The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-12-18
SENATE DISCUSSES
THE Cuban BILL
Foster, of Louisiana, Takes Floor
in Opposition to the Recipro-
city Measure.
COMMITTEE MEETS TO OUTLINE
SMOOT INVESTIGATION POLICY
Utah Senator to BE Given Opportunity
to Reply to Charges of POIygamy
Democratic Senator's Hold Spirit
ed Caucus-COmplaint Against Re.
Dublfcans.

publicans.
Washington, Dec. 14.-Immediately
after the conclusion of the routine
morning business Saturday the senate
resumed the discussion of the Cuban
reciprocity bill with Senator Foster (La.)
as speaker. He opposed the bill on the
ground that it's enactment into Law
would prove injurious to the sugar-pro'
ducing and other important interests o.
the United States. After speaking OF the
sentiment that had been created in be
half of Cuba when the appeal was frs
made for relief fof the republic, and re
ferring to committee hearings in tn.
house, the senator spoke of the appear
ance of Mr.. Thurber, of New York
before the ways and means committee
and declared that it was subsequently
developed that he was in the pay of the
military governor of Cuba. The SEN
ator added as his belief that the money
of the Cubans was used for the wrong
full purpose of misstating the facts.
In this same connection he spoke of Mr..
Thurber as having in his pockets money
of Mr. Havemeyer for the purpose of
reaching ''the best thought" to use Mr..
Thurber's words.
To Outline Policy.
The senate committee on privileges
and elections met Saturday to outline a
policy to be pursued in investigating the
protests filed against Senator Reed
Smoot being permitted to retain his seat,
and decided before taking further steps
in the matter Senator Smoot should be
given opportunity to reply to the
charges.
Senator Burrows, chairman of the
committee, was instructed to notify
Senator Smoot of the decision of the
committee and to request that whatever
reply he may desire to make shall be in
writing.
In addition to the innumerable petit
tons filed with the committee for the
expulsion of Senator Smoot two protests
from citizens of Utah were presented
and briefly considered by the committee.
These protests charge Senator Smoot
with being a polygamist. They also
CudTSt IudL Iuc N1Ol u1O1 III, VI hlSh
Senator Smoot is an apostle, holds its
own laws to be superior to those of the
state, and they contend that the church
still stands for polygamy.
Neither Senator Smoot nor his oppon-
ents were represented at the meeting
and for that reason members of the COM
mittee avoided taking any action which
would in any manner show the sentiment
of individuals.
Democrats Meet.
The democratic senators held a eau
Gus Saturday for the purpose of discuss
ing the advisability of attempting tc
amend the Cuban reciprocity bill but ad-
journed to meet again next Monday,
without arriving at any conclusion. The
caucus was spirited one, and was sharp
ly divided on the point at issue, some OF
the senator's contending that numer-
Gus amendments should be presented
and others holding out against any ef-
fort whatever to change the character
of the bill and standing for straight
party vote against it. The caucus con-
tinued until after the beginning of the
session of the senate.
The caucus considered some COM
plants made by senators relative to the
early adjournment of the senate on
Thursday. Senators who filed these
complaints expressed the opinion that
the Thursday session should have con-
tinued in order to afford opportunity for
speechmaking, and some of them sug-
gested that an effort should be made tc
extend for a day or two the time for
discussion, which would have the effect
of postponing the final vote beyond next
Wednesday, the date unanimously
agreed upon for the vote. Senator Cor
man presented the difficulties of chang
ing a unanimous understanding and it
was ultimately decided to allow the pres
ent arrangement to remain undisturbed.
According to agreement between the
parties the time on Tuesday and Wednes-
day is to be evenly divided be-
tween the republicans and demo-
Gratis. The suggestion was made in the
caucus that as the republicans had been
responsible for the early adjournment
on Thursday, they should be willing to
at least give the major part of the re-
naming time to the democrats. This
proposal was considered at length with
the understanding that if the time for q
vote cannot be extended it will be i'm
possible to disturb the agreement in
regard to division of time.
Cold in Minnesota.