The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-07
HOUSE WILL SHORTLY THRESH
OVER RECIPROCITY MEASURE
QUARREL. On THE FLOOR
INSURGENTS AVOID DEBATE
Caucus Decision, 1t Is Believed, viii
stand, as Power of Parliamentary
Rules VIII BE Used to F'a-
vOr Pending Bill
EACH PARTY NOW DIVIDED

WASHINGTON, April 6.-The great bat
tie over Cuban reciprocity which create
such q DrOtracted struggle among the
Republicans, both in caucus and in the
committee on ways and means, viii be
fought out on the floor, so far as the
house is concerned, this week.
The ultimate passage OF the Payne bin
providing for a 20 per cent reduction on
the products Of Cuba after the negotia-
ton of a reciprocity treaty and the enact
meuL of our immigration laws by the re-
public Of Cuba is regarded as a foregone
conclusion but the situation is a cOmpli-
Gated one owing to the divisions among
the Democrats as well as the Republicans.
How far the Republican opponents of the
proposed legislation will carry their OPP
position is not definitely determined.
The strength of this opposition has
dwiudled until it probably numbers less
than thirty. On the other hand, up 20
the present time a large majority of the
Democrats favor the greatest possible
freedom of trade with Cuba and would
vote for q deeper cut than the ways
and means bill proposed Others, like
Newlands Of Nevada, are in favor of
the Immediate annexation of the islands,
and quite a number under the lead of
Jue Louisiana members will oppose siren =
uoUsly any tariff concessions whatever.
1t is limited that the attitude of the
Democrats in the senate who have fixed
on a programme of opposition there, may
result before the vote is taken in more
unity of action on the part of the Demo-
Gratis Of the house. Some of the Repub-
lican opponents of the bill will spea k
against it, but the leaders of the Repub-
lican opposition show a strong disnclina-
tiOn to participate in the debate on the
ing the bill, and that their speeches
would become Democratic campaign ma
terial in the coming congressional cam
paign
The bill viii be brought up Tuesday as
a revenue bill, which is privileged under
the rules, but no special order will be
brought in for its consideration. In this
way lEe possibility Of a defeat of a rule
through a combination Of the Republican
recalcitrauts and the Democrats viii be
avoided. The general debate will be al
lowed to exhaust Itself. The leaders on
both sides estimate that not more than
three days viii be consumed in general
debate
The real fight will come subsequently
when the bill is read for amendment I'M
der the ive-minute rule. 1t will be then
that the Democrats viii seek to offer
amendments having for their purpose the
opening up of the whole tariff question.
Think caucus Decision viii Stand.
While some Of these amendments might
command some Republican votes, if they
should actually come to a vote they will
be ruled out of order in the house, as
they were in committee, and the only
method by which they can be reached
would be by overruling the decision of
the chair. 1t is certain that not half a
dozen, if indeed any Republicans, will go
to this length, so that the Republican
leaders feel assured that none of these
propositions will come to an actual vote
The only amendments which will be
held to be germane and in order will be
those increasing or decreasing the
amount of the concession, and the lead
ers feel reasonably safe in the predic-
ton that the caucus decision for a 20 per
cent reduction viii stand. 1t is their hope
that on the final vote the bill will be
passed by Republican votes.
The Chinese exclusion bill which will
come to final vote tomorrow will COM
mand practically every vote in the house.
The only question is as to how far the
majority bill will be amended by the in
seTtiOn of provisions to make it more
IN line with the more drastic substitute
which has been offered by the minority.