The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-06
THE OBJECTIONABLE TAWNEY
PLAN.

The House Republicans will hold second
conference tonight to consider the question
of reciprocity with Cuba, which was dis
cussed at a conference on Monday night
without any conclusion being reached. The
two plans before the conference, and on
which Republicans are divided, are those
proposed respectively. by Representative
Long. of Kansas, and by Representative
Tawney, of Minnesota. a few Republicans
are opposed to making any concessions
whatever to Cuba, but the majority are di-
vided between the two plans referred to.
The Long proposition is reciprocity pure
and simple. as 1t was enacted in the Nc
Kinley and Dingley tariff laws. AS modi-
fed and approved by the ways and means
committee it provides for a reduction of %
per cent in the duty on all Cuban products
imported into the United States. including
sugar and tobacco. in return for like
duction i'm the duties on all products and
manufactures of the United States import
ed into Cuba. Such law would be simple,
easily enforced and beneficial to both coun-
tries. The Tawney proposition substitutes
for reciprocity OF trade a donation in
money. 1t proposes to continue the present
rates of duty on all Cuban products, and
that of the moneys thus collected the Pres
ident shall make annual payments to the
Cuban government of a sum equal TO - per
cent OF all the duties collected on Cuban
products, and 20 per cent. of the amount
represented by duties on sugar shall be by
the Cuban government paid as a rebate TO
the actual. bona fide resident sugar plant
ers of Cuba. i'm proportion TO the quantity
of sugar produced by them during the year.
In return for this rebate Cuba is to impose
substantially lower duties" on all imports
from the United States than on similar i'm
ports from other countries. This plan pro-
vides for the payment to the Cuban govern
ment every year of a large amount of
money out of the United States treasury.
of which that government is to distribute
a certain proportion among the Cuban
sugar planters. No provision is made for
the distribution return of the amount
left after the payments to the sugar plant
ers. and it is expressly provided that no re-
oates Snali De pdlu 10 nonresident planters.
The Tawney bill contains other provisions
that add to its Objectionable character. 1t
is. in fact. bungling. makeshft scheme
without any semblance of real reciprocity
of trade a single meritorious feature to
commend IL as a substitute for the clean
cut reciprocity measure proposed by Repre-
sentative Long. The latter is simple and
easy of execution. whereas the Tawney
plan would involve great deal OF ma
chinery and friction and offer large field
for fraud. Moreover. it is of doubtful con-
stitutionality. Under the Constitution Con-
gress has power To levy and collect taxes
Ito pay the debts and provide for the COM
mon defense and general welfare of the
United States" 1t has no power TO levy
taxes or duties TO be paid after their collec-
ton as a rebate bounty to the sugar
growers of foreign country. Ii is even
doubtful whether law for the payment
OF bounty 10 American producers OF sugar
would be held constitutional by the Su-
preme Court OF the United States. The Su-
preme Court OF the District of Columbia
held the bounty provision in the Mckinley