The free press. (Southern Pines, N.C.) 1898-19??, 1903-12-11
Regular Meeting Succeeded Extra
Session of Congress
VERY LITTLE WORK WAS ZONE
The Cuban Reciprocity Treaty Was
the Only neasure of Importance to
Receive Consideration.

MoHudy clOSeu the extraordinary SeS
sion and entered upon the duties of tn,
regular session by announcement from
the chair and the offering of two pray
ers in the Senate within half an hOul
Of each other. The business transacted
consisted of the reading of the Presi.
dents message and the beginning Of
the discussion of the Cuban reciprocity
BILL On this bill, Mr.. Cullom, who has
charge of it, made speech, advocating
it's passage in the interest of American
trade
Mr.. Kean made a favorable report
from the committee on contingent ex-
pensec on the resolution of Mr.. Penrose
requiring the transmission to the Sen
ate by the Postmaster General of all
the papers relating to the postoffice in
vestigation. Mr.. German suggested a
number Of amendments, the effect of
which was to make it mandatory for
the committee to make an investiga-
ton into postoffice affairs and to COM
pei the committee to make report to
the Senate by May 1 next.
Mr.. PenroSe, as author of the resolu-
ton, and chairman of the committee,
indicated willingness to accept the
amendments, but Mr.. Plat, of Gomez
ficut objected. Mr.. Plat said that AS
originally introduced this resolution left
it optional with the committee to ex-
tend its investigation if it thought ne
cessary after seeing General Bristow's
report. That, he thought was just what
should be done. To order an investiga-
ton would be to work in the dark.
After some discussion the resolution
was laid over until tomorrow and Mr.
Cullom began speech on the Cuban
reciprocity bill He spoke especially of
the effect of the bill upon the trade
with Cuba, which he contended would
be greatly stimulated by it's passage.
Situated as we were within few miles
Of the Cuban coast we should control
the Cuban market, but the trade thus
lost had gone to Great Britain, France
and Germany instead of coming to the
United States. Mr.. Culom conceded
that an increased production of Cuban
sugar was probable, but he did not be-
lieve there was danger to the American
sugar industry because of the CORE
spending increase in the population of
this country making a great capacity
for consumption.
Based on last years imports from
Cuba, he said that the aggregate con-
cesson of the United States would
amount to about $10,00O,O00. The
Cuban concession would amount to
only $1,109,000. This great difference
he attributed to the fact that Cuba's
Tariff was much lower than ours and
also to the fact that our exports to
Cuba we're of much smaller volume
han our imports from that country. |
This discrepancy, he predicted would |
continue until the reciprocity bill be-
zane law.
House Hears Message.
Washington, Special.-The House
convened Monday in regular ses-
ion and listened to the reading of
he Presidents annual message to Con-
,ress. The special session robbed this.
he first day of the regular session of
he Fifty-eighth Congress, of many of
he features interesting to spectators.
HE House, having organized four
Jeeks ago, the ceremony of opening
oday was materially shortened, it
My being necessary to call the roll
} develop the presence of a quorum
nd to provide for the customary motif
atoms to the President and to the
enate. No reference was made to the
pecial session, or to it's termination,
lie proceedings of today being the
anne as they would have been had the
xtra session adjourned. More than an
our and a half were consumed in the
eading of the Presidents message, at
le conclusion of which there was
eneral applause on the Republican
de of the chamber A considerable
mount of routine matters necessary
facilitate the work of the commit
es was transacted prior to the re-
,ipt of the message. The House ad- {
urneo at $40, out of respect to 8
enry Burke, of Pennsylvania, mem. I
n, who died last Saturday. 3