The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-05
CUBAN RECIPROCITY
TO keep House BUSY
Little Else VIII Be Accom-
pllShed Next Week.
LAST DITCHERS DISCOURAGED
Opposing Republicans to Continue Per
functoIy Opposition and Seek Adolf
tion Of DifeTential on Refined Sugar.
Work N the Senate.

Next week promises TO be a banner week
in the House. The programme. beginning
with Tuesday. contemplates discussion Of
the Payne reciprocity bill which in its
prenatal stage was responsible for the
ssvuest ruction on the Republican side
OF the House since the days preceding the
war with Spain.
The beet sugar men who declared that.
reciprocity with Cuba meaning a reduc-
ticn Of the duties on sugar. and this re-
durJi0n being designed TO destroy the
prosperity Of the beet sugar Industry, they
would not permit such action save over
their dead bodies in the last ditch. are
fighting in the last ditch now. At the last
test in caucus about sixty Of them we're
left. They have counted noses again.
and they claim no more than thirty-fve
last ditchers' at this writing. The heart
has been taken out Of their fight. and
they will do little more than 90 on rec
ord in faint speeches against the rcduc-
tion. and then viii cast their votes.
Democratic Votes to Help.
1t was at one time the boast Of Chair
man Payne. Of the Ways and Means Com
mit1ce that he would not pass the bill if
he had 10 depend upon a single Democratic
vote 20 help it through. II twenty OF the
insurgents hold out, Democratic votes viii
be needed. They are. however. at hand in
plenty. as evidenced by the fact that three
Of tie six Democrats on the Ways and
Means Committee voted to report the pill.
Attempts VIII be made by Democrats 70
amend the bill so as to open the subject
Of tariff revision. but she chairman viii
rule all such amendments to be out OF
order. and, although there viii be an -
peal from his decision. it is unlikely that
the House viii fail TO sustain him Some
one OF the beet sugar Republicans viii
seek the adoption Of an amendment abDl-
ishing the difierential on refined sugar,
but the course Of procedure viii be me
same
Mr.. Payne's bill authorizes the Presi-
dent TO enter into reciprocity agreement
with Cuba, after certain events shall have
transpired. entailing mutual concessions
Of 20 per cent, to remain effective until
December. 1903 II is understood that
after the bill shall have passed the House.
The Senate viii amend il, to make t'iat
reduction - or even 30 per cent The
House expects to devote three or four
days TO the discussion, and VIII do little
else next week. II there should be any
spare time, the Chinese exclusion bill
remains as continuing order and the
fortidcations appropriation bill IS ready.
Outlook in the Senate.
The Chinese exclusion bill will occupy
every afternoon in the Senate next week.
There are an unusually large number Of
Senators desirous Of making speeches on
this measure. and even the friends Of the
bill scarcely expect 10 reach a vote upon
II during the week. There is a very
strong opposition among leading RepubIi-
cans to the drastic feai Tres Of this pro-
posed legislation. and il is predicted that
the Senate's action on the Chinese dues-
ticn viii be confined 10 an extension Of
he laws now on the statute books
During the morning hour appropriation
ullis VIII be considered The river and
harbor bin will. IL is expected. be report
ed 20 the Senate from the Commerce Com
mittee on Monday and Chairman Frye
OF that committee hopes TO begin debate
On il on Tuesday.