The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-22
Ways and Means Committee
Hears Argument as to Cuba.
TOBACCO, SUGAR INTERESTS
They Protest Against Bearing All the Buredu
OF Relief Furnished the lndas>
tries of the Pearl Of tie
Antilles.
lBY Associated PresE.l


WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. l-Ihe
Ways and Means Committee to-day re-
sumed it's hearings on the Cuban reciprocl-
ty with special reference to the proposed
reduction on Cuban tobacco. The tobac-
CO interests of the United States were
largely represented. the officers Of the
Large Leaf Manufactures and Growers
Associa tons being present.
John r. Young, president of the Nation
al Leaf Tobacco Association, made an
earnest plea against any tobacco con-
cessions to Cuba. EIe said there IN
doubtedly was a public sentiment in ia
vor of granting relief to Cuba, but he
contended that we should be as just to
the people of our own country as to the
people of foreign countries.
The purpose of the movement for re-
ciprocity. he said, was to have the whole
expense of Cuban relief fall upon two
American Observation-Disclosures and sugar
There was now tobacco acreage In ONO
of 5000 acres; Wisconsin, $500; Penn-
sylvania, $1,000; New York, 72,0oO; Con-
necticut, 11,0OO; and several thousand
acres in other States, all of which pro-
duction would be seriously crippled.
TEN CENT CIGAR.
AS to cigars, Mr.. Young declared that
the proposed concessions would wipe out
the American #tcn-CenC Cigar. 1iie W
ban cigar maker would lay down cigar
here for less than the American manu-
facturer receives for his high-grade Gooos
and the Cuban would have the advantage
of having, his goods advertised as I'm
ported Cigars This. Mr.. Young said
would secure for Cuba the entire ATnerl-
can market for all goods above cents.
Representative Richardson, of Tennes-
see, asked if the price of cigars would
be reduced to the cigar smoker. Mr..
Young said the price would be reduced,
but he did not believe the consumer
would ask this reduction at the expense
of the American industry.
j. Wertheim, of New York. head of a
cigar concern employing 5000 people, pre-
scented the serious effect of concessions
on the American cigar interests.
NOT so BAD.
George Storm. president of the Amerl-
can. Tobacco Growers Association. and
also an extensive cigar manufacturer,
also argued against concessions to Cu0a.
He stated that the tobacco interests OF
Cuba were not as much depressed as rep
resented: that they were prosperous ana
enjoying great advantage from the
American market. and that in effect they
now desired an absolute monopoly OF the
American market. t the calam' y OIL
annexation came, Mr.. Storm 5aI' u!e
tobacco interests would bow to 1t. bu;
for the present they protested against
a movement calculated to enrich the to-
bacco and cigar industries of Ciba ana
destroy those of the United States
At the afternoon session President
Coleman. of the New York Tobacco
Board of Trade; Daniel Harris, OF the
Interua tional Cigar-NIak RS Union, and
several representatives oe State tobacco
interests were heard in opposition to any
concessions to CUBA
l.. V. DeAbad presented the Cuban
view of the tobacco question, arguing
that for political and sociai, as well as
economic reasons. d reduction should be
made in the duties on tobacco coming
from Cuba.