Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-04-15
REDUCTION IS SURE
POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE
CLEARING FOR CUBA
Heaviest Opposition Is Expected In
the Senate Republican Opposition
In the House Has
Dwindled.

Washington, April 6.-The great
battle over Cuban reciprocity, which
created such a protracted struggle
among the Republicans, both in eau.
Gus and in the Committee on Ways
and Means, will be fought on the floor
! OF the House this week. The ultimate
passage of the Payne bill, providing
| for a 90 per cent reduction on the
products of Cuba after the negotiation
of reciprocity treaty and the en-
actment Of our immigration laws by
the Republic of Cuba, is regarded as
foregone conclusion, but the situation
Is complicated one, owing to the
division among the Democrats as well
as the Republicans. How far the Re
publican opponents OF the proposed
legislation will carry their objection
is not determined. The strength OF
this opposition has dwindled until II
probably numbers less than thirty.
On the other hand, up to the pres.
ent time, a large majority Of the Dem
ocrats favor the greatest possible free
dom of trade with Cuba, and would
vote for a deeper cut than the Ways
and Means bill proposes. Others, like
Newlands OF Nevada are in favor Of
the immediate annexation Of the isl.
and and under the leadership Of the
Louisiana members, will oppose siren.
uously any tariff concessions what.
ever. 1t is limited that the attitude
of the Democrats in the Senate who
have fixed on program Of opposition
there may result, before the vote shall
be taken, in more unity OF action on
the part of the Democrats of the
House.
; Some Of the Republican opponents
, OF the bill Will speak against it, but
the leaders of the Republican opposi
ton show n strong disinclination to
participate in the debate on tho
ground that there is no hope of defeat.
. ing the bill and that their speeches
would become democratic campaign
, material in the coming Congressional
campaign. The bill will be brought
up on Tuesday as a revenue bill, which
; is privileged under the rules, but no
special order will be brought in for
its consideration. In this way tho
= possibility of a defeat of rule
p through combination of the Republi
. can recalcitrants and the Democrats
I will be avoided.
] The general debate will be allowed
D to exhaust itself The leaders on both
l sides estimate that not more than
j. three days will be consumed in gen
s eral debate. The real fight will come
!. probably when the bill is ready fol
amendment under the fve.minute rule
1t will be then that tho Democrats
will seek to offer amendments. hav
ing for their purpose the opening NJ
Of the whole tariff question. While
7 some of these amendments might com
mand some Republican votes, II they
should actually come to vote. they
v will be ruled out of order in the House
II as they were in committee, and tn,
/. only method by which they can b.
Q !, ached would be by ovCrrullng the H.
d cison Of the chair. It Is certain Iha
@ no half dOzcn--if indeed. any-Repub
D. leans will go to this length; so tina
g the Republican leaders feel ASSURED
o that none Of these propositions vii
I. come to an actual vote. The onl,
5, amendments which will be held to b,
germane and in order will be those in
.. creasing or decreasing the amount o
e the concession. and the leaders fee
e reasonably safe in the prediction tina
It the caucus decision of 20 per cent re
Il ductiOn will stand. It Is their hop,
d that on the final vote the bill will b,
+, passed by Republican votes.
l. ----