The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-04-23
IN CONGRESS.

Washington, Apr. 16. THE House
leaders are confident that the Cuban
reciprocity bill will pass i'll the shape
i'll which it came from the committee
AS the bill in its present form is sure
to command three -fourths of the vote
of each side of the House its passage
was certain if it successfully passed
the stage when amendments could be
offered. The only cause of anxiety
heretofore has been the possibility
that enough Republicans would join
with the Democrats to override the
chair and tack to the bill an amend
ment to abolish the differential on re-
fined sugar. No limit thus far has
been placed on the debate. 1t is said
thirty five representatives are waiting
chance to discuss the measure. The
debate III the Senate OH the Chinese
exclusion bill was practically conclud-
ed on Tuesday and voting on the bill
and amendments will commence at
one O'Clock today. By general con-
sent vote was taken on two import
ant amendments offered by Mr.. Fair
banks Of Indiana, striking out the def
milton as to Chinese students and
teachers and they were agreed to with
out division. These changes were
made with view to reconciling some
OF the opposition to the measure which
has been directed against the rigid
restriction on students and teachers
and the unnecessary trouble this would
impose on the educated Chinese class
es coming to this country.
Washington, Apr. 16 The House
voted today to close debate on the
Cuban reciprocity bill next Friday at
three O'Clock i'll the afternoon.
Washington, Apr. l7.-The drastic
exclusion bill originally framed by
/ the Senators and Representatives from
the Pacific coast States met defeat in
the Senate on Wednesday and in its
place was substituted measure offer
ed by Mr.. Platt of Connecticut extend
ing the provisions of the present eX-
culsion law and applying that exclu
sion to all insular territory under the
jurisdiction Of the United States.
The vote by which the substitute
took the place of the original bill was
yeas forty eight to nays thirty-three
Once the substitution had been made
all Senators joined in its support with
the single exception of Mr. Hoar, the
substitute being passed by vote of
seventy-s six to one.
After disposing of the Chinese ex-
clusion bill the Senate made the Phil
ippine civil government bill the UNI
finished business.
The friends of the Cuban reciprocity
bill won substantial victory in the
House today by carrying a motion to
close general debate on Friday at
three o'clock
Washington, Apr 17.-Edward j.
Davis of Greenfield, Mass, formerly
a sergeant in the Twenty sixth Volun-
teers, testified this morning before the
Senate Philippines committee cor
| roborating the testimony of Sargent
| Reilly regarding the water cure prac-
| tice at the Philippines. His testi-
mony differed from Reilly's only in
slight details.
| Washington, Apr. 18-Mr. Morgan
of Alabama, chairman of the Isthmian
| canal committee, addressed the Senate
on the subject of the Nicaraguan ca
nal on Thursday for more than four
hours. He devoted the greater part
of his speech to a consideration of the
comparative desirability and practi-
cability of the two principal routes,
the Nicaragua and the Panama. He
strenuously favored the former, main.
tanning that in every possible respect
it had many advantages over the Pan
anna route.
A parliamentary change in the
status of the Chinese exclusion bill
was made just before adjournment
the measure passing the Senate yester
day being substituted for the House
bill. This was done to expedite thu
bill in the House.
General debate on the Cuban reel
procity bill closes today at three
O'Clock and it is the intention of thu
House leaders, if possible, to force 1
final vote on the passage of the bill
Friday night. All day long the lead
ers were counting noses and prepar
ing for the final struggle ON Friday.
The Democrats are badly split Of
the bill. The opponents of the bill
!. occupied most of the time of the de
a bate on Thursday, the feature being
4 vigorous speech by Mr. Cushman
Republican, of Washington, agains
a the measure.