The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-01

washington, April 1.-Chairman Payne
yesterday presented to the house the
report OF the ways and means committee
on the Cuban Reciprocity bill. which the
committee had ordered reported earlier
in the day.
After reciting President Roosevelt's re-
commendations in behalf OF Cuba Mr..
Payne says;
our relations 10 Cuba are peculiar.
in our declaration OF war with Spain and
ever since we have solemnly proclaimed
10 the world that our object was 10 give
10 Cuba a stable and independent govern
ment. We have labored for more than
three years to accomplish that result.
and in this endeavor We have spared no
expense.
aDuring the years OF preparation we
have given her an example OF the beneht
OF law and good order, OF cleanliness and
of the preservation OF the public health.
and of good government generally. She
has organized her government under
constitution and is now ready TO launch
forth among the nations OF the earth In
the month Of May.
Mr.. Payne explains the depressed con-
ditIon OF the Cuban sugar industry as due
10 the worlds overproduction OF sugar,
and says:
This condition threatened grave dis
aster TO this the principal industrial pro-
duct of Cuba Ii is true that labor In
Cuba is, and for the past three months
has been, fully employed at fair wages,
that there has been no distress; but
trustworthy writer says under date OF
March 20:
VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY.
while the masses of Cuba are not
actually suffering from lack OF food, the
planters and business men are on the
verge OF collapse and bankruptcy. and
are anxiously hoping for concessions In
the United States tariff I'm order that
they may receive new life and hope.
The merchants have large sums OF money
trusted out and they are not paying each
other They are simply holding each
other up in the hope OF obtaining relief.
and IL failures begin they will run like
wildhre
"AIl the evidence received before the
committee points 10 a conclusion that
the crisis threatened involves the most
serious consequences.
This threatened financial distress
comes at the very time we are about TO
set the Cuban government UP In busi-
ness on its own account We cannot
AFFORD to take the risk OF her failure
II little timely aid will insure success"
The report asserts that the planters
and not the refineries will receive the
dement's OF the reduction and adds:
NOT AS A MENDIcANT
..cuba does not come simply as a men
dicant, nor should she be treated as such.
She offers a good trade in return. This
abe is willing TO concede. Under the pro-
visions of the bill we should be able to
double the amount of our export trade
with Cuba, which amounts TO $2SoO.eU
more than that we obtained In the last
hscal year"
In conclusion, the report says:
1T is a happy circumstance that with
out any injury TO our own industries and
without the loss OF anything except seven
or eight million dollars OF revenue, which
we do not need, we are able to extend this
relief 10 Cuba and at the same time get
reciprocal trade relations with her.
aside from the exceptional case that
Cuba presents, the action OF the COM
rnfttee is in entire accord with the reel
procity doctrine OF the Republican plat
form and the declarations of President
Mckinley and President Roosevelt. IL
involves no proposed revision OF the tariff
or anything not entirely in harmony OF
the maintenance OF the protective sys-
tenn"
20 PER CENT CONCESSION.
"The ways and means committee. by q
vote OF II TO 5, ordered a favorable report
on the Payne bill for 20 per cent tarin
concession 10 Cuba. Eight Republicans
voted for the bill. Two Republicans
Tawney OF Minnesota and Metcalf OF Cali
fornia--voted against II. No amendment
on the reciprocity was made, but by gen.
eral consent the United States contract
labor laws were included with the natu-
; ralization and exclusion laws appli-
cable 10 Cuba. series OF Democratic
amendments for general tarlff revision
were defeated on strict party votes.
Another series of amendments bv Mr
Mcclellan (Dem., n. ND changing the
reciprocity rate TO 50 per cent, 40 per cent
80 1-3 per cent and Is per cent were de-
feated successfully. 2 TO IL, An amend
nlent by Mr.. Tawney striking out the
differenttal on sugar was ruled out by
Chairman Payne as not germane, and or
an appeal from the decision OF the chair
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