New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-13
CUBAN BILL IN THE HOUSE
SMOOTH SAILING ASSURED
Republican Leaders Erpect to Pass
the Measure Nert "Wednesday.
IRON TIE rnrnuxE BUREAU. ]

Washington. Nov. 12.-RepresentatlNe Payne
of New York chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee. to-day introduced the Cuban reci-
procity measure known as the bill Ito carry into
effect a convention between the United States
and the Republic of Cuba. signed on the 18th
day of December. in the year 1902" The meas
ure was referred to the Ways and Means Com
mittee. by which it will be perfunctorily con-
sdered tomorrow morning and reported to the
House later in the day Through the adoption
of special rule prohibiting amendments
smooth sailing and speedy passage are assured
for the measure in the House. II is the inten-
ton Of the Republican leaders TO pass the bill
next Wednesday. The full text of the bill is as
follows
That whenever the President of the United States
nc OF Gn6a has made provision to give f1 e1e ne9
States sHd G5 ne e69e @ css signed on De-
cember H. 1902 he is hereby authorized to issue ms
evidence, and tSereupen on the tenth day after
change of ratincations OF such convention between
long the said convention shall remain in force
an aIufes OF meTcnanq5se Dss de ,b Witch are
now imported into the United states free of duty
all other articles Of merchandise being the product
Of the soil or industry Of the Republic OF Cn9a I'M
ported into the United States shall be admitted At
Ieducton Of 20 per eeptum Of the TateS OF G
sateS apSr6ved v "a 1897 or as may be provided
by any tariff law of the United states subsequently
tinted states the Republic Of Cuba are and shall
entail in respect to ali like imports from other
Provided. That while said convention is in force
sugar imported from the Republic of Cuba. and
being the product Of the soil or industry Of the
States at reduction of duty greater than 20 per
the tariff act Of the United states approved July
a. 1897 and no sugar. the product Of any other
convention into the United States, while this con-
Sa 9Toyde m & r lover . rate e fy ae
approved July a. 1887 and provided. further, that
nothing herein contained shall he held con-
strued as an admission on the part OF the House
Of Representatives that customs duties can be
changed otherwise than by an act OF congress-
originating in said House. -.,-- -,..,,
remain in force the laws and regulations adopted
that may be adopted by the United States TO
declarations and proofs that the articles of mer-
Ghandise to which said .entiop IN may apply are
Cuba shall not impose any additional charge or
consular fees established or which may be estab-
shed, by the United States for issuing shipping
those charged on the shipments OF similar
artioies Of the Republic of Cuba. shall receive on
their importation into the ports OF the United
SiSs Of the United States snail receive on their
importation into the ports OF the RepuhS OF CUBA:
the national or local authorities Of the United
Republic Of Cuba embraced in the articles of said
convention SUBSEQUENT to said Importation and
United States shall be imposed and collected with
out DISCRIMINATION upon like articles whatsoever
imported.
CONCESSION TO THE HOUSE.
The clause in the bill providing that nothing
herein contained shall be held or construed as
an admission on the part of the House Of Rep
resentatives that customs duties can be changed
otherwise than by an act OF Congress. origi-
mating in said House a source of great
qualification to those members who believed that
the prerogatives of the House had been assaied,
and whose examination of the subject had not
been sufficiently deep to disclose its true In
wardness. AS a matter of fact. the insertion OF
this clause occasions regret TO many OF the
broader gauge members of the House. who have
understood from the beginning that the most
effective recognition which the Senate could
have given to that prerogatve of the lower
chamber which entities it to initiate revenue
measures was afforded when the Senate so rati-
fed the Cuban treaty that no feature OF the con-
vention could become operative without the ap-
proval of the House of Representatives The
men who grasped the full significance of the
Senate's action at the last special session have
consistently urged that assertion of its own
rights by the Rouse he made at this time, real
izing full well that the unsupported assertion Of
the lower chamber could have no effect. except.
perhaps. to detract from the force Of the tribute
already paid by the Senators to the legislators
at the other end Of the Capitol.
As was said in these dispatches of November
10 the spirit which has made the objec-
tionable clause necessary was stirred up by
ex- Representative Taylor, representing the
American Protective Tariff League. The idea
was quickly seized by few Representatives
who believed it offered a covert means of de-
feating all enabling legislation, and at one time
it threatened to prove a serious obstacle to
those who supported the administration. FL
nally when the clause adopted had been drafted
by one of the leaders whose adroit manipulation
of legal expressions has frequently served the
party in good stead some Of the very members
of the House who had been loudest I'm their af-
frrnations of the necessity that the House
should preserve its dignity and affirm its pre-
rogative would have retreated. but it was
then too late. They had created z, sentiment
which they could longer control, and the
clause which even they regarded as puere had
10 he adopted, while they are reaping, in re-
gret the reward of their treachery.
AS indicated in The Tribune this morning an
agreement reached yesterday between the
Republican leaders of the Senate and House
which removes all danger of any serious con-
tention over the insertion of this clause when
the measure is brought before the upper branch
for consideration Mutual concessions have
paved the way for the passage of the Cuban
reciprocity treaty in both houses of Congress
and final action the measure will be de-
ferred only long enough to permit certain Dem
oCratic Senators to voice their opposition.
sTc ANN Trrr