New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-29
BEET SUGAR MEN YIELD.
FIGHT OVER RECIPROCITY WITH CUBA
NEARLY ENDED.
OF THE PAYNE BILL By REPUB-
LICAN VOTES ASSURED.
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRrRrNE.I


Washington March 2S-The beet sugar lobby, re-
uCtantly and with many threats of retaliation mas
given up the fight. and nearly all the House IN
surgents" have laid down their arms and sur
rendered. The declaration yesterday by Mr.. Bah
cock. of Wisconsin, If his intention TO vote WIN
the majority of the Republicans of the Ways and
Means Committee TO report the Payne reciprocity
bill favorably. settled finally and definitely the
struggle in favor Of the administration. and II now
only remains for Chairman Payne to bring the Dill
out of the committee early next week in order TO
make the victory of the Presidents supporters
complete AS has been repeatedly said in these
dispatches. there is not the least doubt OF the
passage of the bill in the House strict party
measure. and with practically the vote of every
Republican. 1t is also believed that it will get
nearly every Democratic vote, and thus will have
virtually the undivided support of the House Vari-
Gus Democrats, in order to emphasize their free
trade vagaries, probably will propose amendments
aboishing the tariff sundry articles, but these
will all be ruled out of order by the Speaker as
not germane, and by this means protracted debate
will be averted. Every Democrat thus ruled against
will appeal in turn from the Speakers decision
and then Will be voted down by strict party
vote as it now appears evident that none OF the
beet sugar Republicans viii dare TO follow the
Democrats in a movement to humiliate the speaker
1t is expected that the bill will reach the Senate
from the House within two weeks. and that 1t VIII
Immediately he considered by the Committee on
Relations with Cuba. of which Mr. Platt. of Con-
nectcut, is chairman and some of the strongest
Republican leaders are members including Mr..
Aldrich. Mr.. SpOoner. Mr.. Cullom and Mr.. McMil-
Ian, All of these. with the exception of Mr. Nc
MILAN, known to be earnestly supporting the
admins traton's Cuban policy, and of them
anxious to increase the tariff reduction to 80 lS
per cent. An effort to do this will be made. and 1t
is not impossible that the committee may report
the bill with that amendment although the general
feeling is that should this be done the conferrees
would reduce it to % per cent-the basis of reci-
procity suggested by Senator Platt more than
year ago The President, however, has not aban-
doned hope of securing 33 1-3 per cent basis. and
It Is possible. OF course that this figure finally
be adopted.
Senator Teller. of Colorado. the ranking Demo-
crat on the committee is unalterably opposed TO
any reciprocal trade arrangement with cuba. and
declares that he will fight the whole proposition to
the limit of his resources His party associates on
the committee Mr.. Money, OF Mississippi: Mr..
Taliaferro, Of Florida, and Mr.. Simmons. of North
Carolina, all Of whom are supposed to favor the
heaviest tariff reductions for Cuba ohtaiuable.
senator IGer SAID TO-DAY that unless me promises
that have been secured among Republican Senators
Democrats Senators who have said nothing pub
licy on the question have assured him Of their in
mentioned are those Of his colleague Mr.. Patter-
Idaho is understood to be in hearty sympathy with
senator Teller and Mr.. Heitfeld. Of the same
State, is supposed to lean to the side of the beet
sugar forces, the industry being quite strong in
Idaho. and Nh, Hetfeds campaign for re-election
oeinS near AT hand 1t Is assumed that MI Clark
Of Montana, can control the vote OF his DEMOCRATIC
GoHtague Mr. Gibson and that Mr.. Rawns or
Utah. beet root state. Will cooperate with the
opposition TO reciprocity. particularly in view OF
the fact that, like Mr.. Hetield, he must soon
turn home and fight hard for reelection against
odds that are much heavier than Mr.. Hetfed's
since Utah Is now controlled by the Republicans
Messrs. McEUcTv and Foster, of louisiana, Of
course, too intimately connected with the
sugar interest ~ their State to look favOraby on
movement that will result In increased sugar i'm
portatioDs from Cuba. and hence they counted
with the opponents ~ reciprocity.
Thus II is evident that there Is stronger opposi-
ton the Democratic side Of the Senate than
there is on the Republican side, and that the
Democratic opposition will Doe more stubborn and
persistent than the Republican. because
the bin rs mad" party measure i'm the Senate. as
in the House II VIII get practically the undivided
support OF the Republican men hcrs In this event
the Democrats viii De placed i'm the strange atti-
tudc OF uppOslnv even reasonable tariff reduction
that Is demanded by the humanities OF the TO
say nothing OF the economic principles involved.