Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-09
CUBAN RECIPROCITY
Question of Trade Relations With
the Island Is Absorbing
Much Interest.
Some Sharp Debate Between
Champions and Opponents of
Reciprocity Expected.
Believed Generally That Con.
gress Will Grant Special
Concessions.

held it is expected that the early days
Of congress will be characterized by
sharp fencing in both houses over the
Cuban question. 1t is known that In the
senate particularly the democrats will
make persistent efforts to force the re-
publican leaders into a somewhat pre-
tion's Cuban policy, irrespective of the
well-known fact that the only impor-
tant feature of that policy that Is not
yet determined pertains to the CONNER
cial relations that are to be established
between the United States and Cuba.
Upon this question there is still some
division of opinion among the leaders
of the senate, tho this division is not
broad enough to threaten disagreement
that would infiict hardship upon Cuba.
There is no doubt at all that at the
proper time a measure will be presented
in congress thru the ways and means
COMMITTEES of the house providing for a
reciprocal trade arrangement with
Cuba To what extent this reciprocity
will go is detail that will be worked
out carefully by repeated conferences
between majority members of the ways
and means committee and of the SEN
ate committee on relations with Cuba,
of which Senator Plat, of Connecticut.
Is chairman. Chairman Payne, of the
ways and means committee, is still IN
derstood to be opposed to granting any
concessions to Cuba, but 1t is confidently
believed that he will soon be brought
around to q radically different view OF
the question.
Gen. Grosvenor, of Ohio, another ma
jority member of that committee. has
frequently expressed strong opposition
to giving Cuba any tariff concessions,
but it is said that while he was among
his constituents In the holiday recess he
learned that their sentiments were so
strongly opposed to his attitude on the
Cuban question that he is now willing
to yield to the insistence of the senate
for the greatest practicable liberality to
Cuba by this government The beet root
sugar men continue to practice their
characteristic tactics in an effort to
brighten house members by threatening
to defeat them for reelection, but this
campaign of bluff and buster has abou.
lost its terrors. since the people have
been made to understand that even free
trade with Cuba would not destroy the
beet root sugar industry In this coun-
try. 1t is expected, however, that they
will persist to the end in their course,
as they have established an expensive
lobby in Washington for the winter.
which must show signs Of energetic ac-
tivity in order that large number or
men may retain their residence at the
national capital thru the session of con-
gress at the expense OF other people.
Aside from this influence there is
and will not be any organized oppo-
ton to granting to Cuba as liberal
as it will be possible to Sc
cure where there is an honest diver
sion of opinion on the general merits
OF the proposition. But there is
scarcely any prospect that congress
will act upon the subject until near the
close of the session. This belief Is
based upon the understanding that the
Cubans will not have their govern
ment fully organized and equipped un-
til about June 1. and perhaps not be-
fore July or August. Until they are
to assume all the duties of
sovereignty reciprocity
can not be made with the
island.
But to obviate harmful delay In
placing Cuba upon favorable COM
mercial terms with the United States a
bill will be adopted instructing the
president to enter into reciprocal
trade relations with Cuba as soon as
the island Is turned over to the Gu
bans. General Wood, the military
governor of the island, has promised
the Cubans so per cent reduction on
sugar and tobacco, and a bill carry
ing that amount of concession has al
ready been drawn. This. however.
will be met with resulting complica-
lions, by an insistent demand for abb
solute free trade with the island, on
the principle that 1t Is foolish to make
two bites of cherry. 1t is repre-
scented that the tobacco people would
not object strenuously to an outright
the annual convention at Hartford
next week of the New England To-
bacco Growers Association, efforts
will probably be made to obtain an ex-
preston favorable to this policy. 1t
is argued that il the tobacco pro-
ducers are willing to face free trade
with Cuba, the cane sugar growers of
and Texas and the beet root
sugar growers of the west ought to be
able to realize that they could be
equally generous without hurt to their