The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1902-04-11
HOUSE THIS WEEK
A BATTLE TO BE FOUGHT IN
LOWER BRANCH.
CUBAN RECIPROCITY MEASURE
Factions Will Close in a Spirited Con-
fIict-Regarded as Certain that the
Payne Bill Will Be Put Through
that Body.

| WASHINGTON, d. c., April THE
great battle over Cuban reciprocity
which created such protracted strug~
| gle among the republicans will be
| fought out on the floor of the house
| this week. The ultimate passage Of
the Payne bill providing for 20 per
cent reduction on the products of Cuba
after the negotiation of reciprocity
treaty and the enactment of our i'm
| migration laws by the republic of
Cuba, is regarded as a foregone con-
| clusion, but the situation is COM
plicated one, owing to the division
| among the democrats as well as the
| republicans.
How far the republican opponents
of the proposed legislation will carry
their opposition is not determined
The strength Of this opposition has
dwindled until it probably numbers
less than 100. On the other hand
large majority of the democrats favor
the greatest possible freedom of trade
with Cuba, and would vote for a deeper
cut than the ways and means bill pro-
poses. Others, like Newlands (Nev)
are in favor of the immediate annexa-
tion Of the islands and quite number
under the lead of Louisiana members
will oppose strenuously any tariff con-
cession
1t is limited that the attitude of the
democrats in the senate who have
fixed on a program of opposition may
result before the vote shall be taken in
more unity of action on the part of
the democrats of the house Some of
the republican opponents of the bill
will speak against it, but the leaders
strong disinclination to participate in
the debate on the ground that these
speeches would become democratic
campaign material in the coming con-
gressional campaign. The bill will be
brought up Tuesday as revenue bill,
which is privileged under the rules,
but no special order will be brought
in for it's consideration. In this way
the possibility of a defeat of a rule
through a combination of the repub-
lican recalcitrants and the democrats
Will be avoided. The general debate
will be allowed to exhaust itself. The
leaders on both sides estimate that not
more than three days will be consum-
ed in general debate The real fight
will come subsequently when the bill
is ready for amendment under the five
minute rule. 1t will be then that the
democrats will seek to offer amend
ments having for their purpose the
opening up of the whole tariff question.
While some of these amendments
if they should actually come to a vote,
they will be ruled out of order in the
house, as they were in committee. and
the only method by which they can
be reached would be by overruling the
decision Of the chair
1t is certain that not half a dozen,
if indeed any republicans, will go to
this length, so that the republican
leaders feel assured that none of these
propositions will come to an actual
vote. The only amendments which
will be held to be germane and in or
der will be those increasing or de-
creasing the amount of the concession
and the leaders feel reasonably safe
in the prediction that the caucus decis-
ion for 20 per cent reduction will
stand.