Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-04-07
CUBAN
Reciprocity Bill a
Problem
Which the House Will
Try to Solve.
Action on the Measure to Be
Fought Out This Week.


Washington, April THE great bat
tie over Cuban reciprocity which ere
ated such n protr1cted struggle among
the Republicans both in caucus aud
in the Committee Oh Ways and Means,
will be fought on the floor of the
House this week. The ultimate pas
sage of the Payne bill providing for Il
20 per cent reduction on the products
Of Cuba after the negotiation OF Il
reciprocity treaty, and the enactment
of our immigration laws by the re-
public of Cuba is regarded as II fore
gone conclusion, but the situation is Il
complicated one owing to the divisions
among the Democrats as well as the
Republicans.
How far the Republican opponents
of the proposed legislation will carry
their opposition is not definitely de-
teEnincd. The strength of this Oppo-
sition has dwindled until it probably
numbers less than 80. On the other
hand, up TO the present time Il large
majority Of the Democrats favor the
greatest possible freedom of trade
with Cuba, and would vote for deeper
cut than the Ways and Means bill pro-
poses. Others like Newlands, of Ne
vada, are IN favor of tho immediate
annexation of the islands, and quite
n number under the lead of the Louis
lana members will oppose strenuously
any tariff concessions whatever.
1t is limited that the attitude of the
Democrats in the Senate. who have
fixed on program of opposition there
may result before the vote is taken
In more unity of action on the part
of the Democrats of the House. Some
Of the Republican opponents of the
bill will speak against it, but the lead
ers of the Republican opposition show
Il strong disinclination to participate
in the debate Oh the ground that there
Is no hope Of defeating the bill, and
that their speeches would become
Democratic campaign material in the
coming Congressional campaign.
The bill will be brought up on Tues
day us ii revenue bill, which is priv
LEGGED under the rules, but no special
order viii he brought in for its CON
sideratlon In this way the POSSIBLE
ity of defeat of rule through
combination of the Republican recalci-
uants and the Democrats will be
avoided, The general debate will be
allowed to exhaust Itself. The lead
crs on both sides estimate that not
more than three days will be CON
""''Nu ~ S'hciui uephleS' ne real
fight will come subsequently when the
bill is read for amendment under the
hve-minutc rule. IT will he then that
the Democrats will seek to offer
amendments having for their purpose
the opening up of the whole tariff
question
While some of these amendments
might command some Republican
votes II they should actually come to
n vote, they will be ruled out of order
in the House as they were in commit
tee, and the only method by which
they can be reached would he by over.
ruling the decision of the chair. II in
certain that not half dozen, If, in
deed, any Republicans will 70 to this
length SO that the Republican leaders
feel assured that none of these promo.
sitions VIII come TO an actual vote.
The only amendments which viii be
In order will be those increasing or
decreasing the amount of the couccs-
sions, and the leaders feel reasonably
safe IN the prediction that the caucus
decision of 20 per cent reduction win |
stand II Is their hope that on the |
final vote the bill will be passed bv
Republican votes.