The Washington times., 1902-04-20
Mt. Teller Wants Sugar
Trust" Holdings of Crop
and Lands Probed.
CALLS FOR AN INVESTIGATION
Resolution Requires Committee to Inves-
tigate and Report on Charges and to
Recommend Proper Tariff Concessions
Measure Committed.

The first blow in the sugar fight in the
Senate was struck yesterday by Senator
Teller of Colorado. in offering a resolu-
tion for a thorough investigation of the
Cuban sugar situation.
Mr. Teller is understood to be a beet
sugar man. He is in addition an anti
trust" man. His resolution is said to
be entirely satisfactory to the beet sugar
interests.
Charges Against Sugar Trust.
1t begins by reciting that it is reported
that the Sugar Trust owns nearly the en-
tire present crop of Cuban sugar, and also
vast tracts of sugar lands, and then di-
rects the Cuban Affairs Committee to in
vestigate the charges. The resolution also
directs the committee to investigate the
normal cost of the production Of sugar
in the island.
i All of these inquiries are directly in
line with the arguments made by the beet
sugar people, and its presentation was re-
eeiyed with much satisfaction by the peo-
pie of that .complexionSin the Senate.
The resolution was referred to the Gu
ban Relations Committee, and will be con-
sidcred during the present week, along
with the House bill. passed on Friday.
Text of Resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
Whereas it has been currently report
ed that nearly the entire crop of Cuban
sugar has been purchased and is now held
Trust which is the principal consumer
of raw sugar in the United States, and
that any concessions given to the raisers
of cane sugar in the Island OF Cuba or
any measures intended for their relief by
admitting their sugar at reduced rates of
duty into the United States, will only
benefit the Sugar Trust and that the Gu
concessions; and
Whereas II is alleged that large
number of citizens of the United States
have acquired large holdings OF cane-pro
ducing lands in Cuba. and are now es
pecially urging a reduction of duty on
sugar under the claim that such reduc
tion will benefit the people of Cuba;
therefore, be it
Resolved. That the Committee on Re-
lations with Cuba be, and is hereby. di-
rected to make an investigation as to the
truth of such charges and to report to the
Senate and to report IN addition thereto
what is the normal cost of making sugar
in the Island OF Cuba. and also IL any con-
cessions shall be made in the way of
reduction of the duty on sugar coming
from Cuba into the United States. what
concessions should be made by the gov
ernment OF Cuba about to be established
on articles produced in the United States
and exported into the said island of Cuba
in order to make a reciprocal and equita-
BILE arrangement as to exports to Cuba
and imports therefrom TO the United
States
Mr. Platt moved to refer the resolution
to. the Committee on Relations with
Cuba and TO this Mr.. Teller had no OBJ
lection.
The resolution was referred to that
kcommittee, of which Mr.. Platt is chair
pam.
The Course of the Senate.
There is great diversity of opinion as to
what the Senate will do with the bill
which has so divided the Republican
ranks in the House. The beet sugar men
believe that the action of the House
means the defeat Of any measure for Gu
ban reciprocity. Friends of Cuba, how
ever, like Senators Platt. Lodge. and Nc
Comas. declare that some bill for the re-
lief of the island Will be passed by the
Senate.
Outside OF the beet sugar element, the
Republican Senators generally favor a
much larger concession to Cuba than the
20 per cent proposed by the House. while
it is certain that the proposition TO re-
move the sugar differential will not re-
ceive a majority in the Senate.
The attitude OF the Democrats has not
yet been determined. There are four
Democrats on the Cuban committee
Messrs. Teller, Money, Taliaferro, and
Simmons.
Among the seven Republican members
there are two beet sugar men-,Messrs.
Mcmillan of Michigan and SDooner of
Wisconsin. These two, with the Demo-
Gratis, could control the committee, and
either prevent any report at all or shape
a measure to their own fancy.
The beet sugar Republicans of the Sen
ate are said TO number seventeen. These.
with the united Democratic vote. If it can
be obtained for any plan. could control
the Senate. Policies on neither side have
yet heen shaped. and the final outcome
cannot now be predicted. 1t may be that
the President will take a hand in the
argument by sending in a message urttng
relief for Cuba TO avoid trouble III the
island.
Ica Hopcurparc.