The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-16
CUBAN BILL is SAFE
RECIPROCITY ASSURED, SAY re-
PUBLICAN LEADERS.
WILL NOT REVERSE CHAIR.
OPPONENTS OF BILL WILL STAND
By FARTY.

Some Democrats Also viii Uphold
the Chair in His RuIing-Thirty-
five Members Yet Who stiII Desire
to SDeaIS-IIave Infused 20 Per
Cent. of Tariff Reform Into Repub-
Hcans, Said Swanson-Ruin of su-
gar Cane Industry Would Work
Hardship Upon Black Laborers of
Louisiana, said MIR. Meyer.
Washington, April 15.-With the close
of the Cuban reciprocity debate in the
House to-day the leaders announced
that all danger of the bill being weight
ed down with undesirable amendments
was over, and that they felt assured
that the bill would pass in the shape
in which it came from the committee.
1t was announced that the entire Re-
publican delegations from Michigan
and California, who constitute the head
and front of the opposition, had agreed
not to vote to override the ruling of
the chair. Mr.. Watson of Indiana, who
is acting as the whip for the majority,
does not believe a dozen Republicans
at the outside will join the Democrats
quire more than twenty Republican
votes to place upon the bill the amend
ment which might endanger its ulti-
mate passage, as several Democrats
1t is understood, have also declared
their intention to stand by the chair.
An unsuccessful effort was made
again to-day by Mr.. Payne to secure
an agreement to put limit upon the
general debate. When the House ad-
journed to-day there remained thirty
five members who desired to speak
The debate to-day was without par
ticular interest. The speakers were
Messrs. Swanson of Virginia and White
of Kentucky for the bill and Messrs.
S. w. Smith of Michigan, Dayton of
West Virginia, Burgess of Texas Mey-
er of Louisiana and Sutherland OF Utah
against it.
In Line with Tariff Reform.
Mr.. Swanson argued that the bill was
In line with the Democratic policy OF
tariff reform. That statement made
him a target for the questions of some
of his Democratic colleagues who diff
fered from him, and he had sharp
clashes with Mr.. Bartlett of Georgia.
Mr.. Wheeler of Kentucky and Mr.
Cooper of Texas.
Mr.. Tawney of Minnesota asked Mr..
Swanson whether the proposed legisia-
| ton would not force Cuba to enact our
immigration laws.
In reply Mr.. Swanson declared that
the question showed the Inconsistency
OF the opponents of the bill, who, on
one hand, claimed that this bill would
Dragon poor, distressed Cuba into ac-
cepting something she did not want.
and on the other hand insisted that
Cuba was prosperous and did no. need
the contemplated relief.
Mr.. Swanson argued that with 20
per cent. preferential duties in our
favor we should be able to monopolize
the Cuban markets. He declared that
the American people would tolerate
no person or no party which asserted
that we owed nothing to Cuba, and
that our trade relations with her
should be no closer than those of other
countries. Personally, he said. he
would hail the day when Cuba be-
came a part of the United States.
Converting the Republicans.
Have you begun your propaganda
for free trade with the aid of the Re-
publican majority? asked Mr.. Lit
tlefeld of Maine.
I'VE have" replied Mr.. Swanson.
I'VE have infused the majority with 20
per cent. of our views, and we are en-
outraged" Laughter.)
Mr. Meyer laid stress upon the hard
ships which the ruin of the cane sugar
industry would entail upon the black
laborers of Louisiana, who were en-
titled to as much consideration as the
laboring men of Cuba.