The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-03-26
National Politics.

washington, u. ", March ~, l9O3.-
So far as the Cuban reciprocity treaty |
is concerned, the democrats have won
a signal victory over the republicans.
1t was the intention of the democrats
to talk the treaty to death unless they
could get all they contended for, and
when the republicans saw them line up
as one man under the able leadership
of the Hon. Arthur Pue German, they
capitulated and came down like SCOTS
coon. 1t is the first time in years that
the democrats in the senate have pre-
sented an unbroken front to the repub-
licans. When they have done so in the
past they invariably have won a victory.
The trouble has been that in the recent
past they have had no leadership in the
senate worthy the name. They have it
now, and the results are apparent to
the most casual observer. The demo-
Gratis said to the republicans that they
must add an amendment to the Cuban
reciprocity treaty that would give the
house of representatives the right to
also pass upon it before it became OPP
eratiye, because it was legislation that
affected the revenues of the govern
ment, and that all such legislation
must have the concurrent sanction
of the house Of representatives, or
else it would not be constitutional leg
islation. 1t would be practically elm
mating the house as one of the legisla-
tive branches of the government and
legislation by the senate exclusively.
1t will be remembered that the house
at the first session of the 57th congress
passed law giving Cuba this reduction
in the rates of the Dingley law that is
asked for, but it also tackled on to it a
clause that eliminated the differential
ON refined sugar, which would save the
consumers of this country millions of
dollars annually that now go into the
pockets of the sugar trust. For that
very reason the senate refused to con-
slider the measure and let it die. II
now comes to the front with the treaty,
giving the same reduction in the Ding
ley rates, but it does not remove the
differential on refined sugar which
gives the consumer in this country
chance, and clearly is an attempt tC
play into the hands of the sugar trust
The republicans have been forced tC
agree to the amendment to allow the
house to pass on the treaty when i
meets next winter. If they had no
agreed to it they would not have go
away from here all summer, or els,
would have been forced to abandon th,
treaty altogether. The net result o
this democratic victory will be that th,
house next winter will either add thu
amendment again, eliminating the diff
ferential on refined sugar, or if it pass
es the house as sent to it by the senate
then the democrats in the senate will
open up the tariff debate in its entiret,
and consume the whole session il
speeches that will be made In opel
session, and will go to the country a
democratic campaign documents. L
either event the trusts will get it in tn
neck and the people will be benefited
Score one for the democrats.
Itwould seem as though the trusts
rather than the government of til
0 United States, wore shaping our polio
in the Philippine Islands. Despite al
d the appeals made by the president an
Gov. Taft, congress- did nothing towar
relieving the economic distress prevail
ing in those islands. 1t passed neithe
= currency nor tariff legislation of til
/ kind asked for by the commercial class
es of the islands. 1t has preferred t
obey the wishes of the tobacco and su
gar trusts rather than comply wit
those of the suffering millions of pee
! pie This republican congress ha
: been guilty of gross negligence of dut
4 by not passing legislation in the inter