session was stormy one. Mr. sioley. OF
pennsylvania, offered a compromise proposition
for reciprocity arrangement 10 last until De-
cember l. 1908. which he asserted had the ap-
proval and Endorsement OF President Roosevelt
He also said he had assurances that if the House
granted a 20 per cent concession the Senate
would not increase il.
About one hundred and thirty members were
present, including Speaker Henderson and the
leaders on both sides Of the controversy. Rep
resentative Cannon of Illinois. presided and
an arrangement was made for a division OF
the time between the advocates and oupo-
nents of reciprocity. Representative Long
OF Kansas. member of the Ways and Means
Committee opened with an exhaustive arsu-
ment in favor of the 90 per cent concession ad-
vocatad by his colleagues Of the Ways and
Means Committee.
LONG SPEAKS FOR RECIPROCITY.
He argued that the maintenance Of a nro-
tective tariff was not involved in the proposition
Of the Ways and Means Committee but that the
policy of reciprocity was. The defeat Of this
DILL said he, means that the Republican party
has refused to follow the leadership of Blaine,
Of Mckinley and Of Roosevelt and it would
mean that reciprocity was no longer a part of
the Republican faith"
He pointed out that the Republican platform
Of 1896 referred to the repeal Of the reciprocity
agreements under the Mckinley law as a na-
tional calamity. and demanded their renewal
and extension The original section of the
Dingley bill authorizing reciprocity agreements.
ne recalled. named sugar as one of the articles
on which the President was authorized to re-
duce the duties, but the section was changed in
the Senate and sugar was stricken out The
Dingley law authorized the President TO make
reciprocal agreements on articles produced in
this country. and President Mckinley made
agreements with France. Germany, Italy and
Portugal that were now in force so he main
tanned that those who favored reciprocity with
cuba were not untrue TO the doctrines Of the
Republican party, because tobacco and sugar.
produced in this country. were included
He insisted. moreover. that the hearings he
fore the Committee on Ways and Means showed
ConclusiveIy that concessions made on Cutan
sugar would not affect the price OF sugar in this
country and that the beet sugar industry would
not be injured A reduction of % per cent on
Cuban sugar. leaving the duty az 81 "a hur-
dred pounds. would not erable the Cuban after
paying freight rates and cost of refining 10
compete with beet sugar in Chicago. Kansas
City or Denver, which the principal mar
kets for beet sugar.
THE MORAL OBLIGATION
Mr., Long contended that in addition TO self
interest. there moral obligation on the
United States 10 grant concessions He de-
clared that when the commissioners from Cuba
were prevailed upon 10 accept the Platt amend
ment President Mckinley assured them that. in
consideration Of its acceptance. he would do all
in his power to secure economic concessions. and
said that the commission so reported to the
Cuban convention. He presented detailed fig
ures 70 show that the Porto Rican sugar grow
ers had received the full benefit Of the free ad-
mission Of sugar from that island. from which
he argued that the Cubans. not the Sugar Trust
would get the beneht-and all the beneht-of
any reduction Congress might make. In con-
clusion Mr.. Long said:
II this Legislation fail and no concession be
made TO Cuba-if the policy Of President Nc
Kinley and President Roosevelt be defeated by
this house-it does not mean that the beet sugar
industry, by the control Of this House can pre-
vent free sugar from Cuba. After the eStao-
lishment Of the republic Of Cuba, treaty can
be negotiated with that country by the Presi-
dent That treaty can provide for the annexa-
tion OF Cuba. the recent treaty did for the
annexation of the Danish West Indies. and that
treaty can be submitted 10 the Senate and rati-
fed The moment that the ratihcations are ex-
changed. under the decision of the Supreme
Court in the Porto Rican case. We would have
free trade with Cuba on al products. The
House would be pOwerlesS TO prevent IL. So this
House is not supreme. and IL does not control
dominate this situation.
II would be the part OF wisdom for the beet
sugar interests 10 agree to a reasonable conces-
sion that would not injure their industry in the
remotest degree rather than 20 be compelled 10
accept possible annexation in the immediate
distant future. but when IL does come l want
It 10 by the free act Of the Cuban people
and when they come permanently under our
flag, do not want them 70 feel they were the
victims of forcible annexation. which President
Mckinley characterized as criminal asgres-
sion
AN OPPOSITION MANIFESTO.
When Nr Long finished speaking Mr.. Tayler.
of Ohio. presented a protest against the plan
of the Ways and Means Committee. The pro-
test was drafted at the conference which the
Republicans opposed 10 reciprocity held last
night II was in the nature OF a manifesto. set
ting forth the grounds which their opposition
was based. being largely application OF the
that a reduction Of the duty on Cuban
products involved a relaxation of the protective
principle In lieu Of the Tawney proposition
for rebate. Mr. TayIer offered the following
resolution
Resolved first That we reafirm our adher-
ence TO the Republican national platform OF