Gilpin observer., 1902-04-24
CUBAN BILL PASSES
BUT WITH AMENDMENT REDUc-
ING TARIFF ON REFINED.


Diherentlal on Refined Sugar Is Re-
moved Thirty-seven Republicans
Vote With Democrats.
Washington, April 19.-The Demo-
Gratis and the Republican insurgents
rode rough shod over the house lead
ers yesterday when the voting began
on the Cuban reciprocity bill They
overthrew the ruling Of the chair in
committee of the whole on the ques-
ton of the germaneness of an amend
ment to remove the differential from
refined sugar during the existence of
the reciprocity agreement provided for
in the bill. The vote to overrule the
decision of the chair, made by Sher
man, was I'll to 130, Republicans to
the number of 81 Joining with solid
Democratic vote to accomplish this re-
suit. Having won this preliminary
victory the amendment was adopted
in committee-164 to 111-and later in
the house by still larger majority
1919 to 105. On this occasion Ga Re
publicans voted with the Democrats
for the amendment. The bill was
then passed by an overwhelming ma
jority-247 to 50. An analysis of the
vote shows that 124 Republicans and
123 Democrats voted for the amended
bill and 40 Republicans and 10 Demo
Gratis against it, 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, dur
ing which much bitterness was
aroused. Yesterdays debate was of an
exceedingly lively character, the feat
ures being echoes of Thursday nights
Democratic caucus. To that caucus
the defeat of the Republican leaders,
who sought to pass the bill without
amendment is attributable. Previous
to the holding of the caucus the Demo-
Gratis were very much divided and the
opposition of the Republican beet sugar
men showed signs of disintegrating.
Yesterday when it became apparent
that the Democrats would act together
the beet sugar men decided at a meet
Ing attended by 80 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
so far as the removal Of the differential
was concerned, and Payne, the Repub-
lican leader, contented 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 BEN
eft of the beet sugar producers. The
Democrats attempted to follow up
their advantage when the differential
amendment was adopted by offering
the Babcock bill and other amend
ments to reduce the Dingley schedules.
but on these amendments the Repub-
licans declined to stand with them and
the Democrats did not press them Wig
orously.
Surprise From Roberts.
One of the surprises of the session
was the attempt of Roberts, Massa-
chusetts Republican, to take the duty
off hides. He offered two amendments
and appealed once from the decision
of the chair, but was voted down. The
bill as passed authorizes the president
as soon as may be, after the establish
ment of an Independent government
in Cuba and the enactment by said
government of immigration, exclusion
and contract labor laws as restrictive
as those of the United States, to nego-
tiate reciprocal trade agreement with
Cuba, by which in return for equiva-
lent concessions the United States will
grant reduction of 20 per cent from
the Dingley rates on goods coming
into the United States from Cuba, such
agreement to continue until Dec. l,
1908. During the existence of such
agreement the duty on refined sugars
and all sugars above number 16. Dutch
standard. is to be 1925 per pound
All the Democrats and the following
Republicans voted for the Morris
amendment: Aplin, Barney, Bishop,
Bowersock. Bromwell. Brown. Burkett.
Calderhead, Conner. Coombs Cooper
(WisD. Corllss, Cousins. Crumpacker,
Cushman, Dahle, Darragh. Davidson,
Dayton Esch, Forney, Gardner
(Mich). Gill. Greene (Mass). Hamil-
ton. Haugen, Hepburn Hit, Holiday.
Hull, Jones (Wash), Kahn. Knox.
Lacey. Lawrence. Lessler, LIttleneld,
Loud, McCleary. McLachlan. Mann,
Mercer. Miller, Morris. Moss, Mudd.
Needham, Powers (Mass.). Prince.
Roberts. Sheldon, Smith Qlls.). Smith
Ga.l II. c. Smith. g. w. Smith W. A.
Smith, Southard, Stevens (Mlnn.),
Sutherland, Tawney. Thomas (Ia.).
Warner Weeks. Woods.
The senate amendments to the Chi
nose exclusion bin were disagreed to
and the bill was sent to conference.