The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-02-18
UNITED FOR REPEAL.
House Vote on the War Taz
Bill a Surprise.
SENATE DlSPOSES OF DANISH TREATY
Democratic Members Do Not Oppose
DrErhase Of Islands - Permanent
Census OHice Measure Also
Passed by the Senate.

W t"g SV"Ntss
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1s.-The unex
pected happened in the house yester.
day when the bill to repeal the war
revenue taxes was passed unanimously
without word of debate This action
was the outcome of challenge thrown
down by Mr.. Richardson Of Tennessee,
the minority leader, after the adoption
by strict party vote Of special or
der for the consideration of the bill
which permitted debate upon it until
4 o'clock this afternoon. but cut off all
opportunity to OFF, amendments ex,
cept such as had besH agreed upon by
the ways and means committee.
The adoption of the rule had been
preceded by a stormy debate, In the
course Of which the Democrats pro
tested against the application of the
gag" which Mr. Hay CVaD charged
was meant TO prevent free expression
not only by the Democrats, but by
some OF the Republicans. attention be-
Ing especially directed toward Mr..
Babcock (Wis.,, the father Of the bill to
amend the steel schedule Of the pres
ent tariff law. They also charged that
such method Of procedure was mini
MIXING the influence Of the house and
making It simply a machine to regis
ter the DEGREES Of the few men In con.
troll
When the rule was adopted by vote
of I5S to loO. MIR. Richardson. to em-
phasize the fact that debute on the
bill could accomplish nothing and that
deliberation upon it would be fruitless.
asked unanimous consent that the BILL
be placed upon It's passage. Not an OBJ.
lection was voiced and the vote was
taken forthwith Every yote-27s in
number-was cast in the affirmative.
and thus quietly and unanimously came
the end Of what at one time had prom
ised 10 be one of the most exciting CON
tests of the session.
Representative H. G. Smith (Mich.l
introduced a bill amending the act
of July ~, 1897, by authorizing the
president to negotiate reciprocity
treaty between the United States and
Cuba for a period Of ten years by
which the United States shall refund
the Cuban government quarterly 40
per cent Of duties on condition that
Cuba shall grant concession of all
duties Oh articles imported by Cuba
from the United States and Oh condi-
ton that no duties shall be refunded
on any articles for the introduction OF
which any bounty has been offered,
prov ided for or paid
After an extended debate the senate
passed the bill establishing perEi;;-
nput census office The discussion re
lated principally to the collection and
publication by the director Of the cen
sus OF statistics respecting the produc-
ton Of cotton.
In little more than an hours time
the senate disposed Of the treaty with
Denmark ceding to the United States
for consideration Of Us 5,OOO,UOo the is
lands of st. Thomas, st. John and st.
Croix, composing the group Of the An
TILES known as the Danish West Iu.
dies and lying just east of Porto Rico.
and thus SO far as this country is con.
cerned. consummated transaction
which hus been under consideration in
termittently since the administration
of President Lincoln
Several other bills Of Importance on
tue calepdar were passed. among them
one extending the charters Of natlOna!
bnnkS.