The Washington times., 1902-06-16
Long Debate Expected
Over Cuban Reel
proCity Measure.
WAY OPENED FOR LIVELY FIGHT
Should Republicans Report Bill to Sen
ate, Democrats Would Load 1t and
Debate Amendments for General
Tariff eduction-President Firm.

| II the Republican Senators should
| finally decide TO abandon the Cuban
reciprocity bill Congress could wind UP
pending legislation and adjourn by the
| first week in July But in view OF the
lative relief for Cuba before adjourn
ment. and the unwillingness on the part
of the anti-beet sugar Senators to aban-
don the Administration in this matter
| the probabilities are Congress will re-
main in session until the dog days.
With the exception of the general de-
| ficiency bill. which was reported to the
House on Saturday, all the appropria-
tion bills have passed both houses. of
Congress. and majority of them have
been signed by the President.
The appropriation bills now in confer
ence are the sundry civil. military acad-
emy, and army bills; to be sent to con-
! ference. naval and the District OF Co
! lumbia. The conferees could easily set
| tie the amendments in dispute on the
above bills within the next ten days, but
of course II the Republican Senators
conclude to push the Cuban reciprocity
bill the conferees on the appropriation
bills named will be in no hurry TO reach
an agreement. And there are serious
points of disagreement between the
House and Senate on the army and the
naval appropriation bills.
Cuban Reciprocity Bill.
The one measure. however, that gives
most concern to the Republicans is the
Cuban reciprocity bill. The Democrats
in the House and Senate are unit On
the question of repeating the differen-
tial dutyf on sugar as provided for in
the Cuban reciprocity bill as it passed
the House. And what is more. the
Democratic Senators are preparing for a
general tariff debate in the event the
Republican Senators can compromise
their differences and report Cuban
reciprocity bill that will command the
support of the beet sugar Senators.
1t matters not what kind of Cuban re-
ciprocity measure the Republicans agree
on the Democrats in the Senate will
use every endeavor to amend 1t and
change it into general tariff bill.
Amendments like the Babcock bill re-
vising the steel aud metal schedule Of
the Dingley law and like the bill intro
duced in the House on Saturday by Rep
resentative Richardson Of Tennessee,
the Democratic floor leader, to repeal
the duty on trust made products and to
lower the duty on all United States
I Co. -.
abroad than in this country. will be
offered in the Senate by the Dem
ocrats.
These amendments will be debated
fully by the Democratic Senators, and
their speeches will be literally circu-
lated during the campaign by the Dem
ocratic Congressional Committee.
Would Like to Postpone Action.
The Republican Senators, of course.
win be called upon to reply. and
thus the debate will run for at least
three or four weeks. II is this situa-
tion that stares the Republicans in the
face and causes many to wish for the
postpOnement of the Cuban reciprocity
question until next December.
The Democrats in the House and Sem
ate are willing to let the matter go over
until next session. but as the President
has called on his party associates for
action 1t is not clear at this time how
the majority OF Senators can row bring
about a delay of this question.
Representative Richardson of Tennes-
zee, the Democratic floor leader, said
yesterday that the Democrats were per
fectly satisfied with the situation.
The President" Mr.. Richardson said
in his recent message was half right
on the question of Cuban reciprocity
All he needed TO be wholly right" add
cd Mr.. Richardson. was to have rec
cmmendcd the repeal of the differential
duty on sugar.
Could Have Made It Stronger.
What the President says about the
doubtful constitutionality of the rebate
p opposition" said Mr.. Richardson. was
stated mildly. He could have made it
much stronger
AS to adjournment Mr.. Richardson re-
marked that that was In the hands of
the Republicans. The Democrats were
ready to adjourn any time.
Several Senators have already left
the National Capital for the season.
Senator Hawley of Connecticut said