Evening star., 1902-02-26
CUBAN RECIPROCITY
THREE HOURS CONFERENCE OF
REPUBLICANS.
No Action Having Been Taken, the
Meeting Adjourned Until Next
Monday Night.


by the republicans Of the House OF Repre-
sentatives last evening and at it's close an
adjournment was taken until next Monday
no definite action having been decided on.
The subject considered was Cuban reel
rccity, the republican members Of the ways
and means committee having reached an
agreement to grant reciprocal concessions
Of 20 per cent. There were present at the
conference about 125 republican members
Representative Cannon acted as chair
man and Representative Loudenslager as
secretary. Mr.. Payne, chairman Of the
committee on ways and means, presented
the following bill on the lines of the rec
ommendation Of the republican members OF
the committee:
Provision for Reciprocity.
That for the purpose Of equalizing the
trade Of the United States with Cuba the
President is hereby authorized, as soon as
may be after the establishment of an indie
pendent government in Cuba and the enact
ment by said government Of immigration
and exclusion laws as fully restrictive of
states, to enter into negotiations with said
government with a view to the arrange
ment or commercial agreement, In which
reciprocal and equivalent concessions may
be secured in favor Of the products and
manufactures Of the United States by rates
OF duty, which shall be less by an amount
equivalent to at least 20 per cent ad valo-
rem than the rates imposed upon the like
articles when imported into Cuba from the
most favored Of other countries; and when
ever the government of Cuba shall enact
such immigration laws and shall enter into
such commercial agreement with the United
states, and shall make such concessions In
favor Of the products and manufactures
thereof, as aforesaid, and which agreement,
IN the Judgment of the President shall be
reciprocal and equivalent he shall be au-
thoriZed to proclaim such facts, both as to
the enactment of such immigration laws
and the making Of such agreement, and
thereafter the imposition Of the duties i'm
posed by law on all articles from Cuba
Into the United States shall be suspended,
and in lieu thereof there shall be levied
upon all articles imported from Cuba 80
per centum of the rate Of duty now levied
upon like articles imported from fore gn
countries. The President shall have power,
and it shall be his duty. whenever he shall
be satisfied that either such immigration
laws or such agreement mentioned in this
act is not being fully executed by the gov
ernment of Cuba to not fly such govern
ment thereof, and thereafter there shall be
levied upon all articles imported from Cuba
the full rate Of duty provided by law uEon
articles imported from foreign countries"
Mr.. Payne spoke for more than an hour
in support of this plan. He was frequently
interrupted by questions from Representa-
tives William Alden Smith. Gardner. Weeks
and Hamilton of Michigan and Lessler Of
New York. Mr. Smith made the statement
that, relying upon the republican assurance
Of protection about $4,000, 600 had been in
vested in the beet sugar industry in Michi-
gan, and this would be imperiled If the pro-
posed concession was made.
Mr.. Payne replied that in his Judgment
there would be ample protection to the
American industry after the 20 per cent
concession was allowed. as the remaining
protection would amount to about 81 per
cent ad valOrem. He referred also to the
Presidents recommendation Of reciprocity.
Representative Grosvenor Of Ohio advo-
Gated the committee plan as the best means
Of avoiding a dilemma.
Representative Tawney Of Minnesota,
member Of the ways and means committee,
then proposed the following substitute:
Mr.. Tawney's Substitute.
Resolved, That the ways and means
committee be, and 1t is hereby, directed to
prepare and report to the House bill for
the relief Of Cuba and to extend the trade
between the United States and that island,
which bill shall in substance authorize the
President, in consideration of our securing
on goods. wares and merchandise the prod
uct or growth of the United States going
into Cuba substantially lower duties than
those imposed upon like articles imported
into Cuba from other countries, to agree
to pay, and to pay, during each year that
said reciprocal trade agreement shall be IN
force, from the treasury of the United
States to the government Of Cuba, when
fully established, out Of the moneys COL
lected in the United States as import du-
ties on merchandise the product or growth
of the Island of Cuba imported into the
United States sum of money equivalent in
amount to 20 per centum of the duties now
collected on all such goods; and that so
much Of said sum as shall be equivalent to
20 per centum of the duty collected on
sugar imported from Cuba into the United
States shall be distributed by the govern
ment of Cuba or through such other or ad-
ditional agents or agencies as the President
of the United States shall direct, under rules
and regulations to be prescribed by the
President Of the United States. to actual
Island of Cuba in proportion to the guam
tity Of sugar produced from cane grown
by them during the year preceding the date
of said reciprocal. trade agreement, and
every year thereafter during the continu-
ance thereof: and that said reciprocal trade
agreement shall continue in force for a pc
riod Of three years from the date of it's
negotiation; and said bill shall further pro-
vide that before the payment Of said sum,
or any portion thereof, to the government
Of Cuba, or before any Of the conditions Of
said agreement shall become operative,
Cuba shall first enact our immigration
laws"
Mr.. Tawney spoke in support Of his SUBJ
stitute. 1t was then after IL pm, and as
1t was clear no final results could be Sc
cured an adjournment was taken until
clock next Monday evening.