New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-19
A MEMORABLE SESSION.
EXCITING DEBATE AND VOTES ON THE
CUBAN RECIPROCITY BILL

Washington. April 1S-When the House met
to-day at IL o'clock. there was prospect of an
exciting session General debate the Cuban
Reciprocity bill was close at 3 o'clock and it
the intention of the leaders if possible
hold the House in session until the final vote
taken. The action of the Democratic
Gus last night in deciding to vote soldly for the
removal of the dinerential on refined sugar.
gave the leaders much concern. as they were
unabIe to figure out exactly what strength the
proposition would command on the Republican
side. The statement of Mr. Underwood last
night relative to overtures made to the Demo-
Gratis on the basis of an abandonment of the
Crumpacker resolution added a new compiica-
ton to the situation. and it seemed likely that
it might figure in the debate to-day in sensa-
tional fashion. The whole atmosphere OF the
House, in fact, was charged with electricity,
and presaged the coming storm.
RICHARDSON'S EXPLANATION.
Mr.. Richardson. of Tennessee. the Democratic
leader. was the first speaker. He made a careful
dispassionate speech. explaining why he had vot-
ed in favor Of reporting the bill He said frankly
that he doubted whether the enactment OF the
bill would do much to bring about the reciprocal
trade relations betv-ren Cuba and the United
States which were earnestly to be desired but
he had voted for 1t in the hope that il might
accomplish something III WOULD at least re-
duce by 20 per cent. he said, the outrageously
high rates of the Dfngley law far as Cuba
was concerned. These high rates could not
stand and Mr. Grosvenor's speech few days
ago was a warning Of the coming Storm He
thought the time for a revision of the tariff
at hand, and the fact that the pending bill
began it in a modest way commended the meas
ure TO him.
Mr. Richardson called attention to the action
OF two counties in the district of Mr. Babcock
Of Wisconsin. indorsing the latter's bill 20 re-
move the duties from steel, and amid Demo-
cratic applause said that the Democrats pro-
posed to give Mr.. Babcock an opportunity later
on to vote for the bill his constituents had in
dorsed He also outlined the Democratic pro-
gramne relative 70 offering an amendment to
abolish the dinerential on refined sugar. If this
amendment carried, he said SJ,000OOO or
ST. 100000 would be taken from the sugar re-
finers and given to the American consumers OF
sugar.
Just before Mr.. Richardson took his seat Mr.
BromweII. Of Ohio, asked him this question::
Does the gentleman from Tennessee know any
thing of a reported bargain between the leaders
on this side and the Democrats on that by which
the Crumpacker resolution is to be smothered
in order to aid the passage of the pending bilI?r
Absolutely nothing" replied Mr. Richardson
MIR Fordney. of Michigan. opposed the BILL
He declared that not a single Cuban appeared
before the Ways and Means Committee in favor
of the bill Every of the witnesses for il. he
said was an American citizen, either owning
sugar land in Cuba or indirectly or directly rep
resenting the influence of the Sugar Trust
AROUSED BY TALK OF BARGAIN.
Mr. Hepburn of Iowa. aroused considerable
excitement by bringing up the statement made
in the Democratic caucus last night concerning
the alleged overtures made from the Republican
side to abandon the Crumpacker resolution il
the Democrats from the States threatened would
vote against overruling the Chair. After read
ing the account of the caucus in morning
paper he proceeded with great emphasis to de-
clare that the charge. IL true. or the statement,
if made, OF an extremely serious character.
1T charges some members of this House with
LAID IN SOLID ROCK
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