The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-11-17
CUBAN BILLIN'IRODUCED
Was Referred to the New Ways and
Means Committee.
DEMOCRATS HAVE AMENDMENTS
They Include One to Remove Differ
entail On Sugar and elimination OF
Article Binding United states Not
TO Reduce Duty In Five Years.

TO Reduce Duty In Five Years.
Washington. Nov. 10. - Speaker
Cannon has announced the new ways
and means committee. which will at
once begin consideration of the Cuban
reciprocity hill.
The committee is now constituted
as follows: Republicans-Messrs. Sc
rano Z. Payne (N. ", chairman; John
Dalzcl Ps). Charles II. Grosven'
or tO), James \. Tawney mimi.
Samuel W. Mccall (MassD. Joseph W..
Babcock (Wis), Victor II. Met
calf tCal), Ebeneezer ]. Hill Comm.
Henry s. Boutell IND. James +. Wat
son Qnd) and Charles Curtis (Kanl
Democrats Messrs. John Sharp VIII
liams (Miss), Samuel NJ. Robert
son Ha). Claude A. Swanson (NaO,
George b. Mcclellan IN. ". Samuel
Bronson Cooper tTeX) and Champ
Clark (Mo).
Mr.. Payne introduced In the house
the bill! making effective the Cuban
reciprocity treaty. The measure was
referred to the ways and means com
mittee
The Democratic attitude on the
Cuban bill. as well as its general pol
icy on public questions. is to be the
subject of caucus by the minority
members of the house tomorrow night
A meeting of the minority members
Of the ways and means committee was
held for the purpose of outlining sew
erAl amendments to the Cuban Dill
These amendments will include one re-
moving the differential on refined
sugar and the elimination from the
treaty OF that portion Of article eight
which binds the United States govern
meut not 20 reduce the duties on
SUGAR for a period OF five years.
Should these amendments fail, the in
dications are that the minority mem
bers Of the houS- VII, support the
Cuban bill.
In explaining the reasons for the
amendments proposed. Mr. Williams
the Democratic floor leader said that
the Democratic party in his opinion
could not AFFORD to allow without pro
test the enactment OF legislation when
was an attempt although an inenect-
ual one. 10 bind future congresses and
future administrations by pledge
against further reduction of duties on
any article with any country. The
right 10 abrogate the treaty. he said
ought TO be reserved In this instance.
rs n is reserved in all treaties. upon
due notice being given. II is custom
airy I'm every treaty. he said, TO nix a
period for the continuance OF the
treaty but both sides understand that
II IS subject to the right Of abrogation
upon notice This treaty" continued
Mr. Williams. seemingly goes & oit
further and undertakes TO bind t.e
United States legally in the respects
mentioned. or course. legally the
proposition is absurd on its face. But
II is a matter Of grave importance.
notwithstanding that fact, for this res
son. that it might be argued when inc
question came up for consideration.
that we were morally bound. although
not legally bound. A a matter OF fact.
We would not be morally bound II the
Democrats came into power unless
I the Democracy by acquicscence or
by active consent. had made Itself
bound
Mr.. Williams said that assurances
had been received from the majority
side OF the house Of enough votes to
add the amendment doing away with
the rehners' diherential.