The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-16
Leaders Announce That All
Danger Has Passed
CAN'T OVERRULE THE CHAIR
Mr.. Watson, the Majority Whip, An.
nounces That Enough Democrats
Will Support the Measure to
Overcome Recalcitrants.

Washington, April 16.-Wfth the close
of the Cuban reciprocity debate In the
House today the leaders announced that
all danger of the bill being weighted
down with undesirable amendments was
over and that they felt assured the bill
would pass In the shape In which 1t came
from the committee. AS the bin in its
present form is sure to command three
fourths of the vote of each side of the
House. its passage was certain If 1t sue
cessfully passed the stage when amend
ments could be offered. The only cause
of anxiety heretofore has been the pos
sibility that enough Republicans would
join with the Democrats to overrlie the
chair and tack on the bill an amendment
to abolish the dinerental on refined su-
gar
All the energies of the leaders have
been directed largely to bear on the re-
calicant Republicans to induce them to
refrain from aiding this plan and this
evening at the close of the session of
the House it was decided that the Re-
publican delegation from Michigan and
California who constitute the head and
front of the opposition, have agreed not
to vote to override the ruling of the
chair
Mr.. Watson, Indiana, who is acting as
the whip for the majority does not be-
lieve over dozen Republicans at the
outside will join the Dem ocrats In this
PROPOSITION. 1t would require more than
twenty Republican votes to place the
bill in position which might endan-
ger its ultimate passage as several
Democrats 1t is understood have deciar-
ed their intention to stand by the ruling
of the chair.
An unsuccessful effort was made again
today by Mr.. Payne to secure an agree
ment to limit the general debate When
the House adjourned today there were 80
members who desired to speak
| The speakers today were Messrs. Swan
| son of Virginia and White of Kentucky
| for the bill and Messrs. Smith of Michi-
| gan, Day ton of West Virginia, Burgess
of Texas Meyer of Louisiana and Suther-
| land OF Utah against 1t.
THE SENATE.
Washington, April 1S.-The debate on
the Chinese exclusion bin was practically
concu1ee today and voting or the bill
and amendments will begin at o'clock
tomorrow. By general consent vote wn4s
taken today two important amend
ana, striking out the definition as to Chi
nese students and teachers, and they
were agreed to without question. These
changes were made with view to con-
ciuating to some extent the objection
which hes been directed against the rigid
restrictions on students and teachers and
the unnecessary Inconvenience this would
impose on the educated Chinese classes
coming to this country. The debate was
participated in by Senators Hartfeld OF
iowa Penrose CT Pennsylvania and Tur-
rer of Washington in favor of the bill
and Senators Pritchard OF North Carolina
and Spooner of Wisconsin In opposition.
Mr.. Turner made the assertion that
politics had crept into the discussion and
mcst of the members of the majority were
opposed to the bill. This brought out
sharp rejoinder from Mr.. Spooner, who
maintained that politics had not inquired
In the discussion and that the opposition
to the hill was due entirely to its conflict
with the treaty. and not because OF any
opposition TO Chinese exclusion. which
was an established doctrine of the gov
errment.