Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-04-09
Cuban Reciprocity Question is Taken
up on the Floor of the House
of Representatives.
Several Points of Order and Par
liamentary Questions Ruled Against
J by the Speaker.
Standing Vote on Motion to Begin Con.
sideration Stood 1o7 to 1o7 but Some
Weakened. p

upon the Cuban reciprocity bill openeC
in the house during the day. There
was much activity among the leaders
on both sides before the house con
vened in anticipation Of the coming
battle and when the speaker called the
house to order at noon the attendance
on the floor was unusually large. Aft
er the approval of the journal some
routine business was transacted.
Mr.. Payne, chairman of the ways
and means, committee and leader o,
the majority, then moved that the
house go into committee of the whole
for the consideration of the Cubar
reciprocity bill.
The battle began Immediately. Mr.
Tawney (Nhnn.), as parliamentary
inquiry, demanded to know upon what
theory the bill was privileged.
Mr.. Payne replied that the bill was
one affecting revenue, and the speaker
sustained that view Thereupon Mr.
Robertson (La.) raised the point of or,
der that the bill did not come within
the puryiew of the rule His conten
tion was that the bill proposed to au
thorize reciprocal trade relations with
Cuba-that it was not bill to raise
or reduce revenue and not amenable
as such.
The speaker held that, under long
line of precedents, the bill was priv
ileged. -. n. .'.=3t :
Mr. Newlands (Nev.) attempted to
secure a ruling of the chair upon the
question of whether amendments eff
fecting the general reduction of the
tariff would be in order, but the speak
er declined to rule upon question not
before the house. E%& s
Mr.. Robertson (La.) attempted tc
propose a proposition as to the length
of general debate, but Mr. Payne cut
him off with a demand for the reg
ular order"
The first test of strength came upon
the motion to go into committee of the
whole.
Opposition strong-Voiced. IA
A laughable incident occurred on
the division. On the viva voce vote
the chorus of noes" was louder than
the ayes and the speaker announced
that the .noes" seemed to have it. He
lifted his gavel and looked at Mr.
Payne, the majority leader, expecting
him to demand a division, but Mr.
Payne made no move. -&s g.,
'sThe noes have it," announces the
speaker simultaneously, Mr.. Nc
Clellan IN. Y.) saved the day by shout.
ing, Division, demand division ,
The result of the rising vote was
watched with great interest. It result.
ed: Ayes, 107; nays, 107. A dozen
Republicans demanded tellers and Mr.
Fordney (Rep., Mich.) and Mr.. Under.
wood (Dem., Ala.) demanded the ayes
and nays. The roll call followed.
rs Many of those who had voted
against the motion on the rising vote
changed their attitude when they were
placed on record and the friends of re
ciprocity won an easy victory, the mo,
tion being carried, 1T to 80.
Accordingly the house went into
committee of the whole, Mr. Sherman
: of New York in the chair. It was de.
cided that the time should be equally
divided for and against the bill. Mr.
Payne then began his argument. In
opening he pointed out the peculiar re.
lations existing between the United
States and Cuba growing out of the
Spanish war, to which he remarked in.
cidentally he had opposed. and the linn
itations placed upon Cuban independ.
ence by the Plat amendment and the
obligations which it placed upon the
h United States. It was our duty, he
argued, to see that the new govern
sment was started under the best aus
+ pices and to do all in our power tc
make the experiment successful. Mr.
Payne said that in time United States
exports to Cuba IL would amount tc
5000, 900 900. While he did not want
Cuba annexed, he believed that in
time she would bea part of the Unit
ed States. .s5 .