New-York tribune., 1902-06-20
PRESIDENT STANDS FIRM.
DETERMINED TO SECURE SOME FORM
OF TARIFF CONCESSIONS TO CUBA
CONFERENCES WITH SENATORS.
CBy The Associated Press.)

CBy The Associated PressJ
Washington. June 19-The President tonight
gave a dinner to about a dozen of the leading
Republican Senators favorable to Cuban reci-
procity, and discussed with them the ways and
means of securing a reduction of the duty on
Cuban products. in order that the pledges made
to Cuba may be redeemed Among those at the
dinner were Senators Allison. Aldrich. Hale.
Spooner Lodge and Platt. Secretary Root also
of the guests.
The President. it can be stated. is firm and
steadfast in his determination that in some form
other. and at the earliest opportunity. there
shall be secured TO the new republic of Cuba a
substantial reduction of the import tariff on
her exports to the United States that her
people may feel that this country has kept
every promise made to them. and has done all
that could be fairly expected to assure perma-
nence and prosperity to their newly established
government. How or when the result will be
obtained is a matter that the President must
leave to future developments. but it can be an
nounced on authority that the administration
will continue unremitting in its endeavors until
It accomplishes Cuban reciprocity in some form
or other. 1t has not yet been definitely decided
whether this be brought about better and
earlier by bill or by treaty. nor whether good
Judgment and sound policy require that the
matter go for a time
The methods and opportunities
vassed carefully tonight. The President will
not content himself with shelving the question
now that he has urged the matter Congress
in a special message, but will take such further
steps as may be calculated TO secure the reduc-
ton he has urged Whether there will be an
extra session or not. and if when it shall be
convoked. is altogether problematical. For the
present efforts will be continued
operation in legislation this session the
part of the nineteen Republican Senators who
last night opposed reciprocity with Cuba. If
IL appears that a treaty will accomplish results
one Will be negotiated and submitted to the
Senate whenever the occasion seems opportune.
The President will not await authority from
Congress 10 frame such document. The treaty
making power is vested in him. and a decision
has been reached TO exercise the power should
that appear the best method of obtaining fav-
ored trade relations with Cuba.
Senator Platt of Connecticut. chairman or the
Committee on Relations with Cuba. early
caller the White House to-day. where he had
a conference with the President the subject
of the probable fate Of the Cuban reciprocity
measure in the Senate. He declined TO make
any statement concerning the Presidents views
as expressed to him. but said that. speaking
entirely for himself he would force the Sena-
tors who are holding out against reciprocity to
their votes either with or agai inst the party
There is not a beet sugar state. said the Sen
ator. where. if the question put before
Republican convention. reciprocity would not
be indorsed Where a lot of men are setting
themselves up in opposition to their party. they
shouold be forced to so on record by their vote.
To a number of his callers to-day President
Roosevelt said that he finds sufficient indorse-
ment of his stand the Cuban question in the
action OF the conventions recently held in South
Dakota Kansas and Nebraska To a personal
friend to-day ne said he felt particularly CRATE
full to congressman Burkett. of Nebraska. and
Martin. of South Dakota. for their attitude in
their conventions: also that he took particu-
lar pride in the indoI SementS from the three
States above named because he was peculiarly
close to those States.