Evening star., 1902-04-19
COALITION IN HOUSE
Democrats and Republicans
Combine on Cuban Bill.
THELEADERS DEFEATED
ADOPTION OF THE MORRIS
AMENDMENT.
Scenes During the Closing Of the Long
Struggle Over the
Measure.
THELEADERS DEFEATED

In order to make the Cuban relief bill
odious to the Senate, the beet sugar repub-
licans Of the House yesterday entered into
an alliance with the democratic members.
abolish l the differential tariff on refined
sugar and incidentally bent the time-hon-
ored rules of the House until they snapped.
With this snap came chaos; came conster-
nation and chagrn to Speaker Henderson,
to Chairman Payne, Representatives Gros-
venor and Dalzell of the ways and means
committee, and to the recognized republican
leaders.
The fury and energy of a storm which
has been gathering momentum and strength
for over two weeks was poured forth in
the House between the hours of 8 and 6:45
o'clock yesterday afternoon. When the
wreckage had been cleared away the re-
suits were these:
The Cuban relief bill had been passed by
a vote of 2iI to 81; the differential tariff on
refined sugar had been removed by vote
of 1919 to 105; the ruling of the chair had
been discredited by a vote of III to 13O,
thirty-seyen republicans joining with the
democrats to accomplish this result
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.. Grosvenor Of
Ohio. was one of those who voted against
the bill.
End of Long Struggle.
The voting on the bill was the culmina-
tion of long struggle, which began almost
with the inception of this session of Con-
gress. and after two weeks Of continuous
debate, during which much bitterness was
aroused. The debate was Of an exceedingly
lively character, the feature being the echoes
of Thursday nights democratic caucus. To
dot nf hp nnh
leaders, who sought to pass the bill without
amendment. is attributable.
Previous to the holding of the caucus the
democrats were much divided and the op-
position of the republican beet sugar men
showed signs of dfsintegrating. When 1t
became apparent that the democrats would
act together the beet sugar men decided at
a meeting attended by thirty-two of them
to take the bit in their teeth and overrule
the chair. AS soon as this combination
was effected the republican leaders realized
that they would be defeated as far as the
removal of the differential was concerned
and Mr.. Payne, the republican leader, con-
tented himself with warning his beet sugar
colleagues that in removing the differential
they were taking off 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 ad-
vantage when the differential amendment
was adopted by offering the Babcock bill
and other amendments to reduce the Ding
republicans declined to stand with them,
and the democrats did not press them vigor-
ously. One of the surprises of the session
was the attempt of Mr.. Roberts, Massa-
chusetts republican. to take the duty off
hides. He offered two amendments and ap-
pealed once from the decision of the chair,
but was voted down each time.
The Bill as Passed.
The BILL as passed authorizes the Presi-
dent. 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 and con-
tract labor laws as restrictive as those of
the United States, to negotiate reciprocal
trade agreement with Cuba by which, in
return for equivalent concessions, the Unit
ed States will grant reduction of 20 per
cent from the Dingley rates on goods COM
ing into the United States from Cuba, such
agreement to continue until December l.
ment the duty on refined sugars and all
sugars above No. 16 Dutch standard is to
be 1.s25 per pound.
Mr.. Payne's Appeal.
After The Stars report closed yesterday
Mr. Payne. the republican leader made the
point Of order that the amendment to re-
move the differential from refined sugar
was not germane. He argued that there
had been rulings innumerable against such
extraneous amendment. II know" he
cried. turning to his republican colleagues
that the decision has gone forth on the
other side that the rules are to be brushed
aside to secure vote upon this amendment,
but gentlemen must remember what the
rules are He went on to say the rules
were the outgrowth of the best thought of
the great parliamentary leaders Of the
House in the past, and he appealed to his
colleagues to vote upon this question IL 1t
came to vote, according to the dictates Of
their ''consceuces and honor"
Mr. Littlefield Me- followed Mr. Payne,
taking the view that the amendment was
germane He had not proceeded far in his
argument before he aroused intense inter-
est by reverting to the report that at the
oemocratic caucus Thursday night Mr.
Underwood stated that overtures had been
made to him in regard to the Crumpacker
resolution. AN inSinuation has been made
here today" said he, which has not been
repelled as it ought to have been I refer
to the report that at the democratic caucus
last night II was stated that approa aches
had come from this side Of the House for
the democrats to enter into an unholy. un-
godly and Infamous alliance to sarcriice
human rights in order to save the face Of
certain leaders or protect the profits Of an
aggregation Of capital
Mr.. GrosTenor (Ohio) was on his feet In
an instant, asking Mr.. Littlefield to whom
ne me- rederred, when Mr. Underwood arose and
was about to interrupt him. But the latter
was appealed to by some of his Democratic
colleagues and he took his seat.
Mr. Littlefleld in reply to Mr. Grosyenor.
said he thought Mr.. Payne, the chairman
OF the ways and means committee. should
make statement. anu the republican leader
was just about to do so when Mr.. Under
wood again arose.
Mr. Underwood's Statement.
I desire to say just one word" said ha
L nave never made any such charge as
the gentleman repeats. either in a demo-
cratic caucus or elsewhere"
The republicans applauded this statement,
and both Mr.. Underwood and Mr. PAYNE
sat down.
Il have accomplished my purpose" said
MI Littlefeld. ~ have succeeded in yindi-
eating the republican majority"
ne then proceeded with his argument
that the Morris amendment was in order.
as 1t bore directly upon the duties upon
sugar which We're to be disturbed by the
proposed reduction upon Cuban sugars,
Other tariff amendments, however. he
argued. would not be in order
He quoted a decision of Speaker Blaine in
support Of his contention
Mr.. Grow Pa-). the venerable ex-Speaker