The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-18
DEBATE is CLOSED
SENATE TO VOTE ON CHINESE
BILL TODAY
RECIPROCITY WITH CUBA
Success of this Measure in the House
Assured-BiI Not to be SO Loaded
Down with Amendments as to Kill
it Enough Names, Republicans
and Democrats, Secured to Sustain
the Ruling OF the Chair on Points
of Order Against Amendments.
The End of the Debate Not Yet in
Sight

h End of The Debate Not Yet in
Sight.
Washington. April 15.-The debate on
the Chinese exclusion bill was practi-l
cally concluded today in the senate and
voting on the bill and amendments will
begin at l o'clock tomorrow. BY Gener-I
al consent a vote was taken today onl
two important amendments offered byl
Senator Fairbanks. of Indiana, strikingl
out the definition as to Chinese studentsI
and teachers, and they were agreed tol
without division. These changes werel
made with a view to reconciling somel
of the opposition to the measure which,
has been directed against the rigi5I
restrictions on students and teachsrsI
and the unnecessary Inconvenience this
would impose on the educated ChineseI
classes coming to this country.
The debate today was participated inl
by Senators Heitfield. of Idaho; Pen
rose. of Pennsylvania, and Turner, OF
Washington. in favor of the bill and
Senators P%ritchard, of North Carolina.
and Spooner. of Wisconsin, in opposi-
ton.
Senator Turner made the assertion
that politics had crept into the discus
sion and that most of the members of
the majority were opposed to the hill.
This brought out a sharp rejoinder from
Senator SpoOner, who maintained that
politics had not figured in he discus
sion and that the opposition to the pres
ent bill was due entirely to it's conflict
with the treaty and not because of any
opposition 10 Chinese exclusion, which
was an established doctrine Of the gov
m
Senator Pritichard opposed the bill
mainly on account of the injury II
would cause the south in reducing the
cotton exports to China.
Senator Mallory. of Florida, express
ed surprise at the amendment propns-
ing to strike out the seaman's clause, Sd
called. He said this was one of the
most salutary features and should be
retained.
House Of Representatives.
With the close of the Cuban r%eciproc-
ity debate in the house today the lead
ers announced that all danger of the
bill being weighted down with undeSir-
able amendments was over and that
they felt assured that the bill would
pass in the shape in which it came
from the committee. 1t was announc-
ed that the entire republican deleGa-
, tions from Michigan and California,
who constitute the head n front of
the opposition. had agreed not to
vote to override the ruling Of
the chair. Mr.. Watson. of Indiana,
who is acting as the whip for the ma
iority. does not believe over a dozen
republicans at the outside will join the
democrats upon this proposition. 1t
would require more than twenty repub-
lican votes to place upon the bill the
amendment which might endanger its
ultimate passage, as several democrats,
it is understood, have also declared
their intention to stand by the ruling
Of the chair.
An unsuccessful effort was made
! again today by Mr.. Payne to secure an
agreement to put a limit upon the gen
eral debate. When the house adjourn
ed today there remained thirty-Gve
members who desire to speak.
The debate today was without partic-
ular interest. The speakers We're
Messrs. Swanson, Of Virginia, and
White. of Kentucky, for the bill, and
Messrs. S. w. Smith, of Michigan; Day
ton, Of West Virginia.; Burgess, ot
Texas; Meyer, of Louisiana, n Suth-
erland. of Utah against it.
Mr.. Swanson argued that the bill was
in line with the democratic policy OF
tariff reform. That statement made
him a target for the questions of some
of his democratic colleagues who differ
ed with him and he had sharp clashes
with Messrs. Bartlett, of Georgia
Wheeler. of Kentucky, and Cooper. OF
Texas.
Mr.. Tawney, of Minnesota, asked Mr.
Swanson whether the proposed legis-
lation would not force Cuba to enact
our immigration laws.
In reply Mr.. Swanson declared that
the question showed the inconsistency
of the opponents of the bill who, on one
hand. claimed that this bill woulj
dragon poor, distressed Cuba into az
cepting something she did not want
and. on the other hand, insisted that
Cuba was prosperous and did not neeI
the contemplated relief.
Mr.. Swanson argued that with 2
per cent. preferential duties in our Fl.
vor we should be able to monopoliZe
the Cuban markets. He declared thai
the American people would tolerate M
person or no party which asserted tina
we owed nothing to Cuba and that oui
trade relations with her should be II
closer han those Of other countries
Personally. he said. he would hail tn
day when Cuba became a part Of til
United States.
Have you begun your propaganda
for free trade with the aid of the re
publican majority" asked Mr.. Little
field. OF Maine.
I'VE have, replied Mr.. Swanson
infused the majority with 20 per cent
of our views and we are encouraged.
(Laughter.)
Mr.. Meyer laid stress upon the hard
ships which the ruin Of the cane sugal
industry would entail upon the blacl
laborers Of 7 o"'cia'a who, he contend
ed were entitled to as much cnnsider
ton as the laDoring men of Cuba.
Neglect Means Hangar