New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-07
PRESIDENT STANDS FIRM
ATTITUDE ON RECIPROCITY
UNCHANGED.
WOULD VETO REBATE PLAN AND CALL
AN EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS,
IL NECESS AIRY
If NECESSARY.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BUNE.l

Washington. June 6.-Again to-day the
President misquoted through the agencies of the
best sugar lobby, as willing to accept a. bill
to pay bounty to the Cuban Government, in
stead of the reciprocity arrangement which the
Senate leaders are determined to authorize him
to make This time the report was industrt-
ously circulated that Senator Cullon, of I'LL
nois had been told this morning by the Presl-
dent that the so-caIIed rebate proposition would
be entirely agreeable to him ii the supporters
of the administration were convinced that they
could not get straight reciprocity bill through
at this session. 1t made no difference to the
beet sugar people that Mr. Cullom declared IN
the most emphatic terms that the President said
nothing to him which could possibly be dis-
torted into desertion of the cause OF rec'-
procty When the Senator's positive denial was
spread through the Capitol. the beet root
1ob, fell ba ok on the assertion that the Senator
believed the President would accept the re-
bate plan if he could not get straight reel
procity This brought from Senator Culioll
another denial and so the gossips were kept
busv all day with illfounded rumors about the
G 1ban reciprocity fight The fact is that the
President and Senator Cullom did not discuss
anv phase of the Cuban question to-day. all
renorts TO the contrary notwithstanding, and IL
is also a fact that the President is as uncom-
pronisngy opposed to the rebate ma kesh1t
as he was when that proposition was brought
forward two months ago.
STANDS BY HIS MESSAGE.
=. o be au+boritatively announced that
President Roosevelt stands to-day on the
cuban question Just where he stood when he
wrote his message to Congress, more than SIX
months ago in which he strongly urged tnat
provision be made at this session OF congress
for a reciprocal trade agreement with the 1slano
He reiterated this view to-day to various VS.
itors. and there is not the slightest posslplllty
of his yielding 1.-THE of his contention FOR the
most liberal tariff concessions to Cuba. If how
ever the Committee on Relations Win Cuoa
finally reports to the Senate the Spooner DILL
nroviding for a reduction of only 20 per cent
the President will accept this the most ia
vorab1e compromise likely to get through now
that the session is rapidly drawing to a Close
and he will of course. advise his supporters 10
agree to It.
But by any conceivable chance 'he
bate proposition should be sent TO him' ne
would veto 1T in message that "ou ~
the country ring. and If necessary he would
call an extra session of Congress to pass
straight reciprocity bill.
He regards the rebate suggestion not only as
unconstitutional but also as fraught Win d
train of evils that would more seriously menace
the p1easant relations between Cuba and the
limited states
all There is a we'll grounded fear that the
millions Of dollars which the rebaters In Con-
gress would pay out to the Cuban Government
would be diverted from the proper channels ana
go to the satisfaction of claims such as that al
ready set up by General Gomez for the pay
rnent of a large amount for his services in the
last war. Gomez is only one of many thou-
sands who assert that Cuba is financially in
debted to them. and undoubtedly the pohtlclans
of the island republic would see 10 II that any
gratuity from the United States was dispurSed
among the war veterans instead of being ap-
piled to the support of the government
Then, too it is argued that If money thus OBJ
tanned from the United States were applied in
the manner indicated, it would not be long until
il would be employed for the payment of the
5000 900 600 bonded debt charged against the
revenues of Cuba by Spain TO raise money for
the prosecution of the This would lead to
complications which sooner or later would in
volve the United States in serious trouble with
the countries whose citizens own these bonds.
by the representatives of the sugar interests of
this country which are now being merged by
the Havemeyers and Rockefelers into one vast
concern will change the President or his sup
porters from their determination TO put through
tfation OF a reciprocity treaty with Cuba. and
bic trouble over the islands international rela-
ment are under the direct supervision of the