The Lamar register., 1902-04-23
BEET SUGAR VICTORY
REFINED SUGAR AMENDMENT.
Cuban Reciprocity Bill Amended and
Passed in the House-Thirty-
Seven Republicans Join With
Solid Democratic Vote.

Washington, April 10.-The Demo-
Gratis and Republican insurgents rode
rough shod over the House leaders
yesterday when the voting began on
the Cuban reciprocity bill. They over
threw the ruling of the chair in COM
mittee of the whole on the question
of the germaneness of an amendment
to remove the differential from refined
sugar during the existence of the reel
procity agreement provided for i'll the
bill.
The vote to overrule the decision of
the chair. made by Mr.. Sherman of
New York, was III to l3O. Republi-
cans to the number of thirty-seven
joining with solid Democratic vote
TO accomplish this result. Having won
this preliminary victory, the amend
ment was adopted in committee. lt4 TO
Ill, and later in the House by a still
larger majority, 100 to 100. On this
occasion sixty-four Republicans voted
with the Democrats for the amend
ment. The bill then was passed by all
overwhelming majority. 247 to 81.
An analysis of the vote showed that
124 Republicans and 123 Democrats
two Republicans and ten Democrats
against it.
The voting on the bill was the culmi-
nation of II long struggle which began
almost with the opening of this session
of Congress, and after two weeks OF
continuous debate, during which much
bitterness was aroused. TO-day's de
bate was of an exceedingly lively
character, the feature being echoes OF
last nights Democratic caucus.
To that caucus the defeat Of the Re
/ publican leaders who sought to pass
the bill without amendment Is attriD-
utable. Previous to the holding of the
caucus the Democrats We're very much
| divided, and the opposition of the Re
publican beet sugar men showed signs
| of disintegrating. To-day when ii be-
| came apparent that the Democrats
| would act together the beet sugar men
| decided ut Il meeting attended by thir-
ty-two of them, to take the bit in their
teeth and ovcrrulc the chair.
AS soon as this combination was
| effected the Republican leaders real
| lied that they would be defeated. so
far as the removal of the dliicrcntlal
was concerned, and Mr.. Payne, the
Republican leader. contcnted himself
|
| that in removing the ditfcrcntial they
We're taking of IL bit of protection
placed in the Dingley bill especially
| for the benefit of the beet sugar pro-
| ducers.
| The Democrats attempted to follow
up their advantage when the differen-
| tial amendment was adopted by offer
| ing the Babcock bill and other amend
| mcnts to reduce the Dinglcy schedules,
but on these amendments the Repub-
, licans declined to stand with them,
and the Democrats did not press them
vigorously. one of the surprises of
| the session was the attempt of Mr..
Roberts, II Massachusetts Republican,
! to take the duty of hides. f.c offered
two amendments and appealed once
| from the decision of the chair, but was
voted down each time.
The bill, as passed, authorizes the
President. as soon as may be after the
establishment of an independent gov
crnment in Cuba and the enactment
by said government of immigration,
exclusion and contract labor laws us
restrictive as those. of the United
:stutes, to negotiate II reciprocal trade
agreement with Cuba by which, in re-
turn for equivalent concessions, the
| United States will grant n reduction
of twenty per cent. from the Dingley
| rites on goods coming into the United
| States from Cuba, such agreement to
| continue until December !, 1903. Dur
| ing the existence of such agreement
the duty ON refined sugars and all su-
| gars above No. 16 Dutch standard to
be 1.S25 per pound.