Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-18
INFORMATION WANTED
House Questions Secretary
Hay About Venezuela.
VOTE QUICKLY TAKEN
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION
OF REPRESENTATIVE MCCALL.
Bill to Reduce Duties twenty-five Pei
Cent on Products Of the Philip
pines Passed.

Secretary Hay was requested by the
House of Representatives today to send to
that body all information in his possession
relative to the Venezuelan controversy.
This action occupied the attention of the
House less than ten minutes and was the
first business of the day.
The matter was called up by Mr.. Hit,
chairman of the foreign affairs committee,
who moved that the De Almond resolution
calling for this information be laid on the
table and that the Mccall resolution be
agreed TO. This motion prevailed.
The Mccall resolution reads as follows:
Resolved. That the Secretary of State
be directed. if not Incompatible with the
public interests. to inform the House CT
Representatives touching any understand
ing or agreement between the governments
of Great Britain and Germany on the one
hand and the diplomatic officers of the
United States on the other, or any assur-
ances by the said governments to the dip
lomatic officers of the United States, as 10
the nature, extent and purpose of the joint
demonstration of said governments against
Venezuela, and particularly with reference
to the occupation of the territory of Vene-
zuela, and to transmit to the House of
Representatives the correspondence, If any,
upon the subject between the diplomatic
officers of the United States and the said
governments, or either of them"
Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee asked II
there was any reason for not mentioning
Italy and the other European counties In
the resolution
Mr.. Hit replied ,..at he understood that
the whole case would be covered by the in
formation asked for In the resolution.
In Meeting Of the Committee.
Action on the two resolutions In the House
was preceded by a meeting of the foreign
affairs committee.
Representative Shafroth of Colorado. who
has a resolution pending, proposing that
arbitration of the claims against Venezuela
be suggested to Great Britain and Germany
by the President of the United States, and
that the United States should guarantee the
payment of the award of such arbitration,
If any should result, advocated his meas
ure.
Mr.. Shafroth emphasized the danger to
this country of allowing the present condi-
ton of affairs to exist in Venezuela. In
view of the statement of Mr. Baifour in the
English parliament yesterday Mr.. Shafroth
declared there was no doubt that a state OF
war existed. The United States ran great
risk of being involved, and he believed that
to guarantee the payment Of any award an
arbitration commission might grant would
be far less expensive and far less dangerous
present program. He suggested that Ven
ezuela would undoubtedly make a counter
claim for damages because of the sinking
of her gunboats and the bombardment of
Puerto Cabello.
Venezuela financial distress was noted
by Mr.. Shafroth, who declared that by rea-
son of the constant state of revolution in
that country 1t was about as easy to get
blood out of turnip as money from Vene-
zuela. The committee deferred all action
on the ShafrOth resolution,
The wording of Mr. De Almonds resolu-
ton of inquiry was declared to be some
what involved, and as its purpose was ex-
actly that of the Mccall resolution, the lat
ter was unanimously indorsed by the COM
mittee.
To Cut Philippine Duties.
The House then went into committee of
the whole and took up the consideration of
the bill reported by the ways and means
committee yesterday to reduce the duties
on articles. the growth and product of the
Philippine archipelago, from Is per cent of
the Dingley rates uhe present tariff to 25
per cent.
Mr.. Payne explained the bill. The Philip
pine government. he said, needed revenue,
and for that reason it was impra cticable to
totally abolish the duties.
Mr.. Richardson (Tenn.) said he believed
any duty was unjust unconstitutional and
un-American, but he favored any reduction
He gave notice that he would vote to re-
commit the bill, with instructions to report
1t back amended, so as to provide for free
trade with the islands.
Mr.. Mcclellan IN. W recalled the fac
that Gen. Wright, vice governor of the
Philippines in a hearing before the WAYS
and means committee. expressed the opinion
that the free importation Of Philippine
products would best subserve the interests
of the islands.
Mr.. Swanson CVa) also argued In favor of
free trade with the Philippines
The Bill Passed.
The bill was further discussed by Mr.. De
Almond (Mo) and Mr.. BAH (Texas), Mr.
Crumpacker QH.) and Mr.. Greene Pa).
All amendments were voted down In COM
mittee of the whole.
In the House Mr. Richardson moved to
recommit the bill. with instructions to the
committee to report it back amended so as
to provide for free trade between the
United States and the islands.
The motion was defeated on a roll call
81 to ~, party vote except Mr.. Mccall
Tep., Mass.), who voted with the demo-
Gratis for the motion.
The bill then was passed without division
The Pure Food Bill Taken Up.
The pure food bill was taken up shortly
before 8 o'clock. according to a special or
der made several days ago at the request
of Mr.. Hepburn, chairman of the commit
tee on interstate and foreign commerce.
from which this bill was reported last ses-
sion. Mr.. Tompkins Of Ohio, who succeed
ed Representative Lentz from that state,
took the floor to explain the bill 1t was
Mr.. ToEpkins' maiden speech in the House
The bill seeks to prevent the sale of adul-
terated foods and provides that any food
which contains authorizations shall be plain
ly branded with a list of the articles which
creates a special bureau In the Department
of Agriculture. The functions of this bu-
reau give 1t authority to prescribe stand
ards for food and to prevent the sale of
adulterated food which shall be shipped
from one state to another or from one ter
r1tory to another.
Mr. Tompkins declared that the bill had
been most carefully considered by the COM
mittee in hearings at sessions which lasted