The age-herald., 1902-02-23

Washington, February 22.-The Republt- , can members of the ways and means committee who have been considering the question of concessions to Cuba at several meetings during the week finally reached an agreement this afternoon which is considered a victory for those who have favored tariff concessions to that island. The action taken was the adoption of the following resolution:
 Resolved. That it Is the sense of the majority of this committee. subject to the approval of the Republican members of the house in caucus assembly, to be held as soon as practicable, that the committee report bill in substance authorizing the President to negotiate reciprocity treaty with the Cuban republic when established. providing for the entry of products into Cuba upon such terms as shall be deemed by him to be advantageous to us; provided however, that such treaty shall secure for our products going into Cuba duties less than those allowed to other Spooners comments in his speech yester- day upon the part taken by W. J. Bryan in securing the ratification of the treaty
 
 that the influence was not sufficient to induce the Senate to ratify the treaty After he had done all that 1t was possible for him to do, MT. Tillman asserted, the Republicans yet lacked votes enough to secure ratification.
 "You know shouted he, shaking his finger at the Republican side, "how those votes necessary were secured"
 How were they secured?" demanded MT. Spooner.
 T know if the Senator does not" replied MT. Tillman.
 "I have received information in confi- dence from that side of the chamber; I know from that that improper influence was used in getting votes.'
 Name the man., insisted Mir Spooner. ''upon whom those influences were brought to bear. It is due the Senator and country that he name nim. man who impeaches another in confidence is a coward. If the Senator knows of any man who has been improperly influenced he should name him.
 Patronage ParceIed Out.
 "I know asserted MT. Tillman. that the patronage, the federal patronage. of a state has been parcelled out to Sem ator since the ratification of that treaty"
 What state?" demanded MT. Spooner.
 
 Then said MT. Spooner, T leave you to fight the matter out with your col league"
 Well" retorted MT. Tillman, T never shirk the responsibility for a statement I make. know that he (McLaurin, his colleague) voted for the treaty. I know what I believe"
 You simply believe" retorted MT. Spooner, what you do not know"
 tl,. but the feeling engendered manifested itself later in a thrilling and sensational scene.
 MT. Tillman, continuing his speech. read some letters from soldiers the Philip pines detailing the alleged cruelties prac- ticed upon the natives by the American forces. He told of 160 Filipinos to whom, the writer stated, the water cure had been administered, resulting in the death of all but twenty-six of them. MT. Hoar interrupted to say that he had received many letters making charges against the American forces, but in every instance the writers had given him the informa- tion either in confidence or incidents of which they merely had heard and which they professed to know nothing person. ally. He protested against information of that kind and declared "I do not want anybody to tell me in strict confidence
 
 Defended General Funston.
 MT Burton. Kansas interrupted to de- fend General Funston upon whom, he said the comments of MT. Tillman failed entirely. as the soldiers who were charged in the letters the South Carolnian had read with the cruelties, were not under General Funston's command. MT. Burton read General Funston's explicit denial of the very story which had been referred to by MT. Tillman. the denial concluding with the following statement: ''The statement which l wish 70 brand as an atrocious lie, without the slightest foun- dation Statements of this kind sim ply braggadocio and braggadocio is re- peated In the Senate of the United States
 Mr. Burton quoted General Funston as