Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1902-03-29
DISCUSSED CUBAN AFFAIRS.
over the Question OF Reciprocity
with Cuba.

Washington, March 25.--A confer
ence was held at the White House,
yesterday afternoon, between the
president and seven of the republican
members of the house Of representa-
tiyes who have been foremost in OPP
posing the plan Of Cuban reciprocity
urged by the ways and means com
mittee and understood to have the
support of the administration. The
members who called were Representa-
tiyes Tawney and Morris, Of Minne-
sofa; Dick, Of Ohio; William A. Smith,
of Michigan, Minor, of Wisconsin,
Metcalf, of California, and Dayton, Of
West Virginia.
The call was at the request Of the
president, who desired an exchange
Of views to the end that harmonious
action might be secured in such steps
as are taken in behalf of Cuba.
As Cen Wood has arrived here
from Cuba, and as several members
of the cabinet were at the White
House while the congressman were
there, a report gained circulation
that Secretary Root and Gen. Wood
were present during the conference.
This, however, was not the case, as
the president and the congressman
remained alone in the cabinet room
for the hour and half that they
were together.
The talk took a wide range, cover
ing the conditions, and also the ques-
tion of harmonizing conflicting inter-
ests so that remight be unanimity
of action on the part of the repub-
licans in congress. 1t was stated
afterwards by those who had partici-
pated in the conference that it was
of the most admirable and pleasant
character, and that there was not the
remotest suggestion on the part Of
the chief executive which could be
construed as seeking to urge
them to yield their personal
convictions. On the contrary it was
stated, the president listened to the
recital Of difficulties which had been
encountered by those who opposed
the reciprocity plan, and also heard
from them the various plans by which
they had hoped to reach an agree
ment.
The callers were frank to concede
that they found the president de-
sirous of extending effective relief to
Cuba by the reciprocity plan. In this
connection, it was stated, the presi-
dent drew attention to the fact that
the Sibley amendment limiting the
reciprocity period to December /,
1903, gave the Payne bill rather
one-sided aspect, as it asked Cuba to
adopt our naturalization and immi.
grafton laws and give us tariff con.
cessions, without limit of time,
and in return gave to Cuba tariff con-
cessions limited to about a year and
a half Some of the congressman
present were inclined to admit that
we were asking a good deal from
Cuba inreturn for the little we would
grant to her
The interchange of views became
quite general, there being nothing in
the way of definite propositions one
way or the other, but merely an
expression of opinion as to
what was best to be done under all
the circumstances of the situation.
In the course of this general talk
the suggestion was made that if the
Payne bill had been modified so az
to take off the differential on refined
sugar some Of the grounds of oppo-
sition might have been removed
However, there was no request, so far
as can be learned, that the bill be
amended in this particular at the
present stage. The plan of rebate,
which was urged at one time, also
came in for discussion and explana-
ton.
At the conclusion of the confer I
ence the general understanding was
reached that any statements made to q
the public would be to the general 4
effect that no conclusions were
reached, and that the conference was
confined to a general interchange Of
views. 1t is understood that the
president will see some of the men, ]
oers Of the ways and means commit
tee to-day, thus familiarizing himself
with both sides of the issue which
has recently arisen in the house. He
hopes that this general interchange
with the leaders from both sides may
bring about unanimity of action in
is done in behalf of Cuba.
DRY DOCK FOR MANILA.