The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-04-22
HOUSE VOTES TO REMOVE THE
DlFFERENTlAL.
DEMOCRATS VOTE soLIDLY
Thirty-seven Republicans From Beet
Sugar States Join Opposition
to Administration.

washington, April lS.-Ihe demo
Gratis and the republican insurgent:
rode roughshod over the house lead
ers today when the voting began OIL
the Cuban reciprocity bill. They over
threw the ruling of the chair in com
mittee of the whole on the question OF
the germaneness of an amendment to
remove the differential from refined
sugar during the existence of the
reciprocity agreement provided for
in the bill.
The vote to override the decision of
the chair, made by Mr.. Sherman of
New York, was III to 100, republicans
to the number of 81 joining with a
solid democratic vote to accomplish
this result. Having won this pre-
liminary victory, the amendment was
adopted in committee, 1854 to Ill, and
later in the house by a still larger
majority, 1919 to- los. On this occa-
sion GA republicans voted with the
democrats for the amendment. The
bill was then passed by an over
whelming majority, 247 to So.
An analysis of the vote. shows that
1874 republicans and 1913 democrats
voted for the amended bill and So re-
publicans and 10 democrats against it.
The voting on the bill was in Gull
mination of a long struggle which be-
gan almost with the opening of this
session of congress and after two
weeks continuous debate, during
which much bitterness was aroused.
Today's debate was of an exceed
ingly lively character, the features be-
ing echoes of last nights democratic
caucus. To that caucus the defeat
of the republican leaders, who sought
to pass the bill without amendment,
is attributable.
Previous to the holding of the a
Gus the democrats were very much
divided, and the opposition of the re-
publican beet sugar men showed signs
VI dIlu6. 500.
Today, when it became apparent
that the democrats would act together,
the beet sugar men decided at a meet
ing attended by 80 of them to take
the bit in their teeth and override the
chair. AS soon as this combination
was effected the republican leaders
realized that they would be defeated
SO far as the removal of the differen-
tial was concerned, and Mr.. Payne.
the republican leader, contented him
self with warning his beet sugar col
leagues that in removing the differ
entail they were taking off a bit of
perfection placed in the Dingley bill,
especially for the benefit of the beet
sugar producers. The democrats at
tempted to follow their advantage
when the differential amendment was
adopted by offering to reduce the
Dingley schedules, but on these
amendments the republicans declined
to stand with them, and the demo
Gratis did not press them vigorously.
The bill as passed authorizes. the
president as soon as may be after the
establishment of an independent gov
eminent in Cuba and the enactment
by said government of immigration,
exclusion and contract labor laws as
restrictive as those of the United
States to negotiate a reciprocal trade
agreement with Cuba, by which, in
return for equivalent concessions, the
United States will grant a reduction
OF 20 per cent from the Dingley rates
on goods coming to the United States
from Cuba. such agreement to con
tinue until December 1, 1903.
During the existence of such agree
men the duty on refined sugar and all
sugars above No. 16, Dutch standard.
is to be 1882 per pound.