Evening star., 1903-11-16
LIKE OLD TIM ES
Scenes in the House This
Afternoon.
POLICY Gf DEMOCRATS
BY WILLIAMS, THE
MINORITY LEADER.
Arraigns the Republicans - FOLLOWED
by De Almond Dalzell and
Grosvenor Reply.

l. was like old times in the House today
with one of those old-fashioned partisan
fights between the republicans ana the
democrats on the Cuban bill. Aside from
the interest in the partisan struggle De-
tween the two parties in the House the con-
test today was also significant from the
fact that 1t marked the beginning OF the
playing OF democratic politics for the com
ing presidential and congressional cam
paigns.
Mr. Williams the leader of the minority,
made his first formal appearance at the
head of his party on field OF parllameh-
tory battle, and it was the verdict of his
friends today that he made a good fight.
He clearly sounded the war cry of the
democracy in the coming campaign-coh-
test for revision of the tariff and arraisn-
ment of the republican party for REFUSAL
to revise customs rates of duty.
Politics Dominated.
The political phase of the contest today
somewhat overshadoWed the bone OF con-
tention. the Cuban reciprocity bill. Every
one was looking forward to the national
issues which We're being raised and about
which preliminary skirmishes were being
fought. When the majority leaders brought
in today a rule from the committee on
rules a copper -sheathed, steel-riveted, IRON
bound measure for the protection of the
Cuban reciprocity bill it was expected on
the republican side that the minority woulI
utter its usual complaint of another out
rage perpetrated upon the helpless. The
republicans were prepared to listen without
compass sson and to proceed ruthlesSly upon
their way with their twenty-nine majority
to override the protesting democracy. The
republicans had heard these complaints
ever since the Fifty-fOurth Congress when
ever rule had been brought in for the
speedy transaction of public business.
Arraigned the Republicans.
Leader Williams, however, did not pause
long today to bemoan the fate of the help
less. but recognized the right of the ma
jority to bring in a measure of that kind,
and although he charged that it was ex-
ceedingly drastic he was willing to let the
republicans take the responsibility and
meet them upon that issue.
Mr. Williams then launched into an ar
raignmeh of the republican party for what
he termed its fetch worship and its unwill-
ingness to touch the tariff. He declared
that the Cuban reciprocity bill brought for
ward by the majority was a concession to
the democratic demand for more untram-
meled trade relations. and he characterized
the bill being an old-fashioned demo-
cratic measure. He said that for that rea-
son, when it came to vote on the bill, the
democrats would support it.
Mr.. Winfarls' declaration was applauded
by his colleagues
In tie course of his remarks Mr.. Williams
voiced what is understood to be the demo-
cratic policy in this Congress
Democratic Policy Announced
1--WE shall fight" he said, "for revision
Of the tariff-for reductions as far posi-
bic consistent with economical and effective
governmental administra ton and consist
ent, also, with the desire not destructively
to revolutionize existing conditions, nor to
destroy honest, legitimate and non-monopo-
lStic enterprise
Mr.. Williams said that whenever the re-
publican party introduces any reciprocity
bill which reduces duties upon all the i'm
ports between two countries, this bill
does between Cuba and the United States
benefit to both countries, the republicans
have that far indOrsed democratic tradi-
tions, priciples and purposes, and discoun-
tcnances the present republican policy upon
the tariff question.
Mr.. Williams was followed by Mr.. De Ar
mond of Missouri. who scored the ma ajority
for it's refusal to permit amendment, es-
pccially the proposed amendment of the
sugar, which duty, he insisted, was mair-
tanned solely for the benefit of the sugar
trust. Mr.. De Almond read the names
of republicans in the present House SUP
porting the pending rule who in 1902 voted
to strike off the differential sugar duty. He
indulged in sarcastic reflection upon their
course then contrasted with their present
attitude.
Mr.. Dalzell Replies.
Mr. Dalzell. who Is supporting the special
rule and leading the fight for the republi-
cans today. pointed out that the Cuban
LII
legislation. but bill to carry out a conven-
ton already entered into to fulfill a ma
tional pledge. and to stand by the national
honor. He said the convention must be
taken as it is found and any amendment to
the bill would necesstate the formulation
of a new treaty.
Mr.. Dalzell, referring to the complaint Of
the minority at the outrage being perpe-
trated upon them by the special rule
pointed out that when the Wiison-Gorman
tariff bill was brought in by the democrats
with 6s6 amendments, a special rule
crammed the bill down the throat of the
House and 1t was swallowed by the demo-
Gratis.
Mr., Grosvenor followed Mr.. Dalzell in
a similar strain.
Mr. Williams insisted that that situation
was not analogous to the present one IN
asmuch that tariff bill had been debated
for six months. Mr. DalZell retorted that
a all.
Special Rule Adopted.
Thus the hour of general debate was
consumed and the roll was called on order
of the previous question on the adoption of
a special rule.
After the special rule was adopted Leader
Williams made a final effort to secure op-
portunity to offer the sugar differential
amendment. He proposed that by unani-
nous consent the special rule should be
modified so as to permit the offering of the
amendment striking off the differential duty
on sugar. permitting debate of twenty min
utes on each side. a yea and nay vote on
the amendment, and then that by unani-
nous consent vote should be taken on the
passage of the bill without further debate
Mr.. Payne. for the majority, replied that
inasmuch as the democrats had admitted
that the Offering of the differential amend
ment was for the purpose of killing the bill