Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-19
NO ACTION WAS TAKEN
REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL CON-
FERENCE ON CUBA.
Seventeen Participants Announced
Their Opposition to Reduction
of the Sugar Duty.

The republican senators held a conference
last night on the subject of Cuban reci-
procity, and after a flood of short speeches
adjourned until next Friday without action
of any sort Seventeen senators after
another announced unalterable opposition
to reduction of the duty on Cuban sugars,
and announcement was made that two 9TH
ers not present stood with them. Senators
Platt of Connecticut and Spooner of Wis
consin took the lead in behalf of the pro-
posed legislation and endeavored to con-
vince 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 oppo-
stion.
The senators were prompt in beginning
their conference. which was held in the
marble room. just off the Senate chamber.
When at = O'Clock Senator Allison. as chair
man of the caucus. called the meeting to
order all the republican senator's. with six
exceptions. were present. Four of the six
absentees were out of the city. The six
senators who were not present were MessrS.
Depew, Dolliver. Frye. Hawley, Kearns and
Simon. Senator Wellington. who has not
acted with his party for the past two years,
among those in attendance and was
among the first to present himself.
Senator Burrows Dinner.
The conference was preceded by two meet
tached. The first of these was a gather
ing of the republican steering committee
and the second dinner given by Senator
Burrows in his committee room to seven
teen of the nineteen opponents of reel
prOcity- The steering committee discussed
nothing but the order of business in the
Senate and decided to recommend that the
reciprocity bill be made the unfinished
business after the disposal of the isthmian
canal bill. subject. of course, to the action
of the conference. This is as far the
committee felt that it could go in indica ting
its opinion to the conference. but this was
accepted a prOuouncement favoraDle to
the proposed legislation.
Senator Allison's Address.
Senator Allison made a brief address In
calling the general conference to order,
and he was followed by Senator Plat of
Connecticut and Senator Burrows of Michi-
gan, for and against tariff reduction. SEN
ator Allison pleaded for harmony, good
feeling and a solid party front. Senator
Plat explained the situation from the
standpoint of those who favor reduction
of the tariff on Cuban goods, saying that
the proposed reduction was in the direct
line or policy which had been outlined by
President Mckinley and as faithfully pre-
scented by President Roosevelt He dwelt
somewhat on the necessity of preserving
cordial relations with the Cuban people
and advocated the bill promulgated by the
republican members of the Cuban commit
tee. which bill the joint product of
himself and Senator Spooner.
Senator Burrows presented the opposite
View. speaking for the beet sugar advo-
Gates. He contended for the regularity
from a republican and a protection stand
point az the position of the beet sugar
men He said they We're not opposed to
doing something for Cuba, but they did
not believe II necessary to reduce the tariff
Tor that purpose. or, If necessary TO take
that step. that the entire burden should
fall on the one industry of farming He
argued that the beet sugar men were the
real protectionists.
The Nineteen in Opposition.
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. Statements
were made for Senators Simon of Oregon
and Mason Of Illinois Ohe latter leaving
very early) TO the effect that they thor
oughy agreed with their colleagues in OPP
position TO the reciprocity bill. The nine
teen senator's thus accounted for are Per-
KRIS and Bard OF California. Mitchell ard
simon Of Oregon. Foster of Washington
Gamble and kittredge of South Dakota
Nelson and Clapp of Minnesota, Dietrich
and Willard Of Nebraska. Elkins and Scott
OF West Virginia. Jones and Stewart of
Nevada. Burton Of Kansas Burrows of
ton OF Maryland.
AT the conclusion Of the speeches Sena-
tor Quay said that what had been de-
yeioptd Indicated that neither the original
House bill nor the proposed Spooner sub
stltute could pass, and he therefore moved
an adjournment
Senator Dietrich suggested that the con-
ference might We'll adjourn sine die but
this received no encoura cement
Senator Foraker said there were thirty
other republicans who had not been heard
from, and II would be we'll for them ia
eexpress their opinions. even If there should
De 10 ore 10 listen 10 them. He took oc-
casion to say that he admired the organi-
zatlon OF the beet sugar republicans which
had been shown in the course of the
evening
Senator Plat OF Connecticut In his speech
early IN the evening insisted that the pro-
posed substitute for the House bill would
not harn the beet sugar interests and said
mat II ne thought SO he would not be for
II He also went Into the subject of the
relations of the United States with Cuba
and dwelt on the fact that there had been
an implied promise of tariff concessions for
'uban products Senator Burrows in the
course OF his reply said the ostensib,e pur-
pose or the proposed reciprocity measure
was 10 benefit a foreign country but that
us real purpose would be to benefit the
largest purchaser of raw sugar ard thar
the concession granted would not go to the
Cuban planter. but to the consumer Of
raw sugar in the United States-the sugar
trust
Favors Letting Things Alone.
Senator Elkins said he thought It unwisa
and tnexpedient to attempt to revise the