New-York tribune., 1902-04-11
DELAYING CUBAN RELIEF.
SLOW PROGRESS ON THE RECIPROCITY
BILL IN THE HOUSE
BELIEF THAT THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS
WILL SOON ADOPT MORE VIGOROUS
METHODS To STOP OBJ
STRUCTION.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

Washington, April 10-Slower progress than
was expected by any of the friends of the
measure is being made in the House with the
Ways and Means Committees bill for reci-
procity with Cuba. At the present juncture 1t
seems not unlikely that the debate will last In
terminaby. unless the house leaders treat the
handful of Republican insurgent obstructionists
with less courtesy than has characterized the
conduct of Speaker Henderson. Messrs. Payne,
Dazell, Grosvenor and the other majority mem
bers of the Ways and Means Committee who
have brought the bill through the preliminary
stages. There is timidity in their attitude
az this time which is in contrast with their
past performances. and the suspicion is spread
ing that of them secretly hope for the
defeat of the bill. 1t is being pointed out that
the aye and vote ordered on the question of
consideration when the bill was brought up
Tuesday as the special order shows plainly that
the measure has enough Republican votes 10 get
though f only the House leaders would use
sterner measures with the clamOrOus insurgents
from Michigan to California. who continue to
threaten to force d reorganization of the next
House should the election in November return
Republican majority Why this threat shouid
have such an effect the usually bold and
beigerent spirits of old fighters like Speaker
Henderson Mr.. Dalzel1, Chairman Payne ana
General Grosvenor is not understood IN Wash-
ingtOn and, therefore, tn6Se veteran pdi
tarians are suspected in some quarters of enter
tanning the secret hope that President Roose-
velts administration will be defeated in its hrst
strenuous contest with Congress. y count of
noses shows beyond doubt that should the
Speakers Committee Rules report special
rule closing debate on the bill, and the usual
ave and no vote be ordered. the House organlZa-
ton would be sustained in this bill as 1t Is on
all measures involving the maintenance OF party
discipline. When on Tuesday the vote on con-
sideration was taken in the sllpshod way thdt
does not put the standing Of everybody IN the
record the insurgents. Joining with the Demo-
Gratis mustered strength enough TO discourage
the supporters Of the administration. but when
the ayes and noes were demanded the insurgent
vote was reduced to thirty-two 1t is perfectly
we'll known that on the next test vote the IN
s,1rgent Strength viii show a heavy falllng OIL
from this weak vote and why the House leadeIS
shouId hesitate longer 10 bring the question
souareIy and openly to an issue is puzzlng the
oldest political experts in Washington
DEMOCRATS THREATEN TROUBLE
The Democrats, naturally. are getting great
5aaI of comfort out of this anomalous situation
and are emboldened threaten more trouoie
to the administrations supporters than mas yet
been encountered. In fact. one OF thelr iedoe's'
Mr. Purleson of Texas. who represents the
cane sugar interests of that State. SAID to-day
that the Democrats now have the situation so
well in hand that they propose to continue
general debate indefinitely with the view of
firing out the administrations supporters 10
such an extent as to force them to abandon
the cuban reciprocity bill in behalf of an early
adjournment of Congress. Only comparatively
few Democrats have yet spoken on the Dill
They are reserving their oratorical strength
until the insurgents have exhausted tnelI ie
sources of obstruction, and then they Will SWINE
into line with long speeches Tor Tree tIdde-
Unless the House leaders resolutely meet tnls
threatening situation with fixed ana den.ite %
programme the debate now in progress VIII pe
prolonged for wee.s, and all other pusIHess VI
The session will be held in allegiance H. now
ever Speak ker Henderson and his committee on
rules see fl make a vigorous assertion ol
their leadership. by reporting sPecldl rIiie lot
the closing of general debate. the bill can be put
on its passage in less than a week. II is con-
fdently believed by the administrator sup
porters that the Speaker Will call the ruIes c"il
rnittee together in a day or TWO ana Insist on
renorting a special rule. Otherwise the beet
sugar interests of Michigan and California ana
the Free Trade Democrats will continue 10 hold
the House organization by the throat, ana sue
cessfullv defy the will of the Republican ma
jority and the administration. ,
The Senate leaders are growing SO @ lipdtLsWn. ~ W
under this condition of affairs in the House that
1T would not be surprising If Senator Platt, OF
Connecticut and other determined admlnlStrd-
tion supporters should lose all nope or the
lower chamber accomplishing anything of value
to the commercial relations between TINS coun-
try and Cuba, and boldly take the INITIATIVE pF
putting a Cuban reciprocity rider on some ap-
propriation bill not yet completed II TINS is
done the reciprocity provided for Will not be
haIfhearted, but will call for tarln reduction
of at least % per cent, without WelShtlne IL
down with the Sibley limitation amendment ana
the propositions for the adoption by the CUBAN
Congress of the immigration and contract labor
1ayys Of the United States conditions prece-
dent to the negotiation of reciprocity treaty
with this country.