Evening star., 1902-04-18
CUBAN RECIPROCITY
Situation of House Leaders
Very Complicated.
THE BEET SUGAR MEN
SAY THEY WILL VOTE WITH THE
DEMOCRATS.
Effort to Open the Pending Bill to
Amendment-Action of Last
Nights Caucus.


earlier hours Of the afternoon today in re-
gard to the Cuban reciprocity bill was ex-
ceedingly tense. Numerous conferences be-
tween republican factions were held and
general air Of excitement and uncertainty
pervaded the republican side.
The absorbing question was whether the
beet sugar republicans would vote with the
democrats to overrule the decision of the
chair and admit general amendment to the
Cuban reciprocity bill. The chief of these
amendments would be to remove the diff
ferential duty refined sugar. In order
to accomplish this removal 1t would first
be necessary to overrule the chair in Its de-
cision that the amendment was not ger
name to the bill 1t is understood in ad-
vance of course, that such would be the
chairs decision. 1t is added that the de-
cison is backed by a long line of prece-
dents. After deciding that the amendment
was germane the next question confronting
the beet sugar men would be whether they
desired to destroy the last vestige of pro-
lection to the beet sugar industry by adopt
ing such an amendment. The only reason
which could be advanced In support of such
a course would be that the removal of the
diferential would embarrass the bill.
Action of Democratic Caucus.
complicated very much by the action of
last nights caucus of the democrats of the
House. By an overwhelming majority vote
the democrats in caucus assembled adopted
the following resolution:
Resolved, That we favor the removal Of
the differential on refined sugar both from
Cuba and elsewhere, and believe that such
amendments are properly in order. and we
insist that it is the duty of all democrats
to vote whenever opportunity is given to
have these amendments added to the pend
ing bill providing for Cuban reciprocity.
We are opposed to the adoption of the
previous question when the bill is reported
to the House. unless 1t shall have been
properly amended in committee of the
whole, this will prevent an opportunity
for just and proper amendment with re-
corded votes of the same
Resolved, further, That the action of
this caucus is binding"
The adoption of this resolution was pre-
Ceded by a statement from Representative
Underwood of Alabama. of the demo-
cratic leaders, that overtures had been
made by the republicans to this effect: That
If the democrats would support the republi-
can leadership on the reciprocity bill the
Crumpacker resolution to investigate south
ern election methods would be killed. Mr..
Gnderwood's statement of this offer was
verified by other democrats testifying to
Its correctness The offer made to Mr. Tn
derWood was very tempting to some of the
democrats, especially the southern men, in
the caucus, but it was the decision of the
majority that better politics could be played
by refusing the overtures and standing to-
gether on a policy the object of which
would be to put the republicans, especially
the beet sugar men. in very embarrassing
on rHa
An Angry Set of Men.
The maddest set of men in Washington
today were the republicans who have been
advocating the Crumpacker resolution
They have suspected for some time that
they were being utilized by the House lead
ers to trade with. In connection with the
Cuban reciprocity bill. They recall the fact
that the House leadership had for several
weeks opposed the Crumpacker resolution
and had caused the adjournment of one or
two caucuses of republicans which were in
clined TO recommend the resolution They
point out that it during the critical
period when the House leaders did not
know whether or not they could swing
majority OF their party in favor of the
Cuban reciprocity bill that word came from
the committee on rules that the Crum-
packer resolution was to be reported within
ten days. At that time Mr.. Crumpacker
was member of the steering committee of
the beet sugar republicans.
After the House leaders had gained a ma
jority for the Cuban reciprocity bill there
was, it is recalled. sudden diminution of
interest in the Crumpacker resolution not
withstanding the fact that republican
caucus had unanimously recommended ia
Norable action upon it. II had been ru-
mored about the corridors for the past two
or three weeks that the House leaders were
using the Crumpacker resolution to gain
democratic votes in support of the leaders
program on the Cuban reciprocity bill.
The Crumpacker men were very excited
this afternoon and held several conferences
with the beet sugar republicans All kinds
of propositions promising trouble for the
House leaders were discussed but no bind
Ing agreements were made.
The position of the House leaders this af-
ternoon was explained to be as follows:
That the democrats have agreed in party
caucus to make political capital out of the
Cuban reciprocity bill and have determined
beforehand TO oppose, on partisan grounds
AL rulings OF the chair, whether those rul-
fngs were supported by parliamentary law
and precedent or not; that the question for
the beet sugar republicans to consider was
whether they could in the face Of such an
evident partsan attempt, AFFORD to go with
the democrats TO overrule a republican
chair. who was backed by long line of
decisions. and to throw the Cuban reciproc-
fly bill open to general amendment
1t is apparent, Of course, that the great
fight will come on the question of amend
ment. The democrats will not vote against
the bill In It's final form, they are COM
mitted to the 20 per cent tariff reduction
which ii proposes
Will Vote With Democrats.
Late this afternoon member of the
Michigan delegation In the House stated that
the Michigan. California and Minnesota
delegations. numbering twenty-six votes in
all. would vote with the democrats to take
TIE differential duty OF refined sugar. As