Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-02-22
WAR TAX REPEAL PASSED
House Votes to Reduce the Reye-
nue. by s77OOO,oOo.
SURPRISE TO BOTH PARTIES
Democratic Lad Asked Unanimous Consent
for immediate neutrality-suspicious. and
Democrats Applaud Result.


Washington, d. c.. Feb 18-The
House surprised ifslef yesterday by
unanimously passing the War Tax Re-
duction Repeal bill. reducing reve-
nues ST.. 900, 90, without debate, 278
--ali the members present-voting for
it. 1t WAS q dramatic and unprece-
dented act, and first astonlshe3 and
then amused the House and the al
leries.
1t had been planned that the bill
should be passed under special rule
today, without amendment. but with
two days debate. aud members on
both sides had prepared speeches. Ac-
cordingly after a brief but interesting
debate, during which Mr.. Babcock,
of Wisconsin. made the important an
nouncement that he would not at
tempt TO amend the biz with his tar
If revision proposition, but would
press his measure after, and Mr..
Richardson, of Tennessee, said that
Mr.. Babcock g only opportunity would
be lost when the rule was adonted.
The House voted the rule by 1875 to
800 stfiCs ra.tv vote.
The euooo Mr. Richardson. the
leade' OF the Democrats, in order to
empbes' the fact that no opportu-
ritS 20 suggest amendments was pos-
siblv. and that the time allowed for
debatiu, was too brief and would be
frcittess. asked unanimous consent
for immediate &C ton on the bill. 10
took the breath of the House away.
but when it recovered both sides ap-
plauded aud no one objected. Repub-
lican and Democrats applauded again
while the bill was read and lpromDt-
ly passed.
The Renublican leaders did not
know what to make of it at first, but.
after hasty conference, they agreed
that it was all right. No bill of such
importance. except that giving Presl-
dent Mckinley the ESQ, 900, 00osdefense
fund. has been passed by the House
since The civil war.
The Senate Will have the bill today
aud the Finance Committee will pro-
coed TO cut down It's reductions before
reporting it to the Sena te, with Z
D sobabie net reduction to about $50,
600 COO
Now that the War Tax Reduction
bill is out of the way the House man
ayers will proceed Co "do something
for Cuba, :" as they have assured the
President would be done in RESPONSE
TO his earnest appeal. There is rea
n too that the legislation for Cuba
will take It's 1nal form in Senate.
The Republican managers in the
House 40 not want 20 bring in any
measure that will open Up the tariff
question, and to give an opportunity
to MIR. Babcock and the other Repub-
lican tariff revisionists to bring for
ward their measures. Therefore,
they prefer a proposition to give re-
bates to the Cuban sugar and tobacco
growers rather than one providing for
reduction in the tariff. The scheme
favored would provide for registering
/ the amounts as paid as duties on lndi-
viduRl consignments. and then refund
them through the Treasurer Of Cuba
! to the individual growers.
THE Republican members Of the
Ways and Means Committee will at
TACK the problem ut once and prepare
bill upon which they can unite the
Republicans SO rs TO pass 1T without
amendment and without prolonged de-
b.te. The Senate can and probably
will alter the measure so as to make
1t entirely acceptable to the Admins
tration, and the House would then be
willing to accept the measure. which
would no be debatable or amendable
and for which the responsibility
could be placed on The Senate.