The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-18
DEBATE CLOSES.
Last Day of Talk on Cuban Re-
ciprOcity in House.
A Final Vote Looked For Before
Adjournment.
MIR. RICHARDSON OPENS
Tells Why He Voted in Favor of
Majority Report.
Point Made That Cubans Have
Not Asked For Cut.
Hepburn, of Iowa, Satirizes Mr..
Long, Of Kansas.
MIR. RICHARDSON OPENS

Washington, April 1s.-When the
house met today at II o'clock there was
a prospect of memorable session
ahead The general debate upon the Gu
ban reciprocity bill was to close at 3 D.
m and it was the intention of the lead
ers, if possible, to hold the house ses-
sion until the final vote was taken. The
action of the Democratic caucus last
night which decided to vote solidly for
the removal of the differential on REIN
ed sugar gave the leaders much con-
Germ as they were unable to figure out
exactly what strength the proposition
would command on the Republican side.
The disclosures of Mr.. Underwood last
night relative to Overtures made to the
Democrats on the basis of an abandon
ment of the Crumpaeker resolution ad-
ded new complication to the situation
and there seemed a likelihood that it
might figure in the debate today in 4
sensational fashion. The whole atmos-
phere of the house in fact was charged
with electricity and presaged the com
ing storm. Mr.. Richardson, (Tenn.) the
Democratic leader, was the first speak
er today.
He made careful dispassionate
speech explaining why he had voted in
favor of reporting the bill. He stated
frankly that he doubted whether the en-
actment of the bill would do much TO
bring about the reciprocal trade rela-
uOnS between Cuba and the United
States which was earnestly to be de-
sired. But he had voted for it in the
hope that it might accomplish some
thing. 1t would at least reduce by 20
per cent the Outrageously high rates of
the Dingley law so far as Cuba was
concerned. These high rates could not
stand and. he said. Mr.. Grosvenor's
speech few days ago was a. warning
of the coming storm He thought the
fe-sf OF
hand and the fact that the pending bill
began it in a modest way commended
the measure to him.
Mr.. Richardson called attention to the
action of two counties in the district of
Mr.. Babcock (Wis.3 endorsing the
latter's bill to remove the duties from
steel and amid Democratic applause
said that the Democrats proposed to
give Mr.. Babcock an opportunity later
on TO do what his constituents had en-
dorsed He also outlined the programme
for introducing an amendment reducing
the tax on refined sugar.
Just before Mr.. Richardson took his
seat Mr. Bromwen (Ohio) asked him
this question:
Does the gentleman from Tennessee
know anything of a reported bargain
between the leaders on this side and the
Democrats on that by which the Crum-
packer resolution is to be smothered in
/ order to aid the passage Of the pending
bill2"
Absolutely nothing" replied Mr..
Richardson.
Mr. Fcrdney (A1ich.) opposed the bill.
He declared that not a single Cuban ap-
peared before the ways and means COM
mittee in favor of the bill. Every one
/ of the witnesses for it. he said. was either
an American citizen owning sugar land
nCuba or indirectly or directly repre-
senting the influence of the sugar trust
Mr. Hepburn (Ia.) aroused consider
able excitement by bringing forward the
revelation made in the caucus last night
concerning the alleged overtures made
from the Republican side to abandon the
| Crumpacker resolution if the Democrats
from the states threatened would vote
/ against overruling the chair. After read
| ing the account of the caucus in a morn
/ ing paper. he proceeded with great
| emphasis to declare that the charge, if
| true. or the statement. if made, was of
a Egery serious character.
1T charges some members Of this
| house with attempting to traffic with the
| legislation before this body he said.
1T charges them with a willingness to
/ shelve legislation which members here
consider very important in order to Sc
! cure the ultimate triumph of this bill.
L do not believe it. I think the gen
tleman from Alabama (AIr. Under
wood must have been mistaken or
misinfOrmed, but nevertheless I think
/ it his duty to this house to be more
| explicit and to locate this OffenSe where
it properly belongs"
With great earneStneSs Mr.. Hepburn
/ continued to express his doubt whether
/ such alleged methods would be resort
/ ed to to pass a bill which he was con-
I vinced 80 per cent of the Republicans
1 were Indifferent to or opposed to. He
i held up to ridieu1e some of the most
/ ardent friends of the measure. He
/ quoted from the speech of Mr. Gros-
/ venOr %. the statement that Mr..
/ GrosvenOr declined to support a bill for
a So 40. so or % per cent. reduction. It
was only when the concession was re-
/ duced per cent. further that he was
j said Mr. Hepburn, had it not been for
] that last nickel of reduction the gen
j tleman fOn Ohio to quote his own Ian
I guage, would today have been with the
/ insurgents attempting to revise the Re
! publican party and to destroy it.
/ Great God" exclaimed Mr.. Hepburn.
ION what a slender thread hang ever
lasting things" (Great laughter and
/ applause.)
Mr.. Hepburn also satirized the two
| and a half hour speech of Mr. Long
(Kas.), which he described as great
/ physical effort which befitted the Kan
SaS statesman for a championship in
/ the prize ring under the Marquis of
I Queensberry rules He denounced the
feature of the bill to compel Cuba to
! accept our immigra ton laws, when the
greatest need of Cuba today was labor.
If the Yankee was what he sometimes
was said to be-cunning, grasping, ava
ricious and adrOit then he would say
| this section of the bill had been written
by a Yankee
The remaining time after Mr. Hepburn
was divided between Mr.. Tawney (A1inn.)
who closed the debate against the bill and
| Mr.. Dalzeh (Pa.) who concluded for the
Mr. Tawnev at the os1fset defended the