The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-19
Ii Authorizes the President To Nego-
tiate a Reciprocal Agreement
with the Cuban Republic.
TREATY TO EXPIRE DEC. /, 1903
EACH COUNTRY MUST REDUCE Gus
TOMS DUTIES 20 PER CENT.
Cuba Also Must First Enact the Immi-
grafton and Exclusion Laws
of the United states.

WASHINGTON. March 1S-The advo-
Gates OF Cuban reciprocity scored de-
cisive victory tonight at the conference
of Republican members OF the House OF
Representatives. the proposition OF Chair
man Payne of the ways and means commit
tee, for 20 per cent reduction OF duty.
with the Sibley amendment. limiting the
duration OF the reduced rates TO Dec. /.
1903. being adopted by vote of IS yeas to
81 nays. This result was reached at 1850
o'clock, after a protracted debate followed
by series of exciting roll calls. The first
test was when Mr.. Payne concluded the
speechmaking with a motion for the pre-
This motion prevailed. rs to Sc. \ vote was
then taken a substitute offered 10y Rep
resentative Dick. of Ohio. i'm behalf OF those
opposing the reciprocity plan. offering in
its stead a plan of direct payment to Cuba
covering several years. This was defeated,
81 TO 70. An amendment by Mr.. Morris, OF
Minnesota, to take of the differential on
refined sugar was defeated 50 TO 72
The ways and means proposition for reci-
proclty with the Sibley amendment limiting
its duration, was then agreed to. So TO 81.
While the voting was I'm progress quite a
number Of those who opposed the ways
and means plan left the chamber.
About 14O members were i'm attendance to-
night. including Speaker Henderson, Chair
man Payne, of the ways and means COM
mittee. and others who have figured prom
inently in the contest
MR.. OVERSTREETS MOTION.
Representative Overstreet, OF Indiana.
proposed at the outset that the discussion
be limited to an hour on each side. saying
the arguments on the subject had been
thoroughly exhausted and the time had
come for action. This view was approved
by the conference. with reservation that
the agreement did not necessitate vote at
the close OF the two hours.
Chairman Payne made a statement OF
the difficulties encountered by the arbitra-
ting conference. which has been seeking
for several days TO bring the two elements
together. He frankly confessed that moth
ing had been accomplished. as each side
had adhered firmly to its original position
Mr.. Payne said the position Of the ways
and means committee now in effect
that presented by Mr.. Sibley at the last
conference. namely. for 20 per cent. reci-
prOcity limited TO December, 1903
Representative Dick. of Ohio one of the
conferees OF the element opposing the WAYS
and means committee. agreed with Mr.
Payne that no progress had been made by
the arbitrating body toward reaching a So
luton. At the same time Dick said he was
hopeful OF an ultimate agreement and he
urged deliberate action i'm order that har-
mony might prevail i'm the end. Mr Dick
closed br presenting resolutions represents
ing the views of the conferees who had
represented the element opposing the ways
and means committee as follows:
Resolved, That IL is the sense of this
conference that the committee on ways and
means be directed TO report TO the House a
bill for the relief OF Cuba substantially en-
bodying the following provisions
THAT the President be authorized TO en-
ter into a commercial agreement with the
government OF Cuba. when the same shall
have been organized and established
whereby. on account OF the relations which
have existed between the United States
and Cuba since 1898. and in consideration OF
such reduction OF duties shall be salts
factory 10 the President. on goods wares
and merchandise. the growth or product OF
the United States imported into Cuba he
shall agree TO pay each year for three years
to the government OF Cuba sum OF money
equivalent TO 20 FER cent. OF the duties col
lected and paid into the treasury OF the
United States on goods. wares and mer-
chandise the growth OF or the products OF
the island OF Cuba imported into this coun-
try"
DICKS FORMAL STATEMENT.
In support OF these resolutions Mr. Dick
f,I III
for his side:
'Adhering 10 the statements We have
heretofore made TO this conference express
ing our reasons for opposing a reduction
Ia the duties on the products OF Cuba in
the interest Of harmony and for the pur-
pose OF affording relief To Cuba. IN such
relief is needed and mindful OF the fact
recently developed that during the last
fiscal year there was an1eficit iu the pub
lie treasury OF the island OF cuba OF near
ly $500.000, we submit the foregoing reso-
luton with the following additional state
ments OF our reasons therefor:
"First-It Will AFFORD relief 10 both the
government and to the people Of Cuba
''Second-It makes certain that Cuba and
her people. and no one else. will be the
benerciaries Of our action.
Thirdly its adoption we keep faith
with the people Of this country and with
the people Of Cuba.
''FoUrth-It does not violate our national
party platforms OF 1896 and 1900
"Fifth-lt does not disturb existing con-
ditiOns I'm this country.
''SiXth-It does not alter or modify any
schedule OF the present tariff law
'Seventh-It does not injure or discour-
age any domestic industry or prevent It's
further development.
"Eighth--It avoids an inopportune agita-
ton Of questions affecting industrial con-
ditions Of unparalleled prosperity.
''Nsnth-lt would secure reciprocal trade
concessions from cuba and give time 10
ascertain the value OF such trade rela-
tions between the two republics under exist
ing conditions.
''Tenth-lts reciprocal feature furnishes
a consideration which makes the proposed
measure OF undoubted constitutionality. IL