The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-08
RELIEF FOR CUBA.

1t is difficult to get a, correct view Of
the situation with reference ~to the Gu
ban tariff reduction measure pending in
Congress. The claims of the beet sugar
men, headed by the hitherto all power
full, Mr.. Oxnard, that they would die
tate the tariff sugar schedule, coupled
with Mr. Babcocks threat of tariff re-
duction on steel products, have made the
tariff atmosphere around Washington
rather hazy. The clearest statement we
have seen about the situation is sent by
Mr. f. H. Rowland, the Washington
correspondent of the Asheville Citizen.
Mr.. Rowland has exceptional advantages
for learning what is what in Washing
ton, and therefore his latest dispatch
may be relied upon. We copy it from
the Citizen:
Most of the interest in Republican
circles: both at the White House and at
the Capitol. is now conferred in the ques-
ton Of Cuban relief The President has
set to work with his accustomed energy
TO counterfeit the influence which the
best sugar interests, and the protection
extremists generally, are undoubtedly
eXerting in the Ways and Means Com
nittee of the House, and these two, the
committee and the President, are now
the principal forces engaged in a strug
gle which has in it many Of the ele-
ments of extreme bitterness.
Faced by the strong probability of
defeat, due to the pressure of the adj
ministration and of public opinion, to
say nothing Of the attitude of the lead
ers of the Senate, the beet sugar inter-
ests are now making the threat that if
any reduction of the sugar duties is
made, they will force combination of
the Democrats to bring about a general
revision of the tariff, suggestion which
makes the high tariff men shudder, es
pecially since they SO narrowly escaped
the other day favorable report on the
Babcock bill, to wipe out the duties on
iron and steel. At the same time, the
beet sugar men are also striving to
stave off the dreaded reduction by re-
newing their efforts to secure the adop-
ton of the compromise proposition to
pay drawback on Cuban sugar or even
to appropriate outright from the treas
ury a sum equal TO that which would
accrue from reduction of duties, and
present that to Cuba as gift.
But the leaders of the Senate are still
firm in their conviction that all these
schemes of the beet sugar men will fail.
These leaders are standing aloof just
now. having decided that the battle
must be fought out in the House, and
are leaving it to the President to con-
vince the protectionists of the commit
tee of the soundness of the reasons
that this government is bound in honor
and by every consideration of good faith
and justice to grant reciprocity to Cuba.
But the Senate leaders do not believe
that the beet sugar men will be able to
make good their threats. or to have their
drawback proposition adopted, which
they consider impracticable. The most
that can be accomplished by those OPP
posed to granting relief is. in their
opinion. the postponement of action for
little while The beet sugar men are
admittedly strong enough to complicate
the situation, but it is believed that,
when all is said and done, they are fight
ing against the inevitable