The Washington times., 1903-11-20
CUBAN BILL STRIKES
SNAG IN THE SENATE
Bailey Objects to Reference
to Foreign Committee.
SHOULD GO TO FINANCE
Argument on the Question Participated
in by Cullom, Lodge, Morgan,
Spooner, and German.

The Senate today had a brisk debate
on the question Of the proper COM
mittee reference Of House bill 1921. 70
carry into effect the provisions OF the
Cuban reciprocity treaty.
The bill was received in the Senate
at R:0 O'Clock. and was reported TO
the body a few minutes later.
Mr.. cullom moved its reference to
the Committee on Foreign Relations
This was opposed by Mr. Bailey Of
Texas, who made speech based on
Constitutional grounds. After a general
but brief interchange Of views further
consideration Of the subject was put
or until the conclusion Of the morning
business.
When the debate was resumed the
Texas Senator said:
Il have no doubt that the Senator
from Illinois correctly reports the prac-
tice of this body TO refer a matter OF
this kind to the Committee on Foreign
Relations. But it must be permitted 10 a
new member OF this body to express
surprise that the Senate has so long
permitted jurisdiction in matters such
as these in the way it has
Mr. Morgan Of Alabama interrupted TO
say he did not remember that tariff
bills had been referred as a matter of
course to the Committee on Foreign Re-
lations.
Mr. Bailey continued: 1T is to be
hoped that instances OF this character
are few. 1t seems 10 me that the proper
practice would be to commit all mat
ters relating TO our revenue to the Com
mittee on Finance, II exception we're to
be made ! think II ought to be to the
Committee on Relations with Cuba I
hal 10 L.,
on Pacific Islands and Porto Rico and
the Committee on the Philippines have
claimed and have been allowed bills re-
lating 20 those islands
Mr.. Lodge here gained the foor anG
said:
Jurisdictions of committees can only
by determined by the primary objects o:
the bills which come before the Senate
The primary object OF this bill is no,
the adjustment Of the American tariff
but the confirmation o. the provisions
Of treaty made with Cuba. Anythinr
relating to our relations with other ma
tions should go to this committee. 9th
erwise we get into an interminabIe tan
gle with other committees"
Mr.. Bailey declared the House origf.
mated the bill as a revenue measure an
IL was referred to the Committee o.
Ways and Means. The correspondent;
committee of the Senate, he said. is tn
Committee on Finance. and he thought
the Same rule ought to be followed II
the Senate.
Mr. Lodge reviewed the references
made on other bills by the House, bu,
said the Senate was the judge of its OWE
references. The Porto Rican bill anl
the Philippine bill were commented OF
at length and Mr. Culberson Of Texa.
and Mr.. Spooner of Wisconsin joined il
the discussion.
Mr.. Spooner said he could not quit,
agree that all the bills under discussion
should 20 to the Committee on Foreign
Relations as a necessity. 1t would b,
proper without doubt ne said To refe
Il 10 the Finance Committee or TO IL
Committee on Foreign Relations
Mr.. German asked II there was ever =
case where a treaty has been negotiated
which affected the revenues Of the cOun-
try that II had been referred to tbs
Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr.. Spooner replied there were many
J OF them.