Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-19
57th CONGRESS.
Continued from page ~

would command on the Republican
side The disclosures of Mr.. IN
derwOod, last night, relative to over
lures made to the Democrats, on the
basis of an abandonment of the Crum-
packer resolution added a new cOmpli
cation to the situation and this seemed
a likelihood that it might figure in the
debate, today, in a sensational fashion.
The whole atmosphere of the House in
fact was charged with electricity and
pesaged the coming storm.
Richardson, Tenn, the Democratic
leader, was the first speaker. He made
a careful, dispassionate speech explain
ing why he had voted in favor of re-
porting the bill. He stated frankly
that he doubted whether the enact
ment of the bill would do much to
bring about the reciprocal trade rela-
tons between Cuba and the United
States, which was earnestly to be de-
sired. But he had voted for it in the
hope that it might accomplish some
thing. These high rates could not
stand, and he said, GrOsvenor' speech
a few days ago was a warning of the
coming storm. He thought the time
for a revision of the tariff was at hand
and the fact that the pending bill be-
gan it in a modest way commended the
measure to him.
Richardson called attention to the
action of two counties in the district of
Babcock, Wis. endorsing the latter's
bill to remove the duties from steel and
amid Democratic applause said that
the Democrats proposed to give Bah
cock an opportunity later on to vote
for the bill his constituents had order
ed. He also outlined the Democratic
program to abolish the differential duty
on refined sugar. If this amendment
carried he said five or six million dol
lars would be taken from the sugar re-
finers and given to the American con-
sumers of sugar.
Just before Richardson took his seat,
Bromwell, Ohio. asked him this ques-
ton:
Does this gentleman from Tennes-
see. know anything of reported bar
| gain between the leaders on this side
and the Democrats on that by which
the Crumpacker resolution is to be
somtifered in order to aid the passa ge
of the pending bill?"
Absolutely nothing" replied Rich
| ardson.
| Fordney Mich, opposed the bill. He
declared that not a single Cuban ap-
peared 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 owing SUI
gar land in Cuba or Indirectly repre-
senting the influence of the sugar trust.
nd 10 70 10
excitement by bringing forward the
revelation made in the Democratic
caucus, last night, concerning the al
/ legged overtures made from the Repub-
! lican side to abandon the Crumpacker
resolutions if the Democrats from the
states threatened would vote against
overruling the Chair. After reading
/ the account of the caucus in a morn
| ing paper he proceeded with great en-
phasis to declare that the charge is
true or the statement If made was of
very serious character.
| 1T charges some members of this
House with attempting to traffic with
the legislation before this body" he
said. ut charges them with willing
ness to shelve legislation which men,
bers here consider very important in
order to secure the ultimate triumph
of this bill.
II do not believe it. l think the gen.
tleman from Alabama, Underworld
must have been mistaken or misin
formed. but nevertheless, think it his
duty to this House to be more explicit
and to locate this offence where it
properly belongs"
With great earnestness, Hepburn
continued to express his doubt whether
such alleged methods would be resort
ed to to pass bill which he was con-
WINGED 80 per cent. of the Republicans
were Indifferent or opposed to. He held
up to ridicule some Of the most ardent
friends of the measure.
| He quoted from the speech of Gros-
venor. the statement that Grosvenor
declined to support a bill for a so, 40,
/ 30 or % per cent. reduction. 1t was
only when the concession was reduced
| 5 per cent. further that he was induced
to support it. The remaining time
after Hepburn concluded-2 hours and
| 20 minutes-was divided equally be-
tween Tawney, Mimi, who closed the
debate against the bill. and Dalzell
Pa, who contended for the measure
Tawney at the outset defended the
course Of those on the Republican side
| who had not surrendered their convic-
tions. He pointed to the case of ex-
Speaker Reed i'm the sd Congress.
when he voted to issue gold interest
bearing bonds.
Tawney argued that if the beet SUI
gar industry were properly protected
I'm few years it would supply the en-
tire domestic consumption. In conclu-
sion. Tawney said that this was the
first time Republican leaders had pro-
posed to depart from the protective
theory. The Republican party was I,
bound i'm honor to keep faith with those !
whom it had induced to enter the beet
sugar industry. If the United States !
owed a debt to Cuba it should be paid !
out OF the public treasury by the whole /
people.