Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-17
TOBACCO TALK.
Secretary Wilson's Returns from His
Visit to Florida.
ON RIGHT-OF-WAY DAMAGES.
Indian School Products Opposed House
Getting Impatient Concerning Cuba
Hawaiian Treaty Must Walt-In-
dian Territory Reorganization.

Wilson, of the agricultural depart
meut, has returned to the city from
weeks visit to Florida, where he went
at the suggestion of the president to
study the productions of that country.
In an interview concerning his obser-
vations there the secretary spoke as
follows
The most striking development found in
Florida was the growth of the tobacco interest
Within the last few years 10000 Cubans have
come over from their native country, many Of
whom had been lifelong tobacco growers and
understand the art from the planting of the
seed to the marketing of the cigar The Gu
bans recognize the hummocS lands of Florida
as being very similar to that of the best to-
bacco lands in Cuba The American caught
onto" the business very rapidly The state
statistics show that the Cubans sold
last year l6O,00O0OO cigars and the
sales Of tobacco In all its forms brou hit
Cubans SlSOOOOOl The United States still
pays yearly to Cuba, SumatrG Mexico and
other countries 900 for tobacco This
the FlOridhn is reaching out for Notwith-
standing the people get 100000 cigars an
nually from Florida scarcely such thing is to
be found on the market as u Florida cigar.
They all come north under the Havana name,
In conclusion Secretary Wilson eX-
presses the opinion that straight farm
ing will be of more value to the people
than raising tobacco, sugar cane, vege-
tables, etc, and that the staple indus
tries of the state would be dairying,
cattle raising, sheep raising, bacon
hog raising, etc.
Assessment OF RiGht-of- Damages
WASHINGTON, Feb. l5-Three eX-
mayors of Kansas City, Mo-, called
upon Secretary Bliss yesterday in re-
gard to an Indian matter. They were
Webster Davis, assistant secretary of
the interior; Congressman Cowherd
and E. l.. Martin, vice president of the
Kansas City. Pittsburg & Gulf Railroad
company. The object of their visit
was to have commissioners appointed
to assess damages for the right-of-way
of the road through the Indian terri
tory. Under the charter of the com
pany it is provided that three commits
soners shall be appointed for this pur-
pose, one of whom is to be selected by
the government, one by the railroad
company and the third by the Indian
nation in which those having a claim
Tor damages reside.
Indian school Product, Opposed
WASHINGTON Feb Is. Senator Cock
rell presented to the senate yesterday
a resolution of the Western Implement
association. asking to be relieved from
competition with the Haskell Indian
institute at Lawrence, Kan. At the
Haskell institute Indian boys are
taught the trade of making wagons
and agricultural machines The pro-
ducts OF the institute are sent mostly
to Indian agencies for use, but some of
them are sold in general trade. lie
also presented petitions from South
Greenfield, Mo-, praying for anti-ciga-
rette legislation, and from the Broth
erhood of Railroad Trainmen, urging
the passage of various bills advocated
by the labor unions.
The House Getting Inpatient.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 Yesterday
the members of the house showed in
an unmistakable manner their impa.
thence with the foreign policy of Pres
ident Mckinley. Resolutions were
passed calling upon the president to
furnish all information at his disposal
concerning conditions in Cuba and the
progress of autonomy. AS it is known
that these reports will show that mat.
ters are growing constantly worse, it
is thought tina! when the information
is furnished officially the republicans
in the house cannot longer be re-
strained from voting with the demo
Gratis for the acknowledgment of bell
ligerency.
The Hawaiian Treaty Mut Walt.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 15.-The president
was informed yesterday by some of the
oldest republican senators that it will
be useless to press the Hawaiian am
nexation treaty to n vote until HfttE
some attention has been given toCAba.
1t was stated by these republicans that
a vote now would mean the rejection
of the treaty, as several senators. IA
vorable to annexation, would positive
lv refuse to vote for ratification at
this time.
Indian Territory REORGANIZATION.
WAsHINGToN Feb. 15-rhe house
committee on Indian affairs met yes.
terday and considered for an hour the
Curtis bill, providing for a reorganiza-
ton of the Indian territory. Without
reaching a decision upon any of the
important provisions of the bill the
committee adjourned till tomorrow.