The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-21
BRANTLEY ON RECIPROCITY.
THINKS SOUTH GEORGIA HAD BEST
STICK TO SYRUP.

of Sugar in Georgia and There
fore Reciprocity With Cuba
Would Not BE Likely to Affect Us
on This Score-He Quotes secre-
tary Wilson on Georgia syrup.
Model Syrup Refinery May be Es-
tabIished by Agricultural Depart
ment.
Brunswick, Ca, Dec. 20.-Represen-
tative Brantley, who is home for the
holidays, was asked his views on
reciprocity treaty with Cuba, redu-
cling the import duty on sugar, as af-
fecting the proposed sugar industry in
South Georgia.
He said: $50 far as my own views
are concerned, and without reference
to the views of others who may dis
agree with me, l do not think the time
has come to undertake the manufac>
ture of sugar in South Georgia. Our
season is so short in comparison with
that of other climates that it is doubt
full in my mind as to our ability to
compete with the manufacturers of SUI
gar in more tropical climates. The
marketing of sugar, too, is so largely
in the hands of the big refineries that
the question of our undertaking it calls
for very serious consideration. l do
not mean to say that the manufacture
of sugar is an impossibility for US, for
l do not think that it is an impossi-
bility, but l mean that we should look
further into the matter and learn more
about it before we undertake it, I am
ri " G. g n hast
interest, for the present at least, to
conflne ourselves to syrup making;
and, in this connection, the question
of a reciprocity treaty with Cuba does
not so seriously concern us.
81 thoroughly believe that there is
a great future for South Georgia in
the manufacture of syrup. and know
it will be gratifying to the people all
over South Georgia to know that such
is the opinion of Secretary Wilson of
the Department of Agriculture. He
has to-day number of stalks of Geor-
gia cane in his office, and takes pleas
ure in pointing them out to all COM
ers to his office. He believes that our
syrup is the purest and most health
full in the world, and that when we
can once establish it as a commercial
commodity, so that it's virtues can be-
come known, there will practically be
no limit to the demand for It,
A Model Syrup Refinery.
1.-THE first essential thing to be done
is to establish uniform grade of
| syrup, so that commerce can depend
upon it, and 1t is the secretary's idea,
if he can secure an appropriat ton from
Congress for that purpose, to estab-
lish at some convenient point a model
syrup refinery, to be conducted under
his supervision, at which the best ana
most economical way of making syrup
can be demonstrated and the begin
ming of a uniform system of making it
inaugurated. He would also, in con-
nection with this refinery, have select
ed farmers in Georgia and adjoining
states to plant selected fields of cane
for the refinery, the same to be Guilt
waited under his directions. He would
hope in this way to determine the best
variety of cane for our purposes, and
also the best system of cultivation for
| it.
Immediately after the holidays he
is going to send a special letter to the
| agricultural committees of the House
and Senate, asking a special appropria-
ton for these purposes. ! have al
| ready seen several of the leading MEM
| bers of these committees on the sub
| ject, and they have all promised to
| give most careful consideration to II,
and some of them have unreservedly
/
through. l. of course, am not the
only representative interested in the
| matter, and those of us who are inter-
| ested expect to give every attention
possible to securing the desired appro-
priation. l shall go before the fun
| committees having the matter in
| charge just as soon as a hearing can De
| arranged for, and other representa-
| tives equally interested will do like
| wise"
Speaking further concerning the
| proposed reciprocity treaty with Cuba,
MIR. Brantley said that that was, or
| course, matter for the President and
| Senate, as the House had no vote in
the mater of the rejection or ratitica-
ton of any treaty proposed by the
| President He said that, speaking gem
! orally, he regarded tariff duty as
tax. and that he. though it be undem-
ocratic to delegate to the President
even though the consent of the Senate
was required the right to raise or low
err the taxes imposed on the people. He
believes that taxes should only be i'm
posed by the vote of the Congress,
both House and Senate. and. for this
reason, he was not in sympathy with
the principle of reciprocity treaties.
He also said that, in his opinion. some
trade concession ought to be made to
Cuba, but just how 1t should be done,
or TO what extent, he was not at this
time prepared to say.
Favors Isthmian Canal.
Being asked the prospects for 18TH
milan canal legislation during this Con-
gress. Mr.. Brantley said he was more
hopeful for some satisfactory legisla-
ton being had at this session than he
had been at any time before. He is
now, as he has always been, very much
in favor of building the canal, and be-
lieves that it's construction will mean
a great deal for the good of the entire
country, and particularly for the South
Atlantic and Gulf States. He believes
the Niearaguan route will be selected.
although personally inclined to think
the Panama route the better one.
On the subject Of national politics.
and the probable Democratic presiden.
tial candidate in 1904 Mr.. Brantley said
he had nothing to say. He said that he
had not heard the matter very much
discussed, and that while Senator Cor
man was now more talked of probably
than any other man, that the man re-
garded as most available to-day might
not be so regarded in 1904
On the Schley court of inquiry YER
dict Mr.. Brantley said: II favor such
action by Congress in this matter as
will not only give Admiral Schley the
complete vindicatlon to which he is en-
titled, but as will also expose and make
public the inside working of the naval
bureau that led up to and made neces-
sary the court of inquiry"
| Speaking Of local legislation, Mr.