The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-09
Topics OF The Times
CdlIed at Washington
Special Correspondence Of The Tribune.

Special Correspondence Of The Tribune.
Washington, May sc. 4. Ssylor. of the dc.
partmcnt of agriculture, has recently been on
an official trip TO Porto Rico. lie shows clearly
that those who would heneht by absolute free
trade are the Spanish, English and other Euro.
pcan owners Of the plantations, and not the ma.
tive islanders lie says: 'Lct us look into the
factories themselves. and do not fear challenge
in this respect, because have been in every fac
tory in Porto Rico Whatever capital is IN.
vested in those factories cmanating at all from
island sources is purely Spanish. 1t docs not be.
long TO Porto Rico The peculiar system man.
taincd by Spain through all Of the business con.
Germs, and SO far as their own capital was en-
ployed, threw everything into the hands Of the
Spaniards who were simply in Porto Rico do
ing business. They do not belong TO that ee.
ment Of Porto Ricans that We feel so tender
about and would not become citizens of Porto
Rico or this country, whatever becomes Of the
constitutional question. Other factories are
owned and controlled by English capital; others
by German, and the entire factory system by
Spanish, English and German
These factories, mainly through their cheap
labor. can, under absolute free trade, put sugar
on the market Of New York. at cost to them.
selves, for cents pound. This would be $40
for short ton Of sugar. Sugar has been selling
this year for so per ton. With free trade this
would be profit OF $50 on an outlay Of $40,
which figure is IS per cent. Who gets this
prohtf There is only one way for handling i'm.
ported sugar in this country, and that is through
the two or three sugar combinations, mainly
through the sugar trust. They agree with the
planters or manufacturers to take this sugar,
refine it, and place it on the market dividing
the profit a certain basis, as is now being
done, and as has been done between the lla-
waiian planters and the sugar trust for years.
How will they divide the profits? Even? Zach
getting 37ia per cent? We do not know. Only
the parties interested know. This point is clear,
however. and that is that the Porto Ricans are
not benefited. Simply the sugar combinations OF
this country and the foreign planters or inanu-
facturers OF Porto Rico.
"Porto Rico has been able. at her maximum,
TO export about G0,0O0 tons Of sugar. She Would
be able all her were brought into play,
TO send us about per cent of our consumption.
But when the Philippines and Cuba ask for the
same privilege then it will be an entirely differ
cnt question. And yet the same principles are
involved that I have discussed in Porto Rico.
Isn't it enough that we have expended much
blood and treasure in Wrestling these lslrnds
from the condition they were in at The saIHc time
Offering every help r the 'ItUre that is consist
ent With fair and honest dealing with our '0n
interests and people? am thorough believer in
expansion. I believe that expansion is fraught
with incaculablc benefit to the inhabitants Of
the island and to the people OF this country.
when congress shall have framed such fair, hon.
est, just and equitable regulations as are con.
sstent with the right Of our own labor and in.
dustries."
The charges contained in the preamble of the
resolution offered by Representative Lentz, allcg-
ing misconduct and abuse of authority on the
part Of the federal troops under General Mcr.
ram, who were enforcing martial law in the
Occur d'Alcne district, were completely reiutcd
by the testimony Of General Merriam, Captain
John B. Bennett. one Of his aides, and by the
official report OF Captain b. W. Lcavell, before
the Military Affairs committee. These witnesses
showed completely and circmmstantially in pre-
serving order, and that not in a single instance
were the prisoners subjected to brutal or inhu-
man treatment. General Merriam denied en-
practically that any conference had taken place
between himself and the mine owners or mine
operators lie also denied the statement Of wit