Evening star., 1901-11-14
Isthmian Canal Matter Discussed by
Representative Hepburn.
THE PACIFIC CABLE QUESTION
Hawaiians Opposed to Conces-
sions to Cuban Sugar.
TODA APPOINTMENTS

merce committee or the House, ana repre-
sentative Sherman of New York, a leading
member of the same committee had
long conference with the President today
about fsthmian canal and Pacific cable
legislation. AS result of the consulta-
tion they announced that it was their pur-
pose to press legislation on both subjects
at the earliest possible moment. The canal
bill which passed the House at the last
session will be- reintroduced in substan-
TALLY the form in which it passed last win
ter, and will be speedily pushed through
the committee. No delay is anticipated in
the committee, as the whole subject has
been thoroughly canvassed there, and Col.
Hepburn told the President that the bill
would undoubtedly command a large ma
1ority in the House when it reached a vote.
There will be few changes in the bill from
Its shape last winter, except to conform to
the new agreement with Great Britain.
when Mr.. Sherman was asked what con-
sideration would be given to the PROPOSE
tion of the Panama Canal Company to sell
out to the United States he said:
the canal for a gift"
The bill for a Pacific cable will be prac-
tically Identical with the one reported from
the committee during the last Congress.
1t will provide for the laying of the cable
by a private corporation under contract
with the Postmaster General for reason
able toll rates, with an alternative pro-
vision for the building of the cable by the
government if no satisfactory contract can
be made. Colonel Hepburn is Of the opin-
lon that the law Of 1866 furnishes ample
authority for the landing of cable by a
private corporation without legislative or
executive sanction, but he does not believe
that any company seriously contemplates
laying cable under these circumstances
Although Mr.. Hepburn and Mr. Sherman
were reticent upon that point it is under
stood that the President concurred in the
program outlined. He is known to be very
much in favor of canal legislation at This
session.
The Fight of the Sugar Interests.
W. o. Smith, ]. B. Atherton, F. NJ.
Swanzy and r. P. Rithet, citizens of Ha-
wall, called upon the President this morn
ing to pay their respects and to discuss in
dustrial and other affairs in the islands.
The Hawaiians say they are strongly op-
posed to any reciprocity with Cuba that
will admit sugar from that island to this
country at low tariff rates. The interests
of the Hawailans as to Cuban sugar are
identical with the interests of the sugar
beet industry and the Louisiana sugar busi-
ness. The Hawaiians will Join with the
other sugar interests during the coming
session of Congress in trying to prevent
reciprocity as to sugar with Cuba.
The many influences that will be at work
during the coming Congress on the sugar
question will be- of unusual interest to the
country and to legislators. There are diff
ferences, or at least pretended differences,
between the sugar trust and the beet sugar
people The latter claim that the sugar
refiners have become alarmed at the in
dignation said to have been created by their
attack on the home sugar industry, which
is being developed In various portions OF
the country. The beet sugar people, with
Mr. Oxnard at their head, threaten to make
efforts in Congress looking to the removal
of all the protection to the sugar trust. At
least this is the way the various sugar
trusts have been talking to and about each
other for several months. Mr.. OXnard says
that the beet sugar company has a right
to manufacture the raw material and turn
1t out direct to the consumer without pass
ing it through the hands of the sugar trust.
Mr. Oxnard charges that because of this
position by the American Beet Sugar Com
pany the sugar trust went into the beet
sugar territory and lowered the price in an
unfair way. The beet sugar company had
to meet the cut prices, which were claimed
to be from 1 cent to IL cents under prices
on the seaboard. The allegation is that all
this was with the purpose in view of trying
to crush out the beet sugar industry. 1t is
claimed by Mr.. Oxnard that the sugar
trust wants free or freer sugar with Cuba.
There are really so many wheels within
wheels in the sugar conflict that a keen OBJ
server will possibly be nonpluSsed for
awhile to get the facts
The HawaiianS are much interested in i'm
migration that will take enough laborers
to the Islands to work the sugar planta-
tions. Porto Ricans have been tried and
Japanese are now going into Hawaii in
number. These two people are
fairly satisfactory on the plantations but
Portuguese said to be the best adapted
to the work. AS fast as Portuguese land in
this country efforts are made to get them
to go to Hawaii, where they are given en-
ployment on the sugar plantations
u
Representative Boreing accompanied by
K. J. Hampton of Kentucky and Senator
Mason of Illinois, approached the President
about the same time this morning.
do you know what I'm thinking about
doing?' asked the President of Senator Ma
son, looking toward Mr.. Boreing II think
I will divide the affairs of the government
in two parts-one relating to the affairs of
Kentucky and the other to the remainder
of the government" The joke was appre-
ciated For the last two weeks most of the
Presidents time has been taken up by the
Kentucky office seekers The President
probably thought that he should be permit
ted a little time to look after the business
of other states.
Civil Service in the Dependencies.
President Roosevelt today told Clinton
Rogers Woodruff chairman Of the commit
tee on dependencies of the Civil Service
Reform League, that appointments in the
island possessions will not be Influenced by
political reasons. The President was very
emphatic in his statement in this regard.
Mr.. Woodruff was accompanied to the
White House by Mr.. Foulke, civil service
commissioner, and the matter was discuss
ed at length. Mr.. Woodruff is secretary of
the National Municipal League.
No Tariff Revision.
Representative Long Of Kansas, who is a
member Of the ways and means committee
of the House, was one Of President Roose-
velt's callers today. He joins with his
eastern colleagues on the committee in OPP
posing revision Of the tariff. He be-
lieves that any attempt to lower the duties
on particular schedules, such as Mr.. Bah
cock proposes, would lead inevitably to
general revision of the tariff. and this, he
says, his people are not in favor of. Mr..
Long says there is, however, a strong senti-
ment in his section in favor Of reciprocity.
Presidential Appointments.
The President today made the following
appointments:
State-Edwin N. Gunsaulus, Ohio, con-
sui at Toronto. Ont, Canada; Wnxam L.