Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-16
VOTE on CUBAN BILL
Senate to Take Action This
Afternoon.
PASSAGE rs ASSURED
DEMOCRATS WILL NOT MAKE IT
A PARTY QUESTION.
Final Fulfllment Of the Pledge Given
by President McKinley-Panama
Question in House.
PASSAGE Is ASSURED

Some time before adjourning this even
ing the Cuban reciprocity bill will pass the
Ser ate. marking the close of the long and
stubborn fight for the conserving of closer
trsde relations between the United States
and Cuba. Tomorrow the President will
sign the bill and thereafter issue procla-
nation declaring in effect the reciprocity
treaty which the Senate confirmed last
session. Thereupon the top-rail Of the
Dir gley tariff act will be removed for the
entry Of Cuban products at a reduction of
20 per cent from existing customs duties,
and American products going into Cuba
will be admitted at reductions on a sliding
scale, ranging from Is to 40 per cent.
Fulfilling a Pledge.
The legislation which will be consum-
mated this evening will enable the Ameri-
can government to carry out promise
made by President Mckinley to the Cuban
commissioners which resulted in the &C
ceptance by Cuba of the Plat amendment
and the granting to the United States of
coaling stations in Cuba. The fulfillment
Of that pledge of President McKinleys has
been fought at every step by corporate.
sectional and political interests in this
country. The fight they made was eff
fectual in postponing action throughout two
sessions Of Congress, but the opposition
finally wore itself out. and the final touches
were put on the legislation today, practi-
calty without opposition.
Decision Of the Democrats.
The democrats of the Senate in caucus to-
DAY agreed not to attempt to amend the
bill. 1t was also decided not to make the
q WIT fIa
to leave senators free to vote as they
please. This was in consideration of the
attitude of the senators from Florida,
Louisiana and Texas. who oppose the bill.
Mr.. Spooner Speaks.
The Senate was prompt today In taking
up the reciprocity bill, and Mr. Spooner
was Immediately recognized. He began by
remarking that it was strange that the
Senate should find it necessary to spend
so much time in consideration of a bill
which had been so promptly accepted by
the House. This attitude he declared was
inconsistent with the attitude of senators
who not so long ago were engaged in accus-
Ing the white-faced, patient man who then
occupied the executive mansion with ute
rior motives IN standing out against war
with Spain for the liberation of Cuba
Mr.. Spooner spoke of the varying posi-
lions of the opponents of the bill. and es-
pecially of the Introduction of the New
lands resolution inviting Cuba to become
part of the United States. deprecating 1t
and saying that he hoped it would be post
poned indefinitely, because, he said, some
times invitations are regarded as COM
mands
Mr.. Spooner said the Newlands resolution
was In direct opposition to the Telle. reso-
luton. Mr.. Mckinley had put it all in a
sentence when he said that cur intervention
must be placed on high ground, and that
the island must not be demanded as. an in
demnity. We could not he said, do less,
and no nation interfering between a colony
owning government and one of it's colonies
would be permitted by other nations to do
so for the increase of its own territorial
area, except in rare cases, and he believed
that but for the Teller resolution there
part of the European powers against the
United States in it's war with Spain.
Opposed to Cuba as a State.
For these reasons. he said. he was OPP
posed to the Newlands resolution More
over, he was opposed to the admission to
the privileges Of statehood of a people 50
per cent of whom were unable to read and
write. He did not want the time to come
when after some presidential election peo-
pie would say, wait till we hear from
Cuba"
Lets confine our population so far as we
can to our own race he said.
Mr. Spooner also replied to the charge
that the bill is In the interest of the sugar
trust. referring to the differing motives
attributed by the opponents of the bill to
the senators who favor it.
Some of Them" he said, "say we are
sincere, but stupid; others that we are
able but dishonest. AS to which OF these
accusations is correct he concluded. I'VE
will leave them to settle with their demo-
cratic colleagues who support the BILL
MT. Spooner referred to the House bill
or the last session. reducing the duty On
sugar. and spoke of the fact that Mr.. Tel
Ter had challenged the republican senator's
to pass it. notwithstanding 1t would have
been a deadly blow to the beet sugar inter
ests. He added his opinion that If Mr.. Tel
Ter had believed that the challenge would
have been. accepted he Would not have
made 1t.
The Challenge "Bluff."
Mr. Teller admitted such to be the case
He did not believe the republican senator's
would accept the bill because 1t removed
the differential duty on refined sugar. 81
didn't want to kill the differential," said
Mr.. Teller. TT was put on the bill by the
House to kill it,"
Then" said Mr.. spooner, II have de-
veloped one thing"
THAT the challenge was bluff" said
Mr.. Teller. taking the words out Of the
Wisconsin senator's mouth.
Then" continued Mr. Spooner. ''the
charges against us are inconsistent"
MIR. Teller referred to the influences be-
hind the bill. which he said were those
not only of the sugar trust, but those of
the executive office.
Mr.. Spooner declared that none Of the
senators had surrendered their independ-
ence, and he did not consider such
charge as courteous to feIlow-senators IT
resent" he said. 'the notion that the execu-
tive can follow bill into the Senate. and
I have never known an executive who vio-
lated his own office by invading other de-
partments Of the government.
Resented by Spooner.
He added. however, that he with others
had resented the propaganda Of year ago
in the interest of reciprocity. II did not"
he said. like to receive communications
from officers of the United States serving
In Cuba. instructing US as to our duty"
Mr.. Bailey asked Mr.. Spooner why he was
willing to vote for the pending bill when
he had opposed the House bill of last ses-
sion, and Mr.. Spooner replied that his op-
position to the bill of the Fifty-seyenth
Congress had been based upon the ground