New-York tribune., 1902-03-20
CUBAN BILL IN HOUSE.
TO BE PASSED AS 4 STRICT
PARTY MEASURE.
PRACTICALLY UNITED REPUBLICAN SUP
PORT EXPECTED - SENATE MAY
RAISE TIE RATE AND RE
MOVE THE LIMIT.
lBT TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE. ]

iBT TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.
Washington. March 19-The majority Of the
House Republicans as foreshadowed by The
Tribune's dispatches from the beginning of the
contest, having completely routed the "insur-
gent beet sugar forces at the conference last
night. in a better position than ever to
be on the aggressive Last nights victory was
so overwhelming that Il is believed 10 be
possible for the beet sugar people to give the
party much more trouble at this session OF Con-
Eress In spite Of the fact that remnant Of
them continue To threaten 10 carry the fight to
the floor OF the House. The opposition caucus
held this afternoon was much smaller in point
Of numbers than any Of its predecessors, and
while the leaders still insist that the war is not
over II is realized by everybody in a response
ble position that the crisis has passed.
Chairman Payne OF the Ways and Means
Committee introduced the reciprocity bill in the
House this afternoon and it is believed that
when IL comes up for consideration il will re-
ceive practically the united support of the Re
publican side. This statement takes full cogni-
zance Of all the talk 10 the contrary among the
House "kickers." well as the threats of the
supporters of the beet root interests on the Re
publican side of the Senate chamber AS the
party in the House is now regularly committed
TO the straight reciprocity proposition it is not
believed to be possible for any considerable
number Of Republicans TO align themselves with
the opposition. The only recourse left for
The "kickers' is to join the Democrats in an as
sault the House leadership, and particularly
on Speaker Henderson. To 90 this the 'kickers''
would be compelled TO vote with the Demo-
Gratis for tariff revision and as that matter al
ready has been passed upon by the party lead
ers, IT is not conceivable that many House Re
publicans would care to act openly with the
svowed enemies Of the protective tariff system.
Thus there is excellent prospect that the
Cuban reciprocity bill adopted by the conference
last night will get through the House a strict
party measure, and II is well known that the
spirit of organization and discipline still is too
strong among Republicans to permit of party
split at this juncture. Therefore it is CON
fdently believed that the bill introduced by
Chairman Payne to-day Will enlist almost the
entire strength Of the Republicans Of the House.
with possibly the exception of a considerable
element OF the delegation from Michigan and
California.
When the bill reaches the Senate. which it is
not generally thought viii occur within
fortnight II is expected that il will be amended
10 make the basis Of the reciprocity
rangement % instead Of 20 per cent, and that
the Limitation fixed by the Sibley amendment
will be stricken out. The House. of course, Will
grumble when the measure IS sent back in this
shape. but II is not doubted that the bill will
finally become law just as amended by the
Senate. The whole power Of the administration,
well that of the Senate, is against the
Limitation fixed by the Sbey amendment. and
IL is not thought possible for the House TO
Overrule this sentiment
The steering committee of the element which
has opposed the Ways and Means Committee
reciprocity plan met this afternoon the call
Of Representative Tawney Of Minnesota. chair
man Of the committee, and with several other
leaders in the movement canvassed the situa-
tion carefully. Individually most of those pres
ent expressed a desire to carry the contest
the floor OF the House. 1t considered de-
sirable however. 10 take action until all
those who voted in caucus against reciprocity
were called into conference This meeting viii
be held later in the week Beyond this decision
no action was taken
TEXT OF THE RECIPROCITY BILL.
Washington March l9.-Chairman Payne Of
the WAYS and Means Committee today intro
duced in the House the following bill. entitled
To provide for reciprocal trade relations with
Cuba" as q, result of the Republican confer
ence decision last night:
That for the purpose of securing reciprocal
trade relations with Cuba the President is
hereby authorized. as soon as may be after the
esta blishment of an independent government in
Cuba and the enactment by saia government Of
immigration and exclusion laws as fully re-
strictive Of immigration as the laws Of the
United States. 10 enter into negotiations with
said government with view to the arrange
ment OF a commercial agreement in which re-
ciprocal and equivalent concessions may be
cured in favor ot the products ana manutact-
ures OF the United States by rates Of duty which
shall be less by an amount equivalent 10 at
least 20 per cent ad yalorem upon such products
and manufactures than the rates imposed upon
the like articles when imported into Cuba from
the most favored Of other countries, and snail
not be greater than the rates imposed by the
United States upon the like articles imported
from Cuba and whenever the government or
Cuba shall enact such immigration and ex-
clusion laws and shall enter into such CONNER
cial agreement with the United States and shall
make such concessions in favor Of the products
and manufactures thereof aforesaid, and
which agreement in the judgment of the Presi-
cent, shall be reciprocal and equivalent, he
shall be authorized 10 proclaim such facts, both
as 10 the enactment Of such immigration and
exclusion laws and the making of such agree
-nent and thereafter, until the first day Of De-
cernber, 1903. the imposition of the duties now
imposed by law all articles imported from
Cuba the products thereof into the United
States shall be suspended. and in lieu therof
shall be levied. collected and paid upon all such