Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-09
18th CONGRESS.
Both Sides of House Divided
on Cuban Reciprocity.
Opening Days Debate Shows a Wide
Difference Of Opinion.
Senator CuIIom Vigorously Opposes
Chinese Exclusion Bill.


of the debate on the Cuban reciprocity
bill which opened in the House, today,
was disappointing from a spectacular
standpoint. The vote on the motion to
go into committee of the whole to con-
slider the bill, however, developed the
lines of cleavage and showed that the
Democrats are quite as much divided
ON the question as is the majority. In
the division, which is regarded as prac-
tically a test vote on the bill, ia Re-
publicans and So Democrats voted for
the motion and IL Democrats and 80
Republicans against it. The vote was
in reality more embarrassing to the
Democrats than to the Republicans, as
the members of the minority had called
conference for tonight at which they
desired to get together on course of
acton. The vote forced the hands of
the Democrats as individuals before
the caucus. Payne, the Republican
leader, opened the debate on the bill.
The debate upon the Cuban reci-
procity bill opened in the House. There
was much activity among the leaders
on both sides before the House con-
vened in anticipation of the coming
battle and when the Speaker called the
House to order at noon the attendance
on the floor was unusually large. After
the approval of the journal some rou-
tine business was transacted.
Lacey. Iowa, asked unanimous con-
sent for the consideration of bill to
protect game and fish in Alaska He
explained that when the Alaska code
was enacted a year ago it did not in
clude game laws and the result had
been an enormous slaughter of game
during the last season. There was no
| objection and the bill was passed.
Payne, chairman of the ways and
means committee, and leader OF the
ma jority, then moved that the House
go into committee of the whole for the
consideration of the Cuban reciprocity
bill.
Many of those who had voted against
the motion on the rising vote changed
their attitude when they were placed
on record and the friends of reciprocity
won an easy victory, the motion being
carried. III to so, present 16. Accord
inglythe House went into committee of
the whole (Sherman, N. ", in the
chair. 1t was decided that the time
should be equally divided for and
against the bill.
Payne then began his argument 1t
was our duty, he argued, to see that
the new government was started under
the best auspices and to do all in our
power to make the experiment success
full.
III Cuba was to have a chance to be-
come free and Independent republic,
he declared that ii was absolutely nee
essary to tide over the present crisis.
The 20 per cent. reduction would save
the planter from bankruptcy until the
removal of the bounty system in Eu-
rope, which the Brussels conference
1t was hoped this would result in the
return of sugar to it's normal price.
Payne declared that he had not been
ready to make this concession until he
became convinced that it would injure
no American industry. He charged
that portion of the opposition to this
bill was in reality seeking to bring
about free trade with Cuba. 1t was
noticeable that Payne addressed his re-
marks almost entirely to those Repub-
licans who are opposing reciprocity.
Payne produced a report from Gov.
Wood which showed that up to April
there had been ground 5S4,259 tons, of
which the trust held options on 1885
tons, other Americans 2195 tons and 25,-
64s tons had been exported to the Unit
ed States. The remainder, Gen. Wood
reported, was held by Cuban planters
or commission houses, awaiting action
by Congress.
DO YOU propose to treat Cuba as if
she were a part of the United States?'
asked Lloyd, Mo.
Cuba is not now part of the Unit
ed States replied Payne. 81 do not
want her to be, but / believe she will
be, and SO believing am in favor of
preparing her as best we can for the
day of her Incorporation within our
limits"
Newlands, New, delivered the OPEN
ing argument against, the bill. He took
the. ground that there should be no
confession to Cuba unless it was ac-
companied by a cordial invitation to
become a part of the United States.
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