The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-19
Morris Amendment Adopted in Com
miftee of the whole by I64 to III,
and i'm Open House by 100 to 1Oo.
BILL THEN PASSED 247 TO SO
SEVERAL AMENDMENTS RULED OUT
OR REJECTED on a VOTE.
Defeat Of Republican Leaders Greet
ed with Cheers from insurgents"
and Their Democratic Allies.

WASHINGTON, April B-The Democrats
and the Republican insurgents rode rough
shod ever the House leaders to-day when
the voting began on the Cuban reciprocity
bill. They overthrew the ruling of the
chair in committee of the whole on the
question Of the germaneness of an amend
ment to remove the differentiaI from
fined sugar during the existence of the
reciprocity agreement provided for in the
bill. The vote to overrule the decision of
the chair. made by Mr.. Sherman, of New
York. was III to 80. Republicans to the
number of thirty-seven. joining with solid
Democratic vote to accomplish this result.
Having won this preliminary victory the
amendment was adopted in committee, 16i
TO III, and later in the House by a still
larger majority. 100 to 1O5. On this occa-
sion sixty-four Republicans voted with the
Democrats for the amendment. The bill
was then passed by an overwhelming ma
1ority, 247 TO 81.
An analysis OF the vote shows that 124
Republicans and 123 Democrats voted for
the amended bill and forty-two Republicans
and ten Democrats against it. Mr.. Gros-
venor. of Ohio. was one of those who voted
against the bill The voting on the bill
was the elimination OF long struggle.
which began almost with the opening of
this session OF Congress and after two
weeks of continuous debate. during which
--sBeh bitterness was aroused.
To-day debate was of an exceedingly
lively character, the features being echoes
of last nights Democratic caucus. To that
caucus the defeat OF the Republican lead
ers. who sought 10 pass the bill without
amendment. is attributable. Previous TO
the holding OF the caucus the Democrats
were very much divided, and the opposition
of the Republican beet-sugar men showed
signs of disintegrating. To-day. when 1t
became apparent that the Democrats would
act together. the beet-sugar men decided
at a meeting attended by thirty-two of
them 10 take the bit in their teeth and
overrule the chair.
EXPECTED DEFEAT.
AS soon as this combination was effected
the Republican leaders realized that they
would be defeated so far as the removal
of the differential was concerned, and Mr.
Payne. the Republican leader, contented
himself with warning his beet sugar col
leagues that in removing the diffsrential
they were taking of a bit of protection
placed in the Dingley bill especially for the
benefit OF the beet sugar producers.
The Democrats attempted to follow up
their advantage when the differentiaI
amendment was adopted by Offering the
Babcock bill and other amendments to re-
duce the Dingley schedules. but on these
amendments the Republicans declined to
stand with them, and the Democrats did
not press them vigorously. One of the sur
prises OF the session was the attempt of
Mr.. Roberts. "A Massachusetts Republican.
20 take the duty off hides. He offered two
amendments and appealed once from the
decision of the chair, but was voted down
each time.
The bill, as passed. authorizes the Pres
ident. as soon as may be after the estab-
lishment of an independent government in
Cuba and the enactment by said govern
ment of immigration. exclusion OF contract
labor laws as restrictive as those OF the
United States. TO negotiate a reciprocal
trade agreement with Cuba by which. in
return for equivalent concessions, the
per cent. from the Dingley rates on goods
coming into the United States from Cuba
such agreement TO continue until Dec l.
1903 During the existence of such agree
ment the duty on refined sugars and all
sugars above No. is, Dutch standard is TO
be ISIS per 10.
Mir Richardson. OF Tennessee the Demo-
cratic leader was the first speaker of the
day. He outlined the Democratic pro-
gramme relative TO Offering an amendment
70 al ffarn f1T
sugar. IL this amendment carried he said
S5.oo0,00 or $6.0O0.OO would be taken from
the sugar refiners and given TO the Ameri-
can consumers OF sugar.
THE ALLEGED BARGAIN"
Just before Mr.. Richardson took his seat
Mr.. Bromwell. OF Ohio. asked him this
question: Does the gentleman from Ten
nessee know anything of reported bar
gain between the leaders on this side and
the Democrats on that by which the CrlIm
packer resolution is To be smothered i'm or
der 10 aid the passage of the pending bill?"
Absolutely nothing" replied Mr. Rich
ardsOn.
Mr. Fordney. of Michigan opposed the
bill. lie declared that not a single Cuban
appeared before the ways and mears com
mittee in favor OF the bill. Every one Of
the witnesses for IL. he said. was either an
American citizen owning sugar land in
Cuba OF directly or indirectly representing
the influence OF the sugar trust
Mr.. Hepburn. OF iowa, aroused consider
able excitement by bringing forward the
revelation made in the Democratic caucus
last night concerning the alleged over
lures made from the Republican side TO
abandon the Crumpacker resolution If the
Democrats from the States threatened
would vote against oveTruling the chair
After reading the account OF the caucus I'm
a morning paper he proceeded with great
emphasis TO declare that the charge if true
or the statement II made was OF a very
serious character 1T charges some mem
House n 70 fraf
&c with the legislation before this body
he said. 1T charges them with willing
ness TO shelve legislation which members