Evening star., 1902-01-16
Reciprocity With Cuba Again Under
Consideration.
LOWER SUGAR AND TOBACCO DUTIES
Arguments of Produce Exchange
Representatives.
G Q NJ NJ L I t EE ADJOURNS

Cuban reciprocity was again under con-
sideration today by the ways and means
committee with large Representations Of
Cubans and Of the various sugar and to-
bacco interests in attendance. A delega-
tion from the New York produce exchange.
favorable to reciprocity, and several delega-
tons from the beet growing sections op-
posed to reciprocity, arrived this morning
Evan Thomas, eX-president OF the New
York produce exchange, presented the views
OF that organization. He said that last
year S9,O00,oOo OF American food products
went to Cuba, about 75 per cent OF the
business being done by members of the
produce exchange. Continuing. he said:
SHOULD the United States refuse to grant
a reduction of duty on the imports OF the
two great staples of Cuba (sugar and to-
bacco) We believe the result viii be ruin to
the planter. bankruptcy to the merchant
and great distress to the laboring masses
of Cuba followed by serious industrial dis
turbances and disorder.
Financial and economic disaster to Cuba
will correspondingly injure our trade and
materially reduce exports Of -four,
corn. lard, bacon, pork, beans. peas. canned
goods and other commodities. The material
reduction of our exports and imports to
and from Cuba followed by a correspond
ing decrease in the carrying trade will re-
suit in a loss of freight to ship owners.
This committee urges such reduction I'm the
duties now levied on sugar and tobacco as
will avert this impending disaster and there
by safeguard the interests We represent.
Representative Mcclellan of New York
called attention to circulars received by
himself and other members OF the commit
tee attacking the current sugar quotations
and stating they were Influenced by the
sugar trust.
The business men present gave their
opinion that quotations Were accurate and
fairly impartial.
Stands on It's Own Merits.
Mr.. Mcclellan remarked I'm this connec-
ton that there was an evident purpose m
some quarters of prejudicing the cause OF
Cuban reciprocity by creating public i'm
preston that the trust was behind IL,
whereas all the witnesses thus far had
shown that the Cuban cause stood on its
own merits.
Charles Rabidan and c. p. Armstrong of
the produce exchange also spoke In favor OF
reciprocity. and were examined al length
by Chairman Payne and members Of the
committee on the details Of our export
trade to the island and the effect Of reci-
procity on various sugar interests.
Representative Robertson Of louisa na
asked series of-questions tending to show
that the Cuban people had not spoken Tor
reciprocity and that the movement was III
rected by the cugar people Interested In
the trade.
Mr.. Armstrong answered that the inter
ests of all the Cuban people were bound up
with sugar production and must stand or
fall with II.
Mr.. Robertson also sought to show that
American capitalists were buying large
sugar tracts in Cuba and would be bene-
fitted by reciprocity more than the Cuban
people.
Future Cuban Duties.
Louis Place, head of the Cuban delega-
tion was heard as to the tariff reductions
Cuba was likely to make in order to give
the United States control of the market.
He said the Cuban tariff was very low now.
and should be raised 50 to 40 per cent, and
after that a differential granted to the
United States sufficient to control the trade
as against other countries. He favored ulti-
mate free trade both ways, which, he said,
was the only solution of Cuba's commercial
problem.
When Representative Long of Kansas
brought out that Mr.. Place had fought free
trade at Havana, the Cuban spokesman ex-
planned amid laughter that he had yielded
to the majority, and that by asking much
it was hoped to get as near that as possi-
BILE. He gave. 80 to 90 per cent as the low
est concession which would grant relief.
Differs With Quoted Senator.
AS the hearings closed Representative
Richardson of Tennessee, the ranking dem
ocrat on the committee, said: Il notice
that a very prominent United States sena-
tor is quoted in today's paper as saying
the Senate will settle this whole question,
will make treaty and that will have
nothing to do with it,
HE will find out differently before he
gets through" answered Mr.. Dalzell OF
Pennsylvania.
Chairman Payne stated that the tobacco
men would be heard on the 2lst. the beet
sugar interests on the I'D and that Gem
eral Wood was expected sp from Cuba.
The committee then adjourned subject TO
the call of the chairman.