The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-17
THE CUBAN BILL IS
BEFORE THE HOUSE
1t Will Hold the Floor Until
Thursday,
THEN CONES THE VOTE
The Rule of Keeping it Before The House to
the Exclusion of Other Business 0p-
posed by Democrats and
Few Republicans.
(By the Associated Press.)


Washington, d. c., Nov. 16.-The House
OF Representatives began the consideration
of the Cuban Reciprocity Bill today. Mr.
Dalzell (Rep., Pa, reported a resolution
providing that the bill reported from IL,
Ways and Means committee should be
considered to the exclusion of al other
business until four O'Clock Thursday when
vote will be taken without intervening
motion.
Mr.. Williams Dem, Miss), speaking
for the minority, in opposition to the
rules, said it was about the most drastic
rule ever introduced in the House. say
ing it shut off from the House all right
to perfect the bill. He said the minority
desired to offer an amendment which pro-
posed to strike out the double harrelied
pledge" contained in the bill. Applause
from the Democratic side greeted the
statement that the bill tears down one
fifth of the schedules built up by the
Republicans.
Mr.. Dalzell, replying TO the charge that
rule was a most drastic measure. re-
verted to the time when the Wilson bill
was pending. Mr.. Crisp being Speaker,
saying that he commended the minority
to study of their own parliamentary
history.
The rule was adopted, 176 to 155.
The minority voted unanimously against
the rule. Six Republicans voted against
it.
With the announcement of the vote,
Mr.. Williams (Miss), asked unanimous
art l.
rule for yea and nay vote on the amend
ment proposed by the minority, with
twenty minutes discussion on each side,
q vote then to be taken on the bill. Mr..
Payne objected.
The House went into committee of The
whole, and Mr.. Payne opened the de
bate. He said no harm would be wrought
to the sugar industry by the legislation
now proposed. Tobacco was dealt within
the same way, Mr. Payne stating that
the industry could not be harmed by the
proposed new arrangement. He added that
no industry would be affected by the per-
lection of the treaty. He said, in reply
to an inquiry, that he did not expect
new industries to be established while
this question was being agitated
Mr.. Williams (Miss.), denied that the
Democrats desired to amend the bill for
the purpose of killing the treaty. He held
the Republicans responsible for the fact
that the treaty is not in force today
Referring to Mr.. Payne, Mr.. Williams
said;
''As to that part of his speech which
advocates this bill upon it's merits, it is
almost as sudden conversion as that
of st. Paul on his way to Damascus; 1T
was almost as sudden an occurrence as
was this recent birth of the new Republic
of Panama
Mr.. Swanson (Dem, Va), discussed
the perils which he said threaten our
foreign commerce by the new tariffs
passed in other countries in retaliation
for the Dingley Act He insisted that
unless concessions are made from the
present tariff before long all of Europe
would be combined in commercial war
fare against this country. He discussed
Chamberlain's policy saying that 55 per
cent. of our foreign trade was with the
United Kingdom and her colonies, all
of which he said was jeopardized by this
policy. Mr.. Swanson then discussed the
evils which he said resulted from the
failure of this country to negotiate q
treaty with Canada. He said the exclu-
sive policy of the Dingley Act would de-
stroy our foreign commerce and remarked
that the Republican party would never
modify it. Mr.. Swanson said the threat
ened dangers to the foreign commerce of
this country would make tariff reform
and reduction the live and burning issue
in politics.
Mr.. Robinson (Ind), taking as his text
treaury statement, argued against the
Republican policy which, he said, was
that of excessive taxation. He gave
figures showing public moneys held by
banks Throughout the country, charging
that it is wrung from the people by the
present system of taxation.
At 4:45 p. m. the committee arose, and
the Speaker announced the following
members of the committee on enrolled
bills: Messrs. Watcher MIDI; Burke
(Pa); Wilson Qlls.); F. x. Lands Und);
Lloyd (Mo.); Johnson IS. c.; Livernash
(Cal) The last three are Democrats.
letter from Mr.. Ball, OF Texas, an
nouncing his resignation was reading. The
House then adjourned.