Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-01-18
CRITICAL SPIRIT
Displayed by Rival Interests in
Cuban Sugar Question.
Reciprocity Advocated in Ways and
Means Committee as Remedy for
What Is at Present an Improbable
industry-The States Would Also
neutrality-suspicious. All Over
the World Responsible for Crisis
A Large Amount Of Cane Will Not
Be Harvested Unless Concessions
Are Made to Planters.

Washington. Jan. III. The hearing be-
fore the ways and means committee on
the Cuban question began yesterday.
The questioning which followed re-
vealed the feelings of the committee,
Tawney lRep, Minn) and Meicnlf
(Rcp., CulD representing tn, beet sugar
interests, and Robertson Dcm., Lay
speaking for the cane sugar interests,
displaying the most critical spirit.
The Cuban industries ere repre-
sented by MessrS. Place, Mendoza, Au-
mois and Francke, chosen by CONNER
cial organizations in various parts of
the island. The American interests en-
gagged in sugar production in Cuba were
represented by Edwin +. Atkins of Bos-
ton, Spokesman for an organization
controlling a large part of the sugar pro-
duction of the island. William Hay
ward was present in behalf of the
Hawaiian sugar planters md Henry 4.
ONnard for the domestic beet sugar in
terests. The tobacco and u;hrr i'll
terests affected by Cuban production
also were well represented.
Chairman Payne stated at the outset
that the hearing was in reference TO
that portion of the presidents massage
relating to reciprocity with Cuba. MIR.
Atkins made the opening statement in
behalf Of reciprocity. lie spoke of the
enormous OverproductiOn of sugar
throughout the world, amounting to
about 100000 tons. wnlch had re-
suited in a crisis in the industry. En-
ropean countries had met this by
bountieS. so that the German Producer
by means of a bounty, was able to sell
sugar ut half a cent Il pound below its
cost of production. The cost of pro-
ductiOn in Cuba was 90 cents Il pound
which was somewhat above the selling
price. Mr.. Atkins stated that there
was now about &2O,OOO,OOO worth of
standing cane in Cuba and at present
prices Il considerable part of this would
not be harvested While NOT an alarm
iSt he said the effect would be serious
loss to the planters and the lahorers enl-
plOyrd. The loss to labor. he thought.
was likely to lead to disturbances. At
the time set for the withdrawal of
-Nih'll 'l'pIS liltle NV'iNI III lllS
opinion. Il deficit in the nSular revenues
which were largely recruited from the
sugar industry.
Mr.. Atkins stated that a 80 percent re-
ductiOn of duties was desired On tn" va
rious large products of the island. but in
response to inquiries from Mr.. Payne
he said that the sugar industry felt they
should have 100 percent reduction. Mr..
Atkins stated that the opposition to
Cuban reciprocity came from different
sources, namely, the domestic beet
sugar industry the Hawaiian planters
and the sugar Interests in Porto Rico
and Louisiana, aggrega ing 500 GOO tens
production. TO Mr.. Payne he stated
that Il very large percentage of the
Cuban sugar industry was owned by
citizens Of the United States. Aside
from the advantage of reciprocity 10
Cuba. Mr.. Atkins maintained that ii
would he of material advantage to the
United States. including n reduction in
the price of sugar to the people. Asked
by Mr.. Payne if his sugar business vas
profitable last year. Mr.. Atkins said he
conceded that ii had '"rn, hut gen
eral inquiry among planters showed
that they had not done a profitable blSi-
ness