The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-20
Louisiana Senators Make Spirited Fight But Protests Are
 Not Hseded
MANY OF THE DEMOCRATS
 VOTED IN THE NEGATIVE
Several Amendments We're Offered, But None Except Those Previous Iy Agreed Upon Allowed to
 Stand-Publlcity Debate.

Washington, March 19.--After ratifying the Cuban reciprocity treaty, the senate adjourned sine die today at fifteen min utes past 5 o'clock. Practically the entire day was spent behind closed doors in executive session. Most of the time was devoted to consideration of the Cuban treaty. Several speeches were made in opposition to the treaty and in favor of 1t, and then promptly at the agreed hour, o'clock, voting began. Roll calls were had on a number of amendments, and the treaty itself was made the subject of an aye and nay vote.
 The motion to ratify was adopted by a ballot of 50 to 16, somewhat more than a three-fourths vote. whereas only two- thirds vote was necessary to secure ratification
 Immediately after the doors were closed, a few minutes past Il o'clock, Senator Foster of Louisiana took the floor in or- der to make set speech in opposition to the treaty. He spoke for about two hours and half. Ills address had been prepared carefully, and on It's conclusion MT. Eos leI Nfty ktneTdily WAS CuHpHnenLtu OIs his manner of presenting the opposition view to the treaty. In the main his speech was an appeal for the protection of the American sugar producing industry. He spoke especially for the cane sugar in- terests of Louisiana. but said that while the sugar Interest was of paramount im- portance in his own state, on account of , the cane produced there, the sugar hl- dustry had grown to such proportions that many other portions of the union also were becoming to have a very pronounced interest in the making of sugar.
 Draws Graphic Picture.
 He drew a graphic picture of present conditions In Louisiana. and said that if the treaty should be ratified the result was liable to be very disastrous to many other constituents. He appealed to sen- ators from north and south alike to re- frain from infcting this hardship on his people. MT. Foster also made the point that there was nothing to prevent the introduction of Chinese coolie labor into Cuba, and said that if such labor should be introduced, American labor could not compete with 1t. Other speeches in op- position to the treaty were made by Sem ators Berry and Carmack while Senator Simmons of North Caolina spoke in sup lla position to the agreement on the amend ment offered by the committee on for eign relations, providing against any fur ther reduction by treaty of the duty on sugar while the treaty remains in force. Senator Carmack opposed the treaty on general principles declaring that it was contrary to our theory of government. Senator Simmons was the only democrat who made a speech in advocacy of the ratification of the treaty. He replied at some length to the speech of Senator Foster, declaring for the treaty as means of promoting friendly relations be- tween the United States and Cuba. He said that he spoke for the United States and not for Cuba.
 Had Done Enough for Cuba.
 Declaring he did not accept the theory that the United States is under any obligation to Cuba, he said that we had done all for the Cubans that any one nation could be expected to do for an- other. But he believed by the ratifca- tion of this treaty Cubas prosperity would be materially enhanced and on account of the improved feeling on the part of the Cubans towards this country, our exportatlons to Cuba, which now amount to about $2S 000. 00J annually, would soon be doubled. He refused to accept tthe theory that the American sugar -produc- ing industry would be injured by adopt ing the reciprocal relations. and contend- ed that the only advantage Cuba would have over the United States in the pro- duction of sugar would be found in the fact that the Cuban soil is somewhat bet ter adapted to that industry than Is ours. On the conclusion of MT. Simmons speech, voting began.
 The committee on foreign relations an- nounced through Senator Cullom, its chairman. the acceptance of two amend ments in addition to those already recom- mended by the committee. The first of these was the amendment increasing the rate of reduction on flour, corn meal and corn imported into Cuba from the United States Senator Nelson spoke yesterday in support of au amendment along these lines and Senator Burton perfected the amendment. As offered. 1t provided for a reduction of 10 per cent, but the commit tee modified the amendment so as to provide for a reduction of 90 per cent.
 Bacon's Amendment.
 The other amendment adopted by the comrIittee was suggested by Senator Ba- con and fixed 4 uniform reduction of 90 per cent on American cotton goods im- ported into Cuba. The only aye and nay vote taken on the committee amendments was on the amendment adopted some time ago by the committee at the 'in- stance of the beet sugar senators, pro- viding against further treaty reduction of the duty of sugar imported into the United States for the next year. or while the treaty remains in force. A division was called for tn this amendment and 1t was sustained by a majority of 22 votes. the vote being A for the amendment and 22 against Y the negative votes being cast by de1 ocrats. The other commit tee amendments. including those accepted | todav and the amendment ma king fhe an