Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-20
58TH CONGRESS.
House Passes, 1876 to,21, Cuba'
Reciprocity Bill.
Only a Rising Vote .Necessary--mi
nority Conspicuous by Sma||ness.
Democrats Oppose Bill, but Almost All
Vote for It.

day, by a rising vote Of 1856 to q passed
the bill to make effective the Cuban re-
ciprocity treaty. The dissenting votes
We're about equally divided between
Republicans and Democrats but there
was no record vote, the minority hay
ing too few votes to order the yeas and
nays. p--.t'
The Democrats under the leadership
Of Mr.. Williams, sought to the last to
secure amendments to the bill in ac-
cordance with the action af the Dem
ocratic caucus but were defeated stead
lily. Mr.. Williams made the final effort
when he tried to have the bill recon-
n,itted to the ways and means commit
tee with instructions to amend, but a
point of order under the special rule
providing for vote on the bill without
intervening motion was sustained.
Mr.. Cannon received the applause Of
the Democratic side when he entertain
cd the appeal from his ruling made by
Mr.. Williams, the Speaker saying he
preferred to err. if he erred at all. in
giving the public the right to express
its will. The appeal was tabled by a
strict party vote.
The debate begun, Monday. was con-
tinued up to within n few minutes Of
the hour of ! O'clock the time appointed
to take vote on the final passage Of
the bill Mr.. Williams closed the de-
bate for his side and made an arraign-
ment of the Republican policy of pro-
lection. +-
Mccall, Rep, Mass, made the closing
speech on the Republican side. others
speaking on that side being Hepburn,
Iowa, and Watson. Ind, Broussard,
Dem, La, opposed the bill; and Dear
mond, DEM, Mo-. supported it.
The announcement of the passage of
the bill caused only slight demonstra-
ton.
Mcclellan, mayor elect Of New York,
occupied the Speakers chair for a
while. today, as chairman Of the COM
lEittee of the whole House.
Broussard, Dem, La. opened the de-
bate when the House resumed consider
alton of the Cuban bill. Broussard OPP
posed the measure and said the Presi-
dent had infringed on the rights of the
House.
Hepburn, Rep, Ia, stated that he
would vote for the bill but with reluct-
ance. He said he was not only Of those
who believe we owe Cuba anything.
| This country had spent $300,000,0O0 or
| $500, 900 900 and sacrificed many lives
! that Cuba might be relieved from OPP
preston. Hepburn said he believed in
Republican reciprocity-ths reciprocity
! OF Mckinley. In this connection he
quoted from the speech made by the
| late President at Buffalo.
He reviewed the history of tariff leg
| islation, comparing the balances in fav-
| or OF this country under Republican
policies with those under Democratic
control. This country is no longer a
debtor nation. he said. and the Repub-
licans had changed all this. He was
one of those who believed in letting we'll
enough alone.
Sul2er. DEM. N. Y, said he would
| vote for the bill as it was little step
| in the right direction.
What q spectacle of commercial
selfishness, monopolistic greed and pol
| itic short-sightedness the Republican
party presents, today" he said. when
it is SD welded to its protective tariff
policy that apparently it would rather
witness the injury to Cuba than to
Cdh W" II ltS plC5Stit
Watson, Rep, Ind. one of the new
| members on the ways and means COM
nittee. favored the bill because the 20
per cent. reduction proposed will not in
jure the sugar industry. 1t did not in
terfere. said he. with the protective
tariff, but would do justice to a strug-
Cling people.
Williams, leader of the minority.
charged that the Republicans did
not dare enter on tariff re-
vision for fear it would open
the doors to too extended q revis-
ion. The Republicans had a majority
In the House and Senate and "a very
large majority in the White House.
Some Of the pledges of prosperity of the
majority were already collapsing The
people, he said, were beginning to find
that their laws were keeping in power
not only monopolies. but public cheats.
Referring to Grosvenor he said he was
a. most exnberant prophet" adding
shat he (W'illiams)' would attempt no
rropl1esies. i
Williams in supporting his conten-
ton for an amendment to the treaty,
said that 1t would take only a few
weeks to secure it.
Payne answered that it would take
months.
Suppose it did take months?" asked
Williams, to which Payne replied: The
gentleman is trying to help the Sugar
Trust by his amendment"
We'll" responded Williams, "if I am,
the Lord knows am unconscious of
it," daughter). But 1 viii say the
length of time 1t would take depends
upon the care and strenuousity brought
into action at the other end of the
avenue. If you could just halfway ap-
proximate the celebrity that has lately
actuated this administration in connec-
ton with the newborn republic of Pan
ANA, YOU would have it back here in
three days"
Mccall, Rep. Mass, said that his de-
auctions from study of the effect OF
the treaty was that the reduction Of
duty on sugar would not materially at
feet it's price in this country, and that
consequently the Cuban planter would
get the benefit Of the saving on the tar
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