Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-13
Concessions TO cuha.

/ Washington Jan. 49, President
| Roosevelt has won his fight for tariff
! concessions on Cuban sugar and tobac-
co, as a canvass among the leaders OF
the senate and house shows there will
be practically no organized opposition
to granting a reduction of 20 to % per
cent of the Dingey rates on Cuba's two
/ Chief products coming from the United
States in exchange for a corresponding
Eieduction on American meats. bread
letuffs, agricultural implements and ma
\ chinery going into Cuba.
! When it was first proposed to grant
| concessions to Cuba there was a general
| opposition to 1t in both branchs of con
grss, but owing to the influence of the
president and TO the fact that it was
necessary to Go something Of this kind
10 save the Cubans from starvation this
opposition has vanished. When the Gu
bans first asked for reduction they
wanted 50 per cent, and they met with
much opposition but since il is pro-
posed to make it % per cent every one
seems willing to grant this to help out
the Cubans. who have suffered terribly
by the war.
Much to the surprise of the members
Of the ways and mems committee there
is no opposition from the sugar beet in
dustry of this country. whose represent
atives say frankly that the sugar beet
farmers VIII not be injured by the %
per cent cut. Claus Sprecl<els is said TO
have written 10 one OF the leaders III
congress saying no harm would result
from the proposed action.
Still more surprise WAS created be-
cause the tobacco interests of this coun-
try Will not oppose the concessions.
Such men as Senator Platt Of Connect
cut. who has the interest OF his state
at heart have sienilied their intention
Of agreeing to the cut, as the % Per cent
reduction viii not affect the tobacco in
dustry The ways and means commit
tee, which viii grant hearings to those
who are Interested in this subject. will
in the near future frame bill which
vii! provide that when the Cubans
make reduction of % per cent on the
class Of American goods Indicated there
Will be a similar reduction on Cuban
sugar and tobacco.
This bill viii be presented to the
house within the next two weeks and
while there VIII be considerable discus
sion il Will Undoubtedly be adopted /
promptly. There is a question as TO
whether the Law can be put into eper |
alton before the cuban independent I
government is established, some Of the I
leaders contending that it cannet be. I
while others assert that the military |
can be authorized to take
the action necessary to make the law
There is urgent need for promp.ness.
as the condition of the Cubans is such |
that they VIII be eSn1ronted with star
walton In the near future IL market is
not furnished for their products.
Cuba was forced to ask for concession
owing TO the unhappy conditions grow
ing out of The war. which placed the
Pearl of the Antilles in a position where
it can not compete successfully With the
shugar product of other countries and
pay duty. This condition was brought
about by the action of the Spaniards in
Cuba. who destroyed the mills Of the
cubans, together with their crops, and
Of the insurgents who followed an iden-
teal course, SO as TO deprive the Span