The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-04
Tawney's Proposition to Return &C
Per Cent. of Duties Collected on
Sugar Discussed at Length.
POOR SHOW FOR LIQUIDS BILL
HIS RURAL FREE DELIVERY SCHEME
WILL RECEIVE LITTLE SUPPORT.
Two New Indiana POstmasters-Post-
Office Money Must Not he DePos-
ited with Trust Companies.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. March 3.-The Cuban
reciprocity question is worrying the Repub-
lican members of the House. who held a
fruitless caucus tonight on the question
OF granting tariff concessions TO the island
How to aid the Cuban planters and at the
same time appease the sugar-beet grow
ers at home is a puzzle that none seem to
be able to solve. Representatives OF the
sugar-beet States predict disaster TO the
party if the duty on Cuban sugar be low
cred. They are willing 10 give the Cubans
relief, only they insist it shall be I'm the
form of rebate This plan is not deemed
wise by many Republicans at the caucus
tonight Mr. Fordney. Of Michigan. and
Mr.. Norris, of Minnesota, who oppose a
direct tariff concession and espouse the
plan Of giving a rebate direct to the Gu
ban sugar planters. held the floor most
of the time.
About 12O Republicans attended the meet
ing Mr. Cannon. chairman of the caucus.
presided and Mr.. Loudenslager. of New
Jersey. acted as secretary. Speaker Hen
derson was present. but took no part in
the proceedings. Mr.. Tawney. OF Mnne-
sofa. who at the last conference. presented
the proposition to return TO Cuban plant
ers a rebate on duties collected from them.
got the floor as soon as the conference WAS
called to order. He had modified his propo-
sition to provide that it should be retro
tractive until Nov /. 1901. in orde--+o-<s.--
all the present sugar crop. and instead Of
providing that % per cent. OF the duties
collected should be returned his former
proposition did. that 20 cents on each ton
Of diefr cd
directly to the sugar growers The dis
tribution under his plan would be made
through the military government until the
civil government is established. He figured
that 20 cents a ton would be equivalent to
% per cent. of the duty. and maintained his
plan would insure the receipt of the money
by those whom Congress desired 10 benefit.
If a direct tariff concession were made he
maintained that the benefit would accrue
to the sugar trust and not the Cuban plant
ers.
In this connection he produced a report
made by the ways and means committee
in the last Congress on resolution intro
duced by Mr.. Richardson. the minority
leader, for the return OF the duties collect
ed on Porto Rican sugar. This report. IL
developed, was drawn by General Grosve-
nor Mr.. Tawney read from this report.
which contended that the beneficiary OF the
Richardson resolution would be the sugar
trust, and drew the inference that the same
result would follow reduction OF the duty
on sugar from Cuba. Mr.. Tawney earnestly
urged the necessity for his retroactive
proposition. "If there is need for relief.
as is claimed" said he. lit is important
that the relief should be immediate. With
out the retroactive clause no benefit would
result from the rebate until next years
crop.
MIR. Tawney underwent sharp fire OF
questions from Glr. Payne. Of New York:
Mr.. Long, Of Kansas, and others. He was
asked whether il was his intention that the
rebate should so 10 nonresident owners or
sugar lands in Cuba and he replied In the
negative. He declared that our own citi-
zens who were engaged I'm speculation I'm
Cuba did not need our largess-
Mr.. Tawney's proposition was I'm the form
of q resolution directing the ways and
means committee 10 enact bill 10 provide
for the payment 10 Cuba for six months
from the passage Of the bill OF 20 per cent.
OF all duties collected In the United States
on Cuban imports from Nov ], 1901 II
within six months Cuba enters into re-
ciprocal trade agreement with the United
States, giving this country rates Of duty
substantially below the rates collected on
like articles from other countries, then
these rebates TO Cuba shall continue 10 be
paid for three years from the date Of the
reciprocity agreement. The government or
Cuba or such agency as the President may
select out Of the money so paid over 10
Cuba shall pay 10 the actual bona fide
cane growers OF the island 20 cents per ton
Of cane for each ton produced and deliv-
cred BY him to the sugar factory and man.
ufactured into sugar from Nov. i. 1901, dur
ing the life Of the arrangement Any ball
ance in the Cuban treasury from this
scheme is 10 be applied for the promotion
of the general welfare q Cuba
Judge Morris. OF Minnesota. who pre-
pared a proposition for an Increase OF lire
duties and rebate 10 Cuba some -in,e
ago also supported the plan for rebate.
and Mr. FOrdney OF Michigan, Mr.. Minor,
of Wisconsin. and other members from
beet-suRar states read kilograms from
their constituents protesting against any
direct tariff concession 10 Cuba. At II p. m.
the conference adjourned until next Thurs
day.