The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-23
SUGAR men PROTEST
THEY OBJECT TO SPECIAL FAvoRs
TO CUBA.
WOULD RUIN THEIR BUSINESS.
BEET GROWERS GIVEN LENGTHY
HEARING.


states Shall Produce Its Raw SUI
Rnr or Whether IL Shall Permit
Foreign Lands to supply the Raw
Material, Said President Oxnard.
He Charges Sugar Trust with In
stigating the vement-Repubii-
can Members Sign Petition
Against Change i'm Sugar Tariff.
Washington, Jan. 22.-The hearings
on Cuban reciprocity were resumed be-
fore the Ways and Means Committee.
The beet sugar interests of the United
States occupied most of the time, be-
ing represented by Henry T. Oxnard.
president of the American Beet Sugar
Association, and by delegations from
those states interested in the produc-
tion of sugar from beets. The cane
sugar interests of Louisiana also were
well represented, and Chairman Payne
arranged to give them a part of the
time.
At the outset. Mr.. Place, head of the
Cuban delegation, made statement
to clear up misrepresentation on Cu~
ba's position. He argued for free trade,
he said, as that was the earnest wish
OF Cuba. But while this was the judg-
ment of the Cuban people, he said, they
deferred to the judgment of the Ameri-
can Congress on the whole question.
Mr.. Oxnard made an extended statez
ment of the position of the Beet Sugar
Association. He said beet sugar produc-
tion represented a vast industry
brought into existence by the legisla-
tion of Congress which had invited cap
ital to invest il to an extent little real
lied. Already the industry was flour
ishing in eleven states with many peo-
pie employed and prospects of rapid de-
velopment. Continuing he said:
Stripped of sentimentality and all
aXtraneous consideration and reducing
the Cuban demands for free or freer
sugar to it's simplest equation ii is this:
Shall the United States, through its
agriculturalists, produce its raw sugar
and in it's factories scattered from the
Atlantic TO the Pacific refine, its pro-
ducts, or shall it permit foreign lands
to export to It the raw material or con-
tent itself merely with the refining. That
| is what I fear would eventually come
| to pass If you interfere In any way at
i tHG pttSCllN LltitC w lth IhV CAAoNbiB ~
| duction of home sugar"
Mr.. Oxnard characterized the Gu
ban proposition as most vicious and
asked why it was that the American
sugar interests had been singled out
for sacrifice.
Mr.. Oxnard severely criticised the
American Sugar Trust and II. o..
Havemeyer.
Chairman Payne asked Mr. Oxnard
- he haA aGtp cd
an agreement with the Cubans. Mr..
Oxnard answered that no such agree
ment had been made. There had been
a discussion, during which 1t was sug-
gested that if Congress decided to
grant concessions to Cuba, it should
be in the form of a rebate. He also
denied that there was any trust in
the beet sugar industry.
Richardson Has n Tilt.
Representative Grosvenor Of Ohio.
and Representative Richardson of
Tennessee, had a sharp exchange dur
ing Mr.. Oxnard's examination.
Mr.. Richardson referred to a state
ment by the witness that the sugar
trust instigated the Cuban reciprocity
movement. Reading from President
Roosevelt's message recommending
Cuban reciprocity, Mr. Richardson
said.
DO you mean to say that was insu-
gated in any such way?'
Mr.. Grosvenor intervened before the
witness could answer 81 denounce such
proceedings" said he. emphatically.
And ! make a point of order against
such questioning"
Your announcement does not
amount to anything" replied Mr. Rich
ardson. This witness asserts that the
sugar trust instigates this movement
in behalf OF Cuba"
1T is a plain effort to get the wit
ness to make an attack on the Presi-
dent" said Mr.. Grosvenor.
THAT is not true" replied Mr.. Rich
ardson.
Mr.. Oxnard finally secured an OPP
portunity to disclaim any purpose of
rejecting on the President, whose rec
ommendation for Cuban reciprocity he
believed was due to not having all the
facts in his possession.
While the hearing was going on a
petition was circulated on the floor of
the House requesting the Ways and
Means Committee to make no change
in the tariff laws likely to injuriously
affect the beet sugar industry. About
forty-five Republican members from
Michigan, California. Indiana, Ohio,
Kansas and other beet sugar r-produc-
ing states signed the petition. On the
Democratic side the Louisiana mems
bers and MIR. Shafroth Of Colorado
were among the signers. Those in
charge of the petition expect to get
seventy names before it is presented
to the Ways and Means Committee.