Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-26
CUBAN RECIPROCITY
Problem How to Get Bill Out
of Committee.
LEADERS A VOTE SHY
DON'T WANT TO CALL ON DEMO
Gratis FOR AID.
That Would Give the Beet Sugar Men
an Opening for Tariff
Amendments.
LEADERS A VOTE SHY

The ways and means committee leaders
ere now confronted with the problem of
how to get the Cuban reciprocity bill out
OF committee and into the House in the
exact shape they desire it and without the
aid Of democratic votes. As the case
stands the leaders lack one republican vote
in committee to perfect their program.
They are Ogling Mr.. Tawney with very
sweet Glances trying TO lure him to their
support, but the song of the reciprocity
Lorelei has thus far failed to divert him
from his course. Without MIR. Tawney 1t
does not yet appear how they can hedge
their bill about with the desired safe
guards against amendments.
l. Several dangers confront the leaders in
the consideration of the bill in committee.
The first is the proposed amendment to re-
duce the duty on refined sugar-the protec-
tion which the Dingley act affords the
american refner. This amendment IS
threatened by the beet sugar protectionists
OF the committee three in number and
would, It Is said, command the democratic
support, and if so would carry
Open the Way for Other Amendments.
Not only would that amendment be of 1t
self distateful to the leaders. but If it
should be part of the bill when it gets
into the House, would make a breach
through which would swarm a horde of
tariff amendments. And that thought lust
gives the leaders cold chiils up and down
their spines.
Once the leaders enlist democratic aid
10 report their bill they set precedent it
IS said, for the tariff revisionfsts to follow
The republicans who earnestly believe that
some of the overprOtected schedules should
be reduced have refrained from pushing
their amendments with democratic sup
port But hey say that if the leaders use
democratic votes TO attack the beet sugar
Industry they will be absolved from further
scruples.
Effect of Mr.. Palma's Statement.
The statement of President-eIect Palma
Of Cuba that 20 per cent reduction will not
suffice for Cuban prosperity has encour-
aged the beet sugar men to again bring
forward their rebate scheme as an alterna-
tive for tariff reduction. They say they are
willing to Increase the rebate to 81 per
cent, or even 10 per cent. and pay the
money out of the United States treasury
into the Cuban treasury. They argue that
the Cuban government would then receive
all the benefit Of the concession instead of
It's going to the sugar planters and being
shared, they claim, by foreign corpora
tons.
The objection heretofore urged by the
Cuban officials-elect to this plan were re-
ferated to President Roosevelt and the
ohcials OF this government; that what the
Cubans want is freer trade relations and
the stimulation of commerce.
Another White House Conference.
Another conference was held at the White
House last night on the subject of Cubsn
reciprocity and was participated In by the
President and the House leaders including
Chairman Payne and Messrs Dalzen and
Long OF Kansas, of the ways and menas
committee, and Mr. Cannon. the chair
man of the republican caucus The mem
bers came at the invitation of the Presi-
Gent @ and remained with him for an hour.
me Inc conIerence was in the main an ex
change or views between the executive and
the representatives on the general reciproc-
ity proposition, and the positive statement
was made that there were no new deveIop-
nents IN the situation and that the pro-
gram adopted by the republican conference
providing twenty per cent reduction on
= tu9an imports temporarily would be car
fled out In the House The ways and means
committee has not yet reported the bill
framed for the purpose of carrying out
the caucus plan, which is delayed, is is
asserted, by the absence of one of the re-
publican representatives from the city.
Inc conference was sequence TO that
held by the President with those repre-
sentat1Ves opposed to the twenty per cent
reduction 1t is believed that one of the
propositions submitted by some of these
representatives providing for the repeal of
the diferential on refined sugar came up
for discussion, but that 1t was dismissed
Tor the reason, as stated by one of those
present. that it might open up the way for
various amendments to the tariff law. Even
though the House limited the amendment
to repeal Of the differential alone. when the
bill reached the Senate an effort il is
claimed. would be made 10 add other amend
ments and lead to a revision of various
features OF the tariff Since the arrival in
Washington of Gen. Wood and President
elect Palma the President has received
great deal of additional information re-
garding affairs IN Cuba and is strength
ened In his belief that greater concessions
than that proposed by the ways and means
committee bill should he given to Cuba
for a time. II Is probable that representa-
tons of this character were made to the
congressman last night but If they de-
cline TO admit the fact.
One of those present after the conference
said:
No time has as yet been fixed for con-
sidering the reciprocity bill in the House
j have no doubt opportunity will be
made to amend the bill along various lines
but my opinion is Ii will be adopted sub
stantially as agreed on by the ways and
means committee. There is nothing to say
about our conference with the President
except that it was for the purpose of dis
cussing the general situation. in which
there are no new developments"