New-York tribune., 1902-02-05
CUBA'S CAUSE ADVANCED
THE PRESIDENT WINS OVER
DOUBTTNG CONGRESSMEN.
LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE WILL REPORT
A RECIPROCITY BILL.
LEY TELEGRAPH TO rHz rRIBuNE. ]

BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington, Feb. although there was no
public discussion of the subject to-day. nor was
IL considered by any committee of Congress,
still there is abundant evidence that the cause
OF tariff concessions 20 Cuba has been encour-
agngly advanced within the last twentyfour
hours This result is due to quiet conferences
at the White House between the President and
doubling members Of the House Ways and
Means Committee. and private talks between
Senate leaders and the leaders OF that radical
element of the House which at first was opposed
TO any help TO Cuba that might involve dis
tur0ance anywhere along the line OF the Ding
ley tariff schedules. 1t is safe 70 assert
that the majority of the House, in harmony with
the majority OF the Senate. in favor OF
conceding TO Cuban sugar and tobacco the most
liberal reductions practicable at this time.
COMMITTEE SEES A NEW LIGHT
The significance OF this is that in all proba-
bility the Senate leaders will not have to ignore
the House in the important matter of melting
out fair treatment to Cuba by resorting to the
treaty making power of the government. In
deed, there is reason to believe that the Ways
and Means Committee, under the light
thrown upon the subject will report bill before
the session closes granting to Cuba on the arti-
cles named concessions sufficiently "substan-
tial" to meet the pressing demands of the sltua-
ton and at the same time to come within the
Presidents definition of the word substantial"
used by hirl in that part Of his message
which dealt with the general theme of reci-
procity with Cuba. Chairman Payne of the
Ways and Means Committee has no. yet au-
thorzed anybody to say what his position on
the question is since the committee began CON
sideration of the subject, but il is not doubted
that in the several talks he has had with Pro-
s4I,s..
not been brought around to a different view of
the matter
General GrOsvenor, of Ohio who at the begin
ming of the session was outspoken and uncom-
promising in his hostility to the Cuban reel
procity proposition. now comes forward with
the novel suggestion that Congress make an
appropriation of a lump sum of not less than
$25000000 for the relief of the Cuban sugar
planters in lieu OF the tariff concessions urged so
earnestly and persistently by the President and
every member of his Cabinet. with the single
exception of Secretary Wilson and by all the
leaders of the Senate. 1t Is pointed out that
General Grosvenor's unprecedented proposition
is an acknowledgment on his part of Cubas
crying need of relief. and that since he at last
has come TO realization of this fact, naturally
his next step will carry him completely into
the camp OF the advocates of tariff concessions
under reciprocity arrangement.
Mr.. Long. Of Kansas, q member Of the Wavs
and Means Committee, and Mr. Babcock of
Wisconsin, also a member OF that COMMITTEES
whose proposition for the repeal of the tariff on
the products of the Steel Trust was defeated nv
a narrow margin yesterday, called at the White
House this morning separately, and each was in
conference with the President for some time
Mr.. Long, who represents a district In which
the beet root industry is well established, has
favored concessions to Cuba all along but since
his talk with the President he is more thor
oughly convinced than ever of the necessity and
justice of the contention. Mr.. Babcock how
ever is not yet wholly convinced, though IL is
not doubted that he can be brought around
TO different view.
THE SENATE AND WAR TAXES.
AS intimated in these dispatches last night
it appears to be foregone conclusion that the
Senate Will refuse to agree to the wholesale
abolition of internal revenue taxes provided
for in the Ways and Means Committees bill
and thus the ostensible cause of that COM
mittee's disinclination to make tariff conces-
sions to Cuba will be removed. In point of
fact, IL can be said with reasonable certainty
that the Senate Finance Committee will retain
most of the beer tax, which the House bill re-
duceS to the basis that preceded the war with
Spain. This of itself would more than com
pensate for the loss of revenues that might
follow tarin reductions to Cuba One of the
most influential members OF the Senate told a
representative OF The Tribune to-day that the
Senate certainly would replace the beer tax in
the House bill. and quite probably would also
put back the tax on playing cards pawnbrokers
etc
II. S. Frye. until recently president of the
New-England Tobacco Growers Association
and who is accounted in Washington an expert
on all the phases OF the tobacco question, said
- AaN hn ha IA-.