Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-19
|C|)DA' 5 FRIENDS WIN
House Republicans Decide on a
20 Per Cent Reduction OF
the Tariff.
Beet Sugar Men Badly Defeated,
the Vote Standing
IS TO 81.
Tariff Reduction to Remain in
Force Only Until Decem.
Der, 1908.

Washington, March 19.-On shoN
of hands last night at the republiea
conference the sugar beet men wer
overwhelmingly defeated. the Pdyn
proposition providing for a 90 per cen
reciprocal agreement with Cuba peini
adopted by a vote of SIS to 81, but tn
operation of this plan is limited to Dec
/, 1903.
The operationmb mbamb 4jom HIM
/ The original proposition of the way
and means committee was that thi
country should reduce the rates OF
sugar and tobacco 90 per cent, and il
return Cuba should admit all United
States products at a lower tariff ant
pass the United States immigration
laws.
This was adopted by the conference
| last night with the addition of the Sib-
ley amendment which merely limits
this reciprocity with Cuba to the periot
up to Dec. !, 1903.
| There is some soreness over the de-
feat of the beet sugar men, and last
night some of them threatened to ig-
more the decision of a majority of theii
party associates and continue sheii
fight against Cuban reciprocity on the
floor of the house.
Speaker Henderson, Representatives
Cannon, Payne, Long and the ether
leaders will not be inundated by these
threats, and within the next few days
will report a bill in accord with the in
structions contained in the resolution
adopted last night.
This resolution in substance provides
that the president is authorized, after
the establishment of an independent
government in Cuba and the enactment
by government of immigration and eN-
clusion laws similar to those in effect in
this country, to enter into reciprocal
arrangement with Cuba on the basis of a
90 per cent reduction in the Dingley
tariff rates.
Cuban sugar and tobacco will enter
this country at the reduced rate and
the manufactures of this country, as
we'll as meats and breadstuffs, will en-
ter Cuba at similar reduction.
Mr.. Sibley's amendment. which was
acceptable to the president, and was ac-
cepted by Mr. Payne limits the opera
ton of the reciprocity scheme to per-
iod of about twenty months. If within
that time the reciprocity proves sue
cessful congress can extend it, other
wise the exclusive commercial union
between the United States and Cuba
will expire by limitation on Dec. l,
1903.
There was disposition on the part
of the sugar beet men TO postpone ac-
ton again. but Speaker Henderson and
vote. They We're sure of a majority for
their proposition, and did not see how
could be gained by further
delay.
There was nearly three hours of de-
bate, at the close of which Mr.. Payne
demanded the previous question. This
was agreed to by vote of rs to Sc.
This was defeat for the beet sugar
men, who We're anxious to postpone a
showdown for few days longer.
Then there was vote on resolution
offered by Representative Dick. which
provided for the payment of bounty
to the Cuban government, a sum of
money equivalent to 20 per cent of the
duties collected since 1898 by the Unit
ed States on goods coming from Cuba
In return for this Cuba was required to
grant a 20 per cent reduction in it's
tariff on American goods entering its
territory. This was lost by a vote of 70
to 81.
This last vote blasted the hopes of
the sugar beet men, as they saw there
was not the slightest possibility Of car
vi fhair ~
for the first time that their first
real defeat came with the vote to adj
journ the conference last week. Some
of them left the hall before a vote was
taken on the Payne resolution.
When eighty-five members in favor
of the Payne plan passed between the
tcllers the sugar beet men We're dis
posed to give up the fight and not show
their weakness by voting. About a
dozen passed between the tellers and
then there was a great deal of hesita-
ton on the part of the others. Most of
them decided to vote however, and
thirty one recorded themselves against
the administration
When the conference adjourned the
defeated members congreSated about
the lobby and cloakrooms ana gave ex-
preston to their feelings. They assert
ed they had merely attended a confer |
ance and no one was bound by the ac-
ton last night, as it was not a eau
Gus.
Representative Payne said he would
bring in q bill 'in few days." but he
would not say anything more definite. |
He and his associates consider that the |
aght is over and that the reciprocity
resolution will receive the support of
all the republicans when the vote is ia
zen.
When the conference was called to
order Chairman Payne took the floor
md explained that the committee rep
'esenting the two sides of the question |
had been unable to reach an agreement |
md advocated the adoption Of the res
button. He was followed by Mr.. Dick
II Ohio who offered resolution and |
spoke in support of it.
Representative Lacey of Iowa advo-
,ated the reciprocity scheme, saying the
armers of the west would be great |
gamers by its adoption.
Representative Hepburn was opposed I
% requiring the Cubans to adopt the
and exclusion laws of the
United States, as to do so would limit /
he growth of the island and its pro-
luction. Representative Boutell of I'LL /
lois also supported the resolution pre-
pared by the WAYS and means COM