New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-30

ton was adopted and three members of the
Committee on Relations with Cuba-Mr. Platt:
of Connecticut, chairman; Mr.. Burnham. OF
w-Hampshire, and Mr.. Teler-were ap-
pointed as a subcommittee to make the investl-
cation called for. Among the first witnesses
summoned and examined were Henry o. have
meyer. president of the Sugar Trust. and other
ot1cers OF that company. Every one OF mem
testified under oath that the charges Of the
Teller resolution were untrue. But this did not
stop the investigation. Under Mr.. Telers
manipulation the inquiry grew INTO an IN
QUESTION into the business methods of the Sugar
Trust, particularly in its relation to the beet
sugar ring, the trusts principal rival in the
United States.
The so-called investigation thus was permit
ted to proceed about a month. and Mr.. Teller
finally adduCed from +. b. Thurber, of New
York. the interesting information that he CThur
ber) had been employed by General Leonard
Wood, Military Governor of Cuba. 70 promote
the reciprocity movement in this country by
sending to several thousand persons. whom MI
Thurber called the leaders of thought, a great
mass Of literature upon the subject. Mr. Thur
Der with suspicious glibness testified that Cen
eral Wood had allowed him from the revenues
of Cuba about $4,000 with which to prosecute
the reciprocity propag anda, and also that Henry
O. Havemeyer at the beginning Of the movement
had contributed $500 for the same purpose.
This testimony, which eagerly seized by the
House insurgents and by the aVoWed Repub-
liCan opponents in the Senate. who soon became
the excuse for luhewarmness on the part OF
considerable element Of Republican Senators.
who though claiming to be friendly 10 reclproc-
ity are now known to have been secretly en-
couraging the insurgents and the boxers
REPUBLICAN CONFERENCES HELD.
Following the example of the House. the Sem
ate Republicans held two conferences to con-
slider bill proposed by Messrs. Patt, Of Con-
necticut and Spooner. of Wisconsin, which pro-
vided for straight reciprocity on a 20 per cent
tariff reduction basis, with clause empower
ing the President not to allow the reduction on
sugar if it shown that the Sugar Trust
was participating in the benefits This bill had
previously been agreed upon by the seven Re
publican members of the Committee on Rela-
tions with Cuba as a substitute for the House
bill. Although two conferences were held by
the Senate Republicans the proposition was
never brought to a vote, and the measure finally
was abandoned until the next session. with the
tacit understanding that then the President is
to send to the Senate a commercial treaty with
Cuba carrying a tariff concession Of at least
20 per cent all imports from the ISL
any. The leaders Of the Senate Boxers
were Mr.. Burrows, of Michigan; Mr. FL
kins. of West Virginia; Mr.. Dietrich Of
Nebraska: Mr.. Perkins Of California; Mr..
wellington of Maryland, and Mr.. Jones, of Ne
vada Mr. Aldrich of Rhode Island, volun-
tarily had undertaken to carry the measure
through for the administration. and his defeat
by the Boxers has, il is believed seriously i'm
paired his prestige as the leader of the Senate.
MIR. Platt, of Connecticut is chairman or the
Committee Relations with Cuba, and the &C
knowledged expert all Cuban questions. Why
the management of the reciprocity movement,
to which he was and is sincerely and intelligent
ly devoted, was taken out of Mr.. PIatts hands
and given over to Mr.. Aldrich. is a mystery
which probably events of the near future VIII
reveal.
When it became evident that the opposition
on the Republican side of the Senate was grow
ing defiant, President Roosevelt sent a special
message to Congress urging action at this ses-
sion in the strongest possible terms. Even TINS
had no influence upon the Boxers who, al
though plainly in the minority had the issue
ever been brought to vote either in confer
ence or the floor of the Senate, were permit
ted for some unknown reason to achieve VIC
tory II is not doubted that had such leading
Republican Senators as Messrs. Allison, Aldrich.
Spooner and Hanna supported the administra-
tons Cuban policy with the determination
there was excellent reason to expect OF them
the desired legislation would have been enacted
at this session. But neither the President nor
any of the real supporters Of reciprocity with
Cuba have despaired of securing favorable &C
ton in some form at the next session. rms VIII
be accomplished either by the exercise OF the
treaty making power or the government mem or 10y
legislation along the lines of that already pro
posed II is expected that in his tour OF the
West next fall President Roosevelt will appeal
to the people in behalf of Cuban reciprocity, and
that this will have the effect Of quoting all OPP
position within the party.
IsTHMIAN CANAL BILL.
The Isthmian Canal bill in the form in which
II ,assed the Senate on June 10 accepted
by the House without an alteration of any sort.
II authorizes the President to acquire, al cost
of not more than S40000O0o, thu rights. fran
chises concessions. unfinished worE. plants and
other property Of every description of the New
Panama Canal Company, Of France, owned by
said company the Isthmus of Panama. and
all it's maps, plans and records on the isthmus
or in Paris, including all the capital stock-not
less. however, than GSS63 shares--of the Pan
anna Railroad Company owned by or held for
the use of said canal company. But a salts
+Ia to all of Sai be
obtained The President is also authorized to
ACQUIRE from the Republic of Colombia, upon
such terms as he may deem reasonable per
petuaI control of strip of land the territory Of
said republic. not less than six miles wide. ex-
tending from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific
Ocean. and the right to dispose OF the waters
thereon, and to construct, maintain and operate
thereon q transisthmian canal. which control
shall include the right TO operate the Panama
Railroad, and also jurisdiction said strip
and the ports at the ends thereof TO make
police and sanitary regulations, and to establish
tribunals TO enforce such regulations. The
President is permitted to acquire such additional
territory and rights may facilitate the con-
struction and operation of the canal
PAYMENT FOR PANAMA CANAL.
When he has arranged TO secure title TO the
property of the New Panama Canal Company,
and has concluded the treaty with Colombia,
| he is authorized to pay $4o,OOO.O0O to the
| canal company and such sum as may be agreed
| on TO Colombia, and such amounts are appro-
priated by the Isthmian Canal act.
The President is then, through the agency
| of an isthmian canal commission, TO construct
| a canal of sufficient capacity to afford con-
| venient passage for vessels of the largest ton
| mage and greatest draught now in use and such
as may be reasonably anticipated, He shall