The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-04

Washington, March 31-Thc ways and
means committee BY d vote OF Il to 5
today ordered a favorable report on the
Payne bill for 90 per cent. tariff con-
cessions to Cuba. and Mr.. Payne sub
s%equently reported IL to the house.
Eight republicans voted for the bill in
the committee. Two republicans, Mr..
Tawney and Mr.. Metcalf, voted agains:
it. No amendments on the reciprocity
feature were made. but by general con-
sent the United States contract labor
laws were included with the n~aturaliza-
ton and exclusion laws as applicable to
Cuba. y series Of democratic amend
ments for general taft revision were
defeated on strict party vote.
Another series of amendments by Mr..
Mcclellan, democrat, Of New York,
changing the reciprocity 1ate to so
per cent. to 40 per cent, 20 1872 per
cent and to % per cent. were defeated
successfully, 2 to 70.
An amendment by Nr. Tawney strik-
ing out the differential on sugar was
ruled out by Chairman Payne as not
germane, and on an appeal from the
decision of the chair. the latter was
sustained-9 to 6.
The final vote in detail was:
Yeas-Payne, Dalzell, G%rosvenor, Rus
sell, Steele, Mccall, Long n Babcock,
republicans; Richardson. Swanson and
Mcclellan, democrats-11.
Nays-Tawney and Metcalf. republi-
cans; Robertson. Newlands and Cooper.
democrats-5.
Although the actual vote was II to 3,
by general consent Mr.. Hopkins, who
was absent, was recorded in the affirm
ative, making the record vote II to 5.
Today's meeting was regarded as the
elimination Of the long struggle over
Cuban reciprocity. The full strength of
each side was present, except Mr.. Hop
kins, republican, of Illinois, who was
/ paired with Mr.. Swanson, OF Virginia..
The first vote was on a proposition
by Mr.. Robertson, of Louisiana, to
nave reciprocal relations with Cuba in
immigration and naturalization pro-
cedure, so as to permit citizens to pass
freely. This was defeated.
Another amendment by Mr.. swanson.
of Virginia, that the immigration laws
referred to in the Payne bill should not
bar United States citizens from Cuba,
| was similarly uSIedCeQ.
Mr.. Grosvenor's amendment. includ-
ing the contract labor laws with those
of immigration to be adopted by Cuba,
was agreed to without division and was
the only amendment mad
This cleared the wav for the real
test of strength, which was first made
on Mr.. Tawney's amendment making
| .01S25 the general rae on sugar that
is. taking off the differential.
Chairman Payne promptly ruled this
out of order, as not germane, where
upon Mr.. Tawney, appealed from the
| ruling of the chair. On the vote, the
chair was sustlined-9 to G.. Mr.. Met
calf voted witl the other republicans
in Support of the chair. making Mr.
Tawney the only republican against
the ruling.
Chairman Payne also ruled out two
! other amendments by Mr.. Tawney, one
! relieving from TAX alchol made from
the residue OF beets, ETC., and another
that the Payne reciprocity rate should
not begin until December l, 1902.
The democratic members then began
offering mendme Mr.. MctIIellan'S
came first, to raise the reciprocity con-
cession to so per cent. Mr.. Richardson
was the only one to join Mr.. McClel-
Ian, the other democrats and all re-
Eublicans voting against the increased
rate. making the vote 2 to Is.
Similar adverse votes We're given on
each of the Mcclellan amendments.
Mr.. Mcclellan then moved to take
oft the limit of the Payne bill to De-
cember l. 1903. so that reciprocity
would continue indefinitely. This was
also defeated 2 to Il.
Mr.. Newlands, Of Nevada, proposed
as a new section that Cuba be invited
TO become a part Of the United States.
This was ruled cut as not
Mr.. Newlands hen announced hat
he would vote against the bill
Mr.. Richardson. the ranking demo-
crat, offered several amendments in
behalf of his rarity colleagues. all Of
them being ruled out. and the ruling
sustained by strict party votes. These
amendments We're.
% For general tariff ~revisions; (2)
For tariff reduction on American made
articles sold mere cheaply abroad than
in this untr ca Removing duties
on the trust made articles: (D Revis-
ion of the iron and steel schedule as
proposed by the Babcock bill: go For
free wood pulp used to make printing
paper.
The final vote was then taken on re-
porting the Payne bill
This closed tie struggle and Mr..
Payne announced to his colleagues
that the reciprocity bill would be
called up one week from tomorrow.
Chairman Payne reported the bill to
the house later n the day. His report
explains the depressed condition of the
Cuban sugar industry, due to the
worlds over-production Of sugar. and
says.
This condition threatened grave dis
aster to this, the principal industrial
product Of Cuba. It is true that labor
in Cub is, and for the past three
months has been. fully employed at
fair wages, that there has been no
1 <oriro nv dicfracS- hrrf oil the evidence
received points tn the conclusion that
the financial crisis threatened involves
the most serious Consequences"