Bismarck daily tribune., 1902-04-19
IN THE HOUSE.

IN THE HOUSE
Washington, April 19.-General de-
hIte on the Cuban reciprocity bill
closed at p. m. and the bill was read
for amendment under the 5-minute
rule and passed.
MIR. Morris (Minn.) offered an
amendment to remove the differentials
on refined sugar. Mr.. Payne made the
point of order that it was not germane
and entered into an argument on the
subject. .s..".
Mr.. Littlefield, in replying to Mr..
Payne, alluded to the talk of the Crum-
packer resolution in the Democratic
caucus. Mr.. Underwood (Ala.) de-
MED that he had ever made any charge
that had been implied to him either in
the Democratic caucus or elsewhere.
When the house met at IL o'clock
there was a prospect Of a memorable
session ahead. The general debate
upon the Cuban reciprocity bill was to
close at o'clock and it was the inten-
tion of the leaders, if possible, to hold
the house in session until the final vote
was taken. The action of the Demo
cratic caucus, which decided to vote
solidly for the removal of the differen-
tial on refined sugar, gave the leaders
some concern as they were unable to
figure out exactly what strength the
proposition would command on the Re-
publican side. The whole atmosphere
of the house was charged and presaged
a coming storm. -.
Mr.. Richardson (Tenn.), the Demo
cratic leader, was the first speaker.
He made careful, dispassionate
speech, explaining why he had voted
in favor of reporting the bill. He stat
ed frankly that he doubted whether
the enactment of the bill would do
much to bring about the reciprocal
trade relations between Cuba and the
United States which was earnestly to
be desired. But he had voted for it on
the hope that it might accomplish
something. 1t would at least reduce by
20 per cent the outrageously high rates
of the Dingley law so far as Cuba was
concerned. Those high rates could not
stand and he said Mr.. Grosvenors
speech few days ago was a warning
of the coming storm. He thought the
time for revision of the tariff was at
hand. ~
He also outlined the Democratic
platform relative to abolition Of the
differential duty on refined sugar. 1t
this amendment carried, he said, five
or six million dollars would be taken
from the sugar refners and given to
the consumers.
Mr.. Fordney (Mich.) opposed the
bill. He declared that not a single Gu
ban appeared before the ways and
means committee in favor of the bill.
Every one of the witnesses for it, he
said, was either an American citizen
owning sugar land in Cuba or Indirect
ly or directly representing the in
fluence of the sugar trust.
Hepburn Causes Excitement.
Mr.. Hepburn Qa.) aroused consider
able excitement by bringing forward
the revelation made in the Democratic
caucus concerning the alleged over
lures made from, the Republican side
| to abandon the Crumpacher resolution
| if the Democrats from the states
threatened would vote against overrul-
| ing the chair After reading the ac-
count of the caucus in morning paper
he proceeded with great emphasis to
declare that the charge, if true, or the
statement, If made, was of very Sc
rious character.
lit charges some members of this
house with attempting to traffic with
the legislation before this body he
said. 1T charges them with a willing
ness to shelye legislation which mem.
bers here consider very important in
order to secure the ultimate triumph
of this bill"
! The remaining time after Mr.. Hep
burn concluded-two hours and twenty
minutes divided equally between
j Mr.. Tawney (Minn.), who closed the
4 debate against the bill, and Mr.. Dal
i zell (Pa.), who concluded for the meas
ure. Mr.. TaWney, at the outset, de
4 Tended the course Of those on the Re
4 publican side who had not surrendered
their convictions that thrift might fol
/ low fawning."
He pointed to illustrious instances
In the past where Republicans had op
i posed measures advocated by a major
ity of their colleagues, notably the case
of ex-Speaker Reed in the congress
when he voted to issue gold interest
bearing bonds. He declared that those
of his colleagues who believed as he
i did had been denounced as traitors
I their motives had been impugned an6
4 they had even been insulted because
they had dared to assert and defend
4 what they believed to be to the inter
est OF their party, their constituent
i and their country. sS
\ Mr.. Tawney argued that If the bee
SUGAR industry were Droperly protected