The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-08
BATTLE BEGINS.
House Takes Up Bill For Cuban
Reciprocity.
Trouble Was Immediately
Started by Mr.. Tawney.
A TEST OF STRENGTH
Came Upon Motion to 60 Into
Committee of the Whole.
Motion Was Carried by a Vote
of177 to 80.

Washington, April 2.-The debate
upon the Cuban reciprocity bill opened
in the house today. There was much
activity among the leaders ON both
sides, in anticipation of the coming
battle and when the house was called
to order at noon the attendance of
members was unusually large, Routine
business was first considered.
Mr.. Lacey Qowa) asked unanimous
consent for the consideration Of bill
to protect game and fish in Alaska.
There was no objection and the bill was
passed. He explained that when the
Alaska code was enacted a year ago,
it did not include game laws and the
result had been an enormous slaughter
of game during the last season.
Mr.. Payne, chairman of the ways and
means committee then moved that the
house go into committee OF the whole
for the consideration of the Cuban reci-
procity bill.
The battle began Immediately. Mr..
Tawney tMinn.) as a parliamentary in
quiry demanded to know upon what
theory the bill was privileged.
Mr.. Payne replied that the bill was
one affecting revenue and the speaker
sustained that view. Thereupon Mr..
Robertson ILa-) raised the point of or
der that the bill did not come within the
purVieW of the rule. His contention was
that the bill proposed to authorize re-
ciprocal trade relations with Cuba; that
it was not bill to raise or reduce reVe-
nue. and not anenable as such. The
speaker held that under a long line of
precedents the bill was privileged.
Mr.. Newlands (Ney.) attempted to Sc
cure ruling of the chair upon the
question of whether amendments affect
ing the general reduction of the tariff
would be in order, but the speaker de-
clined to rule upon a question not be-
fore the house.
Mr.. Robertson attempted to propose
a proposition as to the length of general
debate, but Mr.. Payne cut him off with
a demand for the regular ORDER The
first test of strength came upon the
motion to go into committee of the
whole. The motion was carried, 177 to
so.
IN THE SENATE.
Washington, April Sat the opening
of the session today the president pro
tenn (A4r. Frye laid before the senate a
telegram signed by Claus SpFeckles and
about 20 other business men of San
Francisco protesting against the pass
age of the Chinese exclusion bill in it's
present form The signers of the tele-
gram declared that the exclusion of
legitimate Chinese merchants according
to the provision of the measure would
be an act of gross Injustice.
Mr.. Culiom said the new treaty could
be entered into with China and legisla-
tion enacted to exclude Chinese. If Chi
ma declined to enter into a new treaty
the United States would be justified in
passing such legislation as it chooses.
Mr. Cullom said that personally, he
was in favor of the absolute exclusion
of Chinese laborers but he believed that
existing laws were ample to accomplish
the result. He was opposed to the pend
| ing bill, because some of its provisions,
in his Judgment We're in contravention
of our treaty obligations.
He conceded the right of congress to
abrogate treaties by legislation but
urged that such action should be taken
/ only in exceptional cases. It was un-
necessary in the present situation to
pass such a law as that proposed.