The age-herald., 1902-04-07
Cuban Reciprocity Bill Will Furnish Warmest Debate
 of the Session
PAYNE'S MEASURE WILL
 BE ULTIMATELY PASSED
Fight Will Come on Amendments un- der the Five Minute Rule, and Democrats Will Open Up En-
 tire Tariff Question.

Washington April 6.-The great battle over the Cuban reciprocity which created such protracted struggle among the Re- publicans, both In caucus and In the com mittee on ways and means. will be fought cut 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 negotia- tion of reciprocity treaty, and the en- actment of our immigration laws by the republic of Cuba, is regarded as a fore gone conclusion. but the situation is a complicated one owing to the divisions among the Democrats as well as the Re publicans. How far the Republican op- ponents of the proposed legislation will carry their opposition is not definitely de- termined. The strength of this opposl- ton has dwindled until 1t probably num- bers less than thirty.
 On the other hand. up to the present time. a large majority of the Democrats favor the greatest possible freedom of trade with Cuba and would vote for deeper cut than the ways and means bill proposes Others like Newlands of Ne
 
 nexation of the island. and quite a num- Der under the lead of the Louisiana mem bers will strenuously oppose any tarin concessions wheatever
 It Is hinted that the attitude of the Democrats In the Senate who have fixed on a programme of opposition there may result before the vote is taken in more unity of action on the part of the Demo- crats of the l4ouse.
 No Hope for Defeat
 Some of the Republican opponents of the bill will speak against 1t. but the leaders of the Republican opposition show A strong disinclination to participate in the debate on the ground that there is no hop0of defeating the bill and that their speeches would become Democratic cam paign material In the coming Congress sional campaign. The bill will be brought m on Tuesday as a revenue bill. which Is privileged under the rules but no sneciaI order will be brought in for it's consideration. In this way the possi- bility of a defeat of a rule through combination of the Republican recaici- trants and the Democrats, will be avoid ed. The general debate will be allowed to exhaust itself The leaders on both sides estimate that not more than three days will be consumed in general debate. The real fight will come subsequently, when the bill is read for amendment un- der the five minute rule. It will be then that the Democrats will seek to offer amendments having for their purpose the opening up of the whole tariff ques-
 
 ton.
 t. Will Rule Out Amendments.
 While some of these amendments might command seme Republican votes if they should actually come to a vote, they will he ruled out Nof -oTder in the House as thay were in committee and the only method by which .aey, can be reached vould be by everything the decision of th. chair. It Is certain that not half a oozen. if indeed any Republicans. will go to this length, that the Republican leaders feel assured that none of these propositions will come to actual vote. The only amendments which will be held to be germane in order will be those Increasing or decreasing the amount of Che concession and the leaders feel req .orablv safe in the predictions that the caucus prediction for % per cent reduc- .,o,, will stand It is their hope that on the final vote the bill will be passed by Republican votes
 The Chinese exclusion bill which will .oroe to a final vote tomorrow, will com- vrsnd practically every vote in the House. rhe only question is as to how far the
 a,or,tv bill will be amended by the in .ertion of provisions to make 1t more in ,,ne with the more drastic substitutes ,hich has been offered by the minority SENATE WILL FIGHT
 ON PHILIPPINE BILL.
 washington, April 6.-The expectation ,, the friends of the Chinese exclusion .,u is that it's consideration by the Senate v,,l he concluded by the middle of the ,resent week, if not before. The Philip r,re government bill will be taken up inn rn.dtately afterwards. This bill probably xv,l occupy attention for considerably ,o,oer time than has any measure since the Philippine tariff bill was passed, and .hs Democratic members of the commit tee on the Philippines are now very in- dustriously engaged in, preparing for the debate. They do not profess to .be able to defeat the measure, but say they will make strenuous efrorts' to secure material amendments They object to various fea- tvres of the bill and will charge that its urinary purpose is to permit the grant Ing of franchises. They also will take exception to the unqualified continuance