The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-02-13
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, February 7, 1902.
A sensational meeting of the Ways
and Means Committee marked the
FIRST day of this week in the Capitol,
during which an unexpected attack on
the extreme protectlonist policy of
the administration, precipitated by
Representative Babcock of Wisconsin,
almost resulted in heart failure-met-
aphoricalIy speaking-on the part of
Chairman Payne, and lett the old
gentlemen in actual tears. The mo-
tion to favorably report the bill pro-
viding for the abolition of the war
taxes was before the Committee when
Mr.. Babcock moved to amend the
bill by the addition of his bill reduc-
ing the duties on the products of the
Steel Trust. With the utmost conf.
dence Mr.. Payne called for the ayes
and noes and the result was a vote of
to 7. Two republicans and two
democrats were unavoldably absent
but rad the latter been present the
committee would have been commit
ted to policy totally at variance with
the wishes of the leaders of the party.
Hardly had the Chairman recover
ed from his surprise at the closeness
of the vote when Representative
Steele Of Indiana moved to amend
the bill by the addition OF a clause
granting IS per cent reciprocal re-
ductlon on Cuban sugar. With tears
in his eyes and voice, Mr.. Payne
begged him to withdraw his motion,
which Mr.. Steele finally consented to
do. The Chairman then delivered a
homily to Mr. Babcock on the sub
ject of protection concluding with a
threa. to remove the tariff on lumber,
it being supposed that Mr.. Babcock
had large lumber interests in Wis.
consn. The threat did not seem to
produce much effect on the member
from Wisconsin and he declares that
he will present his amendment again
on the floor of the House. There is
every prospect of very interesting
session when the report of the CON-
mittee is called up in the House as
Mr.. Newlands of Nevada will also
offer his amendment imposing tax
of one-tenth of one per cent on the
gross receipts of the industrial cor.
porations in excess of $I,ooo,ooo pei
annum with a clause appended re-
quir'ng the publicity of the figures Of
such corporations; bro0iard tile Conn
mihee on rules d0ey not shut cut all
amendments, as is noy threatened.
*
Another interesting feature Of the
week has been the quiet, but none
the less intense, contest which i:
going on between the President anC
the extreme protectionists in regarc
to reciprocal relations with Cuba. Mr.
Roosevelt maintains that the United
States is in honor bound to grant tht
concessions because of the representa-
tions of President Mckinley an(
Secretary Root, and that he is per
sonally bound, by his promise to tht
people to carry into effect the policl
of the late President, to do all in hi
power to secure the reciprocity he il
advocating. Speaker Henderson
General Grosvenor and other republi
can leaders are unalterably opposet
to any deviation from the highest pro
lection and a serious break between
the Capitol and the White House i
imminent at any moment
President Roosevelt is about to in
dulge his propensity for administer
ing reprimands once more. This tim
the victim will be his former Coone
General Leonard Wood. Genera
Wood has addressed to the Senator
circular letter representing the sor
need of Cuba of liberal treatment b
Congress and the President consider
that his appeal should have been ser
through the War Department an
that his having addressed the Sen;
tors and omitted to address the men
bers of the House was serious err(
from the standpoint of tact and dll
lomacy. Accordingly, the General
to be treated to an expression
executive wrath similar to that a.
ministered to General Miles.
-.
On last Monday evening the rep
blicans OF the House met in Cauc
and considered the proposals to lin
the representations of the Southe
States and, in the words of one of Il
members present, "labored the who
night and accomplished nothing
They talked volubly and wildly
several hours and then Represent
tive Serene +. Payne came in al