Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-01
57TH CONGRESS-.
Cuban Reciprocity Bill
Ordered FavorabIy Reported.
Philippine COMMITTEES Governmental
Bill Ordered Reported.
House Takes Up Civil Sundry Bill and
Senate Talks on Oieo.

Washington, March 31.-The ways
and means committee by a vote of IL to
| s, today, ordered favorable report on
the Payne bill for 20 per cent. tariff
concession to Cuba. Eight Republicans
| voted for the bill. Two Republicans
| Tawney Of Minnesota, and Metcalf of
| CalifOrnia-voted against it. No amend
ment on the reciprocity was made, but
| by general consent the United States
contract labor laws were included with
the naturalization and exclusion laws
as applicable to Cuba.
| A series of Democratic amendments
for general tariff revision were defeated
on strict party votes. Another series Of
amendments by Mcclellan, DEM, N. Y.
changing the reciprocity rate to so per
cent, 40 per cent, 80 1-3 per cent. and
25 per cent, were defeated successfully,
IL to IL. An amendment by Tawney
striking out the differential on sugar
was ruled out by Chairman Payne as
not germane, and on appeal from the
sustained. 9 to &. The final vote in de-
tail was:
| Yeas-Payne. Dalzell. Grosvenor. Rus
sell, Steele, Mccall. Long and Babcock.
Nays-Tawney and Metcalf Republic
cans; Robertson Newlands and Cooper,
| Democrats.
Although the actual vote was II to
s. by general consent Hopkins. who was
absent, was recorded in the affirmative.
making the recorded vote II to 5.
Great interest attached to the meet
ling, today, which was regarded as the
elimination of the long struggle over
Cuban reciprocity.
The first vote was on proposition by
Robertson Of Louisiana, to have reci-
Iprocity relations with Cuba in immigra-
ton and naturalization procedure, so as
Ito permit citizens to pass freely. This
was defeated.
Another amendment by Swanson, Va,
that the immigration and exclusion
laws referred to in the Payne bill
should not bar United States citizens
from Cuba, was similarly defeated.
Grosvenor's amendment, including
the contract labor laws with. those of
immigration, ETC., to be adopted by
Cuba, was agreed to without division
and was the only amendment made.
This cleared the way for the real test
of strength, which was first made on
Tawney's amendment making .01S25 the
general rate on sugar, i. e., taking off
the differential. Chairman Payne
promptly ruled this out Of order, as not
germane, whereupon Tawney appealed
from the ruling of the Chair. On the
vote the Chair was sustained. 9 to 6.
Metcalf voted with the other Republic
L in, of <ho hot IN
Tawney the only Republican against
the ruling.
Chairman Payne also ruled out two
other amendments by Tawney. one re-
lieving from tax alcohol made from
the residue of beets; and another that
the Payne reciprocity rate should not
begin until December 1, 1902.
| The Democratic members then began
offering amendments. McLellan's came
first, to raise the reciprocity conces-
tsion to so per cent. Richardson was
the only one to join Mcclellan, the
other Democrats and all Republicans
voting against the increased rate, max
ing the vote 2 to Is. Similar adverse
votes We're given on each of McLellan's
amendments raising the rate to 40 per
cent. 33 1-3 and 25 per cent. respec-
lively.
| Mcclellan then moved to take off the
| limit of the Payne bill to Dec. 1, 1903,
SO that reciprocity would continue in
| definitely. This also was defeated, 2
| to 10.
| Newlands, New, proposed as new
section that Cuba be invited to become
a part of the United States, first as
a territory and ultimately with other
/ al 70 70 ho
known as the state of Cuba. This was
| ruled by the Chair as not germane.
Newlands then announced that he
| would vote against the bill.
Richardson, the ranking Democrat,
| then offered several amendments in
behalf of his party colleagues, all of
them being ruled out, and the ruling
sustained by strict party votes. The
amendments were: First, for general
tariff revision: second. for tariff reduc-
ton on American made articles sold
more cheaply abroad than in this coun-
try: third. removing duties on trust
made articles; fourth. revision of the
iron and steel schedule as proposed
by the Babcock bill; fifth, for free wood
pulp used to make printing paper.
Babcock explained. in voting against
an amendment embodying his own bill.
that he believed in the bill but looked
upon the present move as a party de-
vice.
The final report was then taken on
reporting the Payne bill.
Following the action of the ways
and means committee, the Republican
members who oppose the bill held a
conference, about 80 members being
present, representing the various states
interested in beet sugar production.
No formal action was taken, but the
discussion was in the line of continu-
ing the contest on the floor of the
House. The ways and means leaders
feel confident that the bill will pass,
probably by Republican votes.