The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-18
A TRADE DECLINED
DEMOCRATS UNITED IN RECIPRoC-
ITY FIGHT.
REPUBLICAN OFFER REFUSED.
WILL URGE TARIFF AMENDMENTS
TO CUBAN BILL.

entail and other Amendments
Made Binding on Party.
Washington, April 1.-THE Demo-
Gratis of the House at caucus held
tonight, by very large majority,
estimated at 3 to 1. adopted the fol-
lowing resolution, introduced by Mr..
Swanson of Virginia:
Resolved. That we favor the re-
moval of the differential on refined
sugar, both from Cuba and elsewhere,
and believe that such amendments are
properly in order, and we insist that
1t is the duty of all Democrats to vote
whenever opportunity is given to have
these amendments added to the pend
ing bill providing for Cuban reciproc-
ity. We are opposed to the adoption
of the previous question when the bill
is reported to the House unless it shall
have been properly amended in COM
mittee of the whole, as this will pre-
vent an opportunity for just and proper
amendment with recorded votes on the
same.
Resolved, further. That the action
of this caucus is binding
The caucus was rather turbulent dur
ing the early part of the evening, but
toward the close the differences disap-
peared. and it broke up amid evil
dences of harmony and good feeling.
The action taken tonight binds the
Democrats to vote to abolish the diff
ferential on refined sugar and against
the previous question.
To Get Democrats United.
The caucus was held for the purpose,
if possible, of reaching an agreement
to act as a unit on the Cuban recipro-
city bill. which is to be voted on to-
morrow. Those who were Instrumental
In calling the caucus wanted the MEM
bers Of their party to present a united
front upon the proposition to take the
dinerential off of refined sugar Mr..
Hay of Virginia presided and Mr.. Cow
nero OF Missouri acted as secretary.
Ninety-four Democrats were present
From the very outset the caucus was
OF an exciting character.
MIR. UnderwoOd's Bombsheu.
~AAA" CAldCA WOOQ VI ALABAMA. VINO got
the floor Immediately after the meeting
was called 10 order, threw a bombsheil
INTO the CAUCUS by announcing that
overtures had come to him from the
Republican side by which it was to be
agreed that the Republican leaders
would abandon the Crumpacker reso-
luton to investigate the Southern cleo
ton laws if the delegations from the
states concerned North Carolina,
South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana and Virginia) would aid the
majority to close debate and would
vote against the appeals which win be
taken from the decisions of the chair
when the motions to open up the bill
TO general amendment are offered.
Mr. Underwood declined to give The
name of the Republican from whom
these assurances regarding the aban-
donment of the Crumpacker resolution
came, and although arguing that it
was to the interests of the states in
Volved to accept the offer made, he
stated that the agreement had not
been positively accepted and for him
self agreed to abide by tn edecision of
the caucus. The Democratic vote on
Wednesday to close debate came prin-
cipally from the states mentioned
above.
Mr.. Swanson of Virginia offered the
first definite proposition for the caucus
to consider a resolution de-
claring it to be the sense of the
caucus that the Democrats should
vote solidly against the demand for
the previous question in order to ad-
init the admission of amendments to
reduce the tariff and upon the ques-
ton of the germaneness of such
amendments, if necessary, to vote to
override the chair. He argued strong
ly that the Democrats should stand
solidly for the motion to take off the
differential on refined sugar especially
as there was at least a chance of
winning a victory. To this resolution
Mr.. Williams of Mississippi offered a
substitute to bind the Democrats to
vote for all propositions involving a
reduction of the tariff, but to leave
every Democrat free to vote his con- i
victions upon questions of parliament
tary procedure.
Mr.. Williams maintained that under
the circumstances it would be to the
interests of the Democrats from the
states where representations were
threatened by the Crumpacker resolu-
ton to abide by the understanding
reached.
Double Dealing by Republicans.
During the heated debate that fol-
Mr.. Underwood if the Republican lead
ers had not silenced Mr.. Crumpacker
and his friends on the Republican side
who were opposed to- the reciprocity
bill by agreeing to report the Crum-
packer resolution, and II they were
not now trying to create detection on
the Democratic side by offering to kill
the resolution.
Mr.. Bankhead of Alabama sided with
Mr.. Underwood and Mr.. Williams, and
Mr.. Cooper of Texas and Mr.. Brazeale
of Louisiana, with Mr.. Swanson. The
two latter strongly urged their col
leagues to vote to abolish the differen-
tial on refined sugar,
In the course of the debate which
followed il developed that the Williams
resolution. was Interpreted to constit- |
ute an instruction to the Democrats to |
vote for the bill when the final vote
was reached. Both Mr.. Bankhead of |
Alabama and Mr.. Williams of Missis- |
sippi confirmed the terms of the pro-
position made to Mr.. Underwood by the |
Republicans.
Mr. Williams argued that it should |
be accepted. not so much because of |
the threat Of reducing Southern repre-
sentation as to prevent the opening up |
of the race question In the South.
swanson Resolution Adopted.
Mr.. DeArmond of Missouri and ]. !