New-York tribune., 1901-12-23
SUGAR INTERESTS IN CUBA.
PROPOSITION IN BEHALF OF BEET ROOT
INDUSTRY-PLAN FOR ACTION BY
CONGRESS To MEET
THE CASE.
THE CASE.
[Br TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEI

| Washington. Dec. 22.-The Oxnard proposition
| IN behalf Of the beet root sugar industry. sub
| mitted to the President yesterday. for the pay
ment Of a bounty to Cuban sugar producers who
| export their product to the United States. is
| garded by the Senate leaders as one Of the most
| absurd suggestions yet made by the representa-
tives of the beet sugar interests for the pauper-
| ization of Cuba and the enrichment of them
selves. Henry Oxnard, of Omaha, who usually
| is to be found in Washington whenever there is
| talk of sugar legislation and who has taken
| house here for the winter called at the White
House Saturday and recommended to the
| President a scheme for the payment of a bounty
to Cuban sugar exporters, in face of the Presi-
dents strong recommendation in his message to
| Congress for Substantial concessions to Cuba.
| The President could do otherwise than
| listen to Mr.. Oxnard's astounding proposition,
| but he gave him encoura cement to hope that
he would abate one jot or little OF his deternina
tion to place Cuba in such commercial relations
with this country will stimulate the industrial
| energies Of the island and give the people
chance to reha bilitate their country after they
! have formed government with which this gov
! ernnnent deal.
| It is known that the Senate leaders have about
matured a plan of reciprocity with Cuba which
| it is confidently believed will meet the hearty
approval of both the President and Congress.
| legislation, but legislation that is absolutely
| necessary in view of the unprecedented condi-
| tions TO be affected. The plan is for the Ways
| and Means Committee of the House to frame
| bill providing for tariff reductions Cuban
| sugar and tobacco to take effect whenever the
| Cuban Government, now in process of formation.
| makes corresponding compensating tariff
| concessions on certain products of the United
| States. such flour. grain. machinery agri-
| exhaustively investigat ted by some of the ablest
| lawyers in the United States and they have de-
| clared this scheme of legislation will be entirely
| in harmony with what is popularity known as the
| favored nation clause in all the treaties of
comfy between the United States and the other
| civilized nations of the world.
COMPLICATIONS FEARED.
| When the proposition first broached some
Of the big legal lights of the Senate were appre-
| hensive that il would lead to commercial COM
plications with Germany and other nations
which might assert right under the favored
nation clause TO share in the benefits of the
law. and that therefore il could have exclu-
sve application TO Cuba All such fears, how
ever have been disstpated by the conclusions
reached after the most thorough and compre-
hensive study Of the law Of nations and the
scope and practice Of the favored nation
clause" It is thought the bill will be fra amed
before April May. its promoters are aware
that considerable work Of education must be
done in Congress before it is brought forward.
but it is not believed that it will encounter dan
gerous opposition when finally il is introduced.
Those who favor it also are aware that there
is a good deal of stubborn hostility in the Ways
and Means Committee 10 making any ConCes-
sions to Cuba, but 1t ia not doubted that this
hostility viii be appreciably weakened and sub
! dued before great while. Chairman Payne and
| Messrs DalzeN and Grosvenor, il is expected.
! will use their full power to defeat favorable ac-
! .iun by the committee. but it is confidently as
serted that they will not be strong enough TO do
| So All of them have openly declared more than
once since the opening of Congress that there
shall be no concessions either to Cuba the
Philippines and the with which they
| pushed their Philippines tariff bill through the
| House last week has strengthened their conf
dence in their powers. Still, 1t is a fact we'll
| known IN the best informed circles of Washing
| ton that had there been full representation Of
the majority Of the committee when final action
| on the Payne bill was taken, there would have
! been reported TO the House bill more IN keep
ing with the dominant sentiment of the party
than the one that passed under the whip
and spur OF the three members named.
PHILIPPINE BILL ONLY TEMPORARY.
However. the Payne Philippine bill is only
|
edIy is badly needed and it is considered not
| at all mproba BILE that it will be virtually
| pealed by the legislation that will he enacted for
| Cuba so that imports from the Philippines will
| probably not have to pay the full Dingley rates
| longer than similar imports from Cuba. In
| other words, the intention of the Senate leaders
| is to include the Philippine Islands in the re-
| ciprocity legislation that will be enacted for
| Cuba How long therefore, the Payne bill,
passed last week, will be law. depends upon the
length Of time it will take the Cubans to form
| their government and equip Il as an independent
sovereignty with full powers to assume national
and international obligations.
Thus, the legislation planned for Cuba is an
| ticipatory in character in that 1t will stipuiate
| that whenever the Cuban Government makes
| certain tariff concessions TO the United States
! this government shall make concessions TO Cuba
| on sugar and tobacco. It is said that the
| hill will provide for reduction Of at least 20
| per cent of the Dingley rates on sugar and to a
| fiat basis of at least 30 cents a pound on to-
| bacco 1t is possible. however that the conces
| sion on sugar may be much p per cent
| A reduction of only 20 per cent would give the
| Cuban sugar producers about $4,JOOOoO annu-
| aIly figuring on the basis of $50 ton the pres
| ent tariff sugar; stated in another form.
| Cuban sugar under this preferential rate would
| nav only about $40 ton. If the reduction
| should be % per cent, Cuban sugar would enter
| our ports at S27 rate, and there would be
| saved to the producers the island about
| S6.000,000 annually
| PROTECTION FOR CUBAN INTERESTS
| Experts declare that either of these reductions
| would so strengthen the Cuban sugar industry
| as to enable the producers to make the profit
that is absolutely essential TO its rehabilitation.
| They also declare that such Il reduction would
| inffct absolutely injury on the beet sugar
industry of the West as it would not sufficiently
| T,rL IN driI