Evening star., 1901-09-27
REPRESENTATIVE HEPBURN
HE THINKS THE SAME CANAL BILL
WILL PASS.
He is Opposed to Giving Cuba Tariff
Concessions on Her Sugar
and Tobacco.

Representative W. P. Hepburn OF Iowa Is
spending this week In Washington on pri-
vate business. Mr.. Hepburn has just re-
turned from San Francisco, where he went
to meet his daughter, who Is resident OF
Hawaii. At the adjournment of Congress
Col Hepburn was suffering greatly with
sciatica. His health has greatly improved,
and his special trouble had almost entirely
left him until he encountered several days
of the San Francisco fog. Since leaving
there, however, his sciatica is again leaving
him.
Col. Hepburn was asked by a Star re-
porter today what the prospects OF Nicara-
qua canal legislation were at the coming
session of Congress.
II think the same bill will pass the House
at the coming session that was passed at
the last" was his reply. Col. Hepburn does
not consider the negotiation of a treaty be-
tween the United States and Great Britain
in the least necessary to the construction
of the canal by the United States. THE
Clayton-Bulwer treaty, which is the ground
for the necessity of a new treaty, has never
been thought obligatory except by three
Presidents and three Secretaries of State
since 1t was ratified" he continued. "a
new treaty, however, will avoid all posi-
bilities of hard feelings between the two
countries, and it will refute the idea that
we are WllilNS 10 dDrOSdle treaty tQaC
may or may not be binding
There will be two changes In the commit
tee on Interstate and foreign commerce Of
the House, from which the canal bill will
come These changes are caused by the
retirement from Congress Of Representa-
tives Hawley and MacAleer. Mr.. Hepburn
however, did not believe this fact would
change the sense of the committee on this
particular measure.
Against Concessions to Cuba
Dropping the discussion Of the canal bill.
Mr.. Hepburn said. 'I believe there is one
thing 1 should like to say. Since I have
been here I have heard much talk about
the tariff concessions that should be made
to Cuba. 1 have but little sympathy with
the idea of concessions. The articles that
Cuba would desire to have admitted free
OF duty, or at less rate than other ma
tions pay. would be sugar and tobacco.
We are probably producing in the United
States this year 100000 tons Of beet sugar,
justifying the expectation that In ten
years time, with the present conditions
continued, We will produce all the sugar
needed in the United States. This sugar
beet industry Is one of great value and
marked Importance to the farming commu-
nifty Not only do we secure the sugar
but the beet pulp is very valuable in beef
production.
In the matter of tobacco, we are raising
wrapper tobacco that is nearly If not quite
equal to the Sumatra wrapper, and our
hlier is equal to a very large proportion of
Cuban tobacco. OF course, not equal to
that produced in Pinar del Rio but mite
equal to that which is produced in four of
the six divisions of Cuba
think we ought to encourage rather
than discourage the sugar and tobacco in
dustries of the United States, and we will
strike serious blow to both If we permit
the free entry into this country of Cuban
sugar and tobacco"