The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-21
The CONCESSION DIFFICULTY

1t is reported from Washington that it
Is not unlikely that the senate may in
crease the concession of tariff duties on
Cuban sugar and tobacco from ~ to IS I'D
per cent, and possibly 40 per cent, the
latter figure being what Cuban planters
and business men affirm to be the least
under which the island can have any de-
gree of prosperity in her chief industries.
However that may be, the senate Will ul-
timately determine the question If the
house goes no further than a 20 per cent
concession, but, while the senate has
some warm supporters Of the adminlstra-
tons desire to keep our word with CUBA.
there Is to be considered the fear existing
in the minds of some senators that frlc-
ton in the party would be increased, and
1t would be awkward to enter congress
sional campaign in disharmony. For this
reason 1t Is in order not to be too san
guine about the liberality of the senate.
The 20 per cent concession, it is certain,
will not be Of any mat erial aid to the
Cuban producers. third off would be a
little better, but so per cent would enable
us to command the trade of Cuba. Last
year we sold to Cuba $2S, 900, 900 worth of
merchandise out of the 100000 imported
by Cuba from all countries, and, under
favorable adjustment Of tariffs by recip-
rocal engagements, the business between
the island and the United States would
inevitably increase. By narrow policy
we would war against our own business
interests, for, while the position of, the
opponents of concession is not to be light
ly treated, 1t Is certain that the injury
which they aver will come upon them If
there Is any concession of tariff duties,
is greatly exaggerated. The beet sugar
interest Is protected by the heavy duty
on raw sugar and again protected by the
heavy duty on refined, the product of the
beet mills being usually refined sugar,
while the product of the cane sugar mills
is raw sugar which has to be taken to the
sugar refneries.
The beet sugar interest is now pro-
tected far beyond the protecting point, the
overplus being a gratuity from the public
treasury The Oxnard group objects to
parting with any of this supera bundant
protection, so long as trust-controlled
industry like the iron and steel interest
is revealing in inordinate protective du-
ties. They claim that they have planted
valuable industry which brings money
to the farmers and that they should have
all the supera bundant tariff advantages
which the iron and steel men have They
are unwilling to give a minute portion of
the protection they enjoy to help the
planters in Cuba, and take part in the
performance of national duty OF course
these gentlemen do not consider that they
furnish hardly three per cent of the sugar
consumed In this country, but they con-
slider 1t a hardship to part with an iota
OF their tariff benefits and just here is
the unwtsdom of unscientific prot ection.
which overloads the tariff schedules with
many unnecessary duties.
AS to the Cuban question it may we'll
be asked what the special interests in
this country will do if Cuba is annexed.
LOT the most ardent friends of the no.
concession policy are the most earnest
advocates of the annexation of Cuba
cuba annexed means the open, untariffed
door of trade and if the sugar and tobacco
men Will go to the wall" as thew saw
they will, under 10 or 20 per cent tariff
reduction, what will they do under China
annexed? -: