The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-14
III All RecaIcitrRnts and the Demo-
Gratis Vote SoIidIy the Chair May
BE OverruIed.
WILL HAVE A MAJORITY OF TEN
FRIENDS OF THE CUBAN BILL, HOW
EVER, ARE STILL CONFIDENT.
Do Not Think Enough Republicans
VIII Desert Their Party at a
Critical Moment.

WASHINGTON, April 13-The leaders of
the House expect to see the Cuban reciproc-
ity bill passed by the present week, but
they admit the debate may be prolonged
so that the final vote will not be reached
until next week. Proceeding. as the debate
is, without a rule, it be drawn out
practically as long as anybody desires TO
speak, but the leaders believe the general
debate will exhaust itself by Thursday at
the latest Mr.. Dalzell will close the gen
eral debate in favor of the bill when the
measure is thrown open for amendment
under the fve-minute rule, and a great
number Of amendments will be offered by
the Democrats with view to opening up
a way for amending the schedules of the
Dingley tariff law. 1t is known in advance
that all such amendments will be held TO
be not germane to the bill whose title pro-
vides for reciprocity with Cuba, and that
only Amendments raising or lowering the
amount of the proposed concession will be
held to be in order
Appeals will be taken from the rulings of
the chair on the general tariff amendments,
but it is certain that with possibly one ex-
ception the appeals will be unsuccessful.
That exception may be the amendment to
take the differential off refined sugar 1t is
admitted on both sides of the chamber that
the real fight will come on that amendment.
number of Republicans who are opposing
the bill have announced that they will vote
to Overrule the chair on that proposition,
and the Democrats expect TO be able to cast
a solid vote for it. The weakness of the
position of the friends OF this proposition
is that the test will not come directly on
the amendment. but on the ruling of the
chair. If a motion TO recommit with in
structions to report back such an amend
ment is made it will be held not TO be in
order, under the general theory of par
liamentary law that the House cannot in
struct the committee to do what it itself
cannot do. The Republican opposition TO
the BILL as shown last Tuesday on the mo-
ton to go into committee of the whole, is
I'm the neighborhood of forty. Added to the
Democratic vote, If solidy cast, the opposi-
ton would have "A clear majority of ten.
But the Republican leaders profess conf
dence in their belief that not enough of the
recalcitrants will go TO the length of vot-
ing TO override the chair to make. with the
Democrats. a ma iority of the House. More
over. they assert that some of the Demo-
Gratis themselves Will hesitate to adopt this
method Of getting a vote a proposition
which they contend is plainly not germane.
If the danger involved in the amendment TO
abolish the differential is passed the bill
will have plain sailing on its final passage.
a majority OF the Democrats will vote
for IT..
In accordance with the agreement reached
on Friday last the Senate on Wednesday
will vote on the Chinese exclusion bill, and
the present understanding is that the Phil
ippine government bill will be taken up i'm
mediately afterwards. 1t is probable, how
ever, that the Philippine bill will be soon
broken in on by the calling up of the river
and harbOr bill. Being appropriation
BILL which is a privileged measure and can
be taken up at any time. it is not the desire
of the committee to have 1t considered un-
til there shall have been chance afforded
to make further amendments in the COM
mittee. That opportunity will not be pro-
vided until Thursday following the vote on
the Chinese bill. The opponents of the
Chinese bill will press their fight from this
time forward, and if they find that they
cannot secure its recommittal they will
concentrate their efforts on proposed
amendments. Especial efforts will be made
to secure the adoption of the Platt sub
stitute There will be a number of short
speeches on the bill Monday and Tuesday,
and in addition TO these, Senators Foraker
and McIaurin. of South Carolina, have
given notice of set speeches for Monday.
portion of the day Saturday will be de-
voted to eulogies on the late Senator Kyle,
of South Dakota.