The Indianapolis journal., 1901-12-22
Desire Appointment Of Special Com
mission to Inquire Into and Re-
port on Cost of Production.
SUGGEST A BOUNTY FOR CUBANS
VIEWS OF OXNARD ON BEET-SUGAR
QUESTION TWO YEARS AGO.
When He and w. Ii. Cutting Fur
nished Figures, Showing that
Protection Was Unnecessary.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21-The beet-sugar
representatives in Washington have made
some new propositions to the President re-
garding the proposed reduction Of the tariff
on Cuban sugar. These new propositions
were made to the President by Henry 7.
Oxnard, president of the American Beet
sugar Association, and himself a large
manufacturer of sugar from beet roots.
Mr.. Oxnard suggested to the President
that, owing to the large amount of misin-
formation that obtains both in and out Of
official circles regarding the cost of pro-
ducing sugar here and in Cuba, a COM
mission be appointed by the President to
make a special study of the question and
report to Congress. Mr.. Oxnard suggested
to the President that in order to have all
interests represented on this commission
one member of 1t be chosen from the beet
sugar producers, another from the Louisi-
ana cane planters. another from the Cuban
sugar planters, another from the Senate
committee on finance and still another
from the House ways and means commit
tee. He asked that this commission be
given power to examine witnesses, to ex-
anime books Of account to send for per-
SOnS ana papers ana TO make q complete
investigation of the subject, both here
and in Cuba, with the view Of ascertain
ing which OF these two things, if either,
must necessarily be done:
First-If the duty upon Cuban sugar
must be reduced for the salvation of indus
| trial Cuba, by how much must it be re-
| duced. and how much of a reduction can
the beet-sugar industry Of the United
| States stand?
| Second-Whether ii would be feasible to
pay to the Cuban sugar planter direct a
| bounty of so much per pound for the sugar
they produce, the said bounty to be the
| equal of the duty that the commission finds
1t necessary to be taken from Cuban sugar
imported into the United States.
Mr.. OXnard said, after his interview, that
| the President promised faithfully to take
! these suggestions under consideration and
| to keep them we'll in mind when he comes
| to serious consideration of the Cuban PROF.
| lem. In an interview Mr.. Oxnard said: I'VE
| believe that If the United States owes
| duty TO Cuba in the way of trade cOnceS-
| sionS that that duty ought not to be paid
| at the expense of one industry of this cOun-
| try, as is proposed by the sugar trust and
| the men who are seeking to have Cuban
| sugar let in here at low rate. We think
| the best solution of the problem is the pay
/ ment OF a bounty direct to the planters on
raw sugar for a certain number of years.
| If bounty be paid upon refined sugar the
| sugar trust Will get most of it. If the tariff
| oe reduced the sugar trust will profit most
| by that so if anything is to be done that
| will be of benefit to the Cubans we believe
| the bounty plan TO be best for them. AT
| any rate, we want the question fully inves-
| tigated before any action is taken