The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-19

They figured on being able to do so in
this instance. But the Democrats fined
up to a man to fight the sugar trust.
and DeArmonds who insisted that this
be done in the caucus made it clear
that a vote to sustain the chairman in
ruling the amendment taking off the
differential on refined sugar not ger
name was direct vote for the sugar
trust.
The bill as thus amended is entirely
acceptable to the Democrats. What eff
feet the amendment to the bill win have
on its passage through the senate IS
prOblernatical The sugar trust must
now fight the bill with every weapon at
its command No one could have antic-
ipated such an impossible combination
of high protection Republicans fighting
for a favored industry and low tariff
Democrats knocking all protection
measures. The unusually large Repub-
lican vote against sustaining the chair
can partially be explained by the revolt
against Speaker Henderson and the
committee on rules which has been ex-
plotted in these dispatches. Sherman OF
New York was in the chair when the
vote was taken on the amendment, but
it was Henderson and not Sherman the
insurgents united with the Democrats
to turn down.
The vote to override the decision of
the chair, made by Mr.. Sherman of New
York, was III to $50, Republicans to
the number of 81 Joining with a solid
Democratic vote to accomplish this re-
suit. Having won this preliminary vic
tory the an endment was adopted in
committee, 164 to Ill, and later in the
house by a still larger majority, 1879 to
1O5. On this occasion 81 Republicans
voted with the Democrats for the
amendment. The bill then was passed
by an overwhelming majority, 247 to 90.
An analysis of the vote shows that 124
Republicans and 123 Democrats voted
for the amended bill, and A Republi
cans and 10 Democrats against it. The
voting on the bill was the elimination
Of a long struggle which began almost
with the opening of this session of con
gress and after two weeks of continuous
debate, during which much bitterness
was aroused The debate was of an ex-
ceedingly lively character, the feature
being echoes of the Democratic caucus.
To that caucus the defeat of the Repub-
ncan leaders who sought to pass the bill
without amendment is attributable.
Previous to the holding of the caucus
the Democrats were very much divided
and the opposition Of the Republican
beet sugar men showed signs of disin-
tegrating. When it became apparent
that the Democrats would act together
the beet sugar men decided at a meeting
attended by 90 Of them, to take the bit
in their teeth and overrule the chair AS
soon as this combination was effected
the Republican leaders realized that
they would be defeated as far as the re-
moval of the differential was concerned,
and Mr.. Payne, the Republican leader,
eontented himself with warning his beet
sugar colleagues that in removing the
differential they were taking off a bit
of protection placed in the Dingley bill
especially for the benefit Of the beet SUI
gar producers.
The Democrats attempted to follow up
their advantage when the difZerential
amendment was adopted by Offering the
Babcock bill and other amendments to
reduce the Dfngley schedules, bat on
these amendments the Republicans de-
cIined to stand with them and the Dem
ocrats did not press them vigorously.
One Of the surprises Of the session was
the attempt Of Mr. Roberts, a Massa-
chusetts Republican to take the duty
of hides. He offered two amendments
and appealed once from the decision Of
the chair but was voted down each
time.
The bill as passed authorizes the pres
ident, as soon as may be after the es-
Enlistment Of an independent govern
ment in Cuba and the enactment by said
government Of imnigra ton, exclusion
and contract labor laws as restrictive
as those Of the United Staes, to negoti-
ate q reciprocal trade agreement with
Cuba by which. in return for equiva-
lent concessions, the United States win
grant a reduction Of 20 per cent from
the Dingley rates on goods coming into
the United Staes from Cuba, such agree
ment to continue until December /, 1903
During the existence Of such agreement
the duty on refined sugars and all sugars
above No. Is Dutch standard IS to be
1885 per pound