The age-herald., 1902-03-06
Undecided How to Act Con- cerning Cuban Reciprocity
SEVERAL CONFERENCES HELD
conqressmen Tell Him 1t VIII Be lm- possible to Pass MT. Payne's 20 Per Cent Measure-May Ac-
 cept Rebate Proposition.

Washington, March 5.-Speaker Hender- son and Representative Cannon of llll- nois called at the White House today and discussed with President Roosevelt the subject of Cuban reciprocity and seh- tment thereon in the House.
 Active canvassing continued among Re- publican members today, preliminary to the third caucus on Cuban reciprocity to be held tomorrow night. The most posi- tive statements were made by those op- posed to Representative Payne's twenty per cent reciprocity plan that there was R clear majority against It.
 Mir Payne and his associates did not concede this, however and expressed the belief that a concession to Cuba ultimate ly would be granted. 1t was said in this connection that Speaker Henderson is now favorable to the position taken by the majority on the ways and means com mittee, and this would exert much infu- ence in shaping the final outcome.
 Members of Cabinet Consulted.
 During the day several members of the cabinet were called on by Mr. Tawney of the ways and means committee, who has proposed the rebate plan as a substitute for Chairman Paynes twenty per cent reciprocity plans and Mir. Morris of Min nesota, who also has proposed a plan diff fering from that of MT. Payne. As an out come of these calls it was asserted that three members of the cabinet, namely Postmaster General Payne, Secretary Shaw and Secretary Watson, were hope ful of securing a solution of the prob- lem which would not endanger any Amer lean industry.
 Later in the day Representative Taw- ney called at the White House and had a conference lasting nearly an hour and a half with the President. At it's con- clusion MT. Tawney joined several of his associates, who opposed to the Payne resolution. It developed that MT. Tawney had told the President that there was little or no possibility of the adop- ton of the Payne plan by the Republi- can conference, and that if 1t was adopt ed forty Republican members would not consider themselves bound and would carry the question to the floor of the house, where there would be additional complications owing to the attitude of Democratic members The President said he had no intention at present of send ing a m essage to Congress on the sub. ject
 No PoSitlve Determinatlon.
 The President indicated positive de- termination in favor of any particular Idea, but rather desire that Congress should deal with the subject according to it's best lights. After hearing from MT. Tawney his associates expressed the be- lief that the President would accept the rebate proposition if Congress sent it to him. They also were considerably encouraged to learn from MT Tawney that the President was not laying down any emphatic ultimatum in favor of the plan as presented by MT. Payne.
 While these conferences were going on at the White House. Chairman Payne and members of the ways and means com mittee supporting him were in confer ence. Later of the members said that he was confident the Payne reel procity proposition commanded ma- jority of the Republican members, but that the minority was so large and was so disposed to carry the contest into the house that MT. Payne and hig friends recognized the seriousness of the situa- tion However, there was no disposi- ton, he said, to accept the rebate plan as 1t was stated that this was merely a repetition of the plan proposed by the head of the beet sugar organizations two months ago.
 Harmonious and Agreeable.
 POStmaSIer Genefal HdVne WnO With Secretary Root called on the President to- day, said tonight that the conference was perfectly harmonious and agreed ble. He said that it was brought about by the report that the President would to- day send a message to Congress express ing his views on the subject. The Presi- dent he said in order to get a clear idea of the situation, wanted to hear both sides of the case and to ascertain the real feeling existing among the Republi- can members of the House. The Presi- dent has no intention at this time, he aad of sending any message to Congress on the subject.
 Representative Cannon of Illinois said tonight that he had called at the White House this morning on a matter personal to himself, the Speaker accompanying him. While there he (Cannon) brought mn the subject of the Cuban reciprocity and stated to the President that there was a division of sentiment in the House as to what should be done, if anything ,n the matter of a commercial agreement with Cuba He told the President that the beet sugar and tobacco people did not entirely agree among themselves as to what course should be pursued some Savoring no action and others favoring the Towney or the Morris propositions. He also told the President that there xould be another conference tomorrow nioht which would De the tnlrQ the He- nublcans have held. and that it had been ;ndiacted that time should be taken for full conference, each member having Sull opportunity to express his views; Surther that it might and probably would he several days before the conference was ready to take definite action. Speak or Henderson, MT. Cannon said, was pres ent during all of the interview and shared his views.
 "Our going to the White House." said Mir. Cannon 'uld not in any way have for it's object the urging of the President to delay sending a message to Congress on the subject. as nothing was thought of q message and nothing was said about a message"
 "Tn other words" said MT. Cannon, "wbile we don't hold conferences at his reouest or by his permission, the whole interview was a pleasant one and the president by his manner, in no way sug- gested or combatted the correctness of the Republicans in the House pursuing the course lney were pursuing in the premises"