The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-20
WARY OF CUBAN BILL
SENATE MAY LET 1T DIE IN COM
MITTEE.
WHO WILL GET THE BENEFIT?
MIR. TELLER CALLS FOR AN INVEs.
TIGATsoN.

All the Sugar Crop and SpecuIa-
tors TO Have Bought Largely OF
sugar Cane Lands-DiscOveryT That
the Amendment Not Only Repeats
the DifferentiaI on Refined Sugar.
But Also Takes OF the Counter
NHilinG Duty ON Bounty Raised
Sugar From European Countries
Worries the Leaders.
Washington, April 19.-The Senate Is
by no means decided as to what it VIII
do with the Cuban reciprocity bill. The
measure reached the Senate a few min
utes after that body convened to day
and was received with exceptional in
terest. which was made evident by
the private comments of senators.
The bill goes to the Committee on
Relations with Cuba, which is COM
posed of seven Republicans and four
opposition senators, Mr.. Platt of Con-
necticut being chairman. When asked
to-day if he felt disposed to outline
his view of the probable course of the
committee with reference to the meas-
ure, Senator Platt declined to say more
than that a meeting would be called at
an early date to decide upon q coarse
of action, merely adding, I'VE are rot
going to lose our composure, but will
consider the question carefully"
The best opinion is that the bill will
remain in committee for some tine,
and Republican senator suggested the
possibility of an investigation iato the
question of the probable benciciaries
under the proposed reduction ii made.
There are not a few senators who
predict that the bill will be allowed TO
die in committee.
MIR. Teller Wants Investigation.
Washington, April 19.-Mr. Teller OF
Colorado to-day introduced in the SEN
ete the following:
Whereas, it has been currently re
Ported that nearly the entire crop of
Cuban sugar has been purchased and
is now held by what is generally known
as the Sugar Trust and
Whereas 1t is alleged that a num-
Der Of citizens of the United States
have acquired large holdings of cane
producing lands in Cuba and are now
especially urging the reduction Of duty
on sugar, under the claim that such
reduction will benefit the people of
Cuba; therefore be it
Resolved That the Committee on
Relations with Cuba be directed to
make an investigation as to the truth
of such charges and to report to the
Senate"
The resol,,tior uas rafarrad 20 tbe
Committee on Relations with Cuba at
the suggestion of Mr.. Plat of Connec-
ticut, chairman of that committee.
Repealed CountervaiIing Duty.
Washington. April 19.-After the
turbulent scene of yesterday, marking
the passage of the revised Cuban reci-
procity bill, the House settled down
to routine business to-day. An oppor-
tunity was found, however, for the
two elements in the recent struggle to
give expression to their feelings. This
occurred while the fertilization appro-
priation bill was under consideration.
Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio, one of the
Ways and Means leaders, said that
the amendment which the opponents
of the Ways and Means Committee
had engrafted upon the Payne bill not
only wiped out the differential on SUI
gar, but also did away with the
countervailing duty of the Dingley
law.
Mr.. Weeks of Michigan made a spir-
tied rejoinder in behalf of those who
opposed the Ways and Means Com
mittee. He frankly conceded that the
motive of the opposition had been to
kill the reciprocity bill. The fortifi
cation appropria ton bill was passed
and the conference report on the leg
islative appropriation bill agreed to.
How Chairman Payne Takes 1t.
Washington, April 19.-High tension
was manifest among the members of
the House to-day as a result of the ac-
ton of the House last night in overrid-.
ing the Ways and Means Committee on
the Cuban reciprocity bill. Chairman
Payne took the reverse philosophically
He pointed out that the effect of the
amendment was to take off not only
the differential on sugar, but also the
countervailing duty provided by the
Dingley law, result not intended by
the author of the amendment. Under
the Dingley act an additional or coun-
tervailing duty is levied on sugars
coming from countries paying a bounty
on sugar equal in amount to the boun-
ty received.
Representative Morris of Minnesota.
who framed the amendment, is exam
lining the Dingley and other laws to de-
termine whether Mr.. Payne's point is
good. Mr.. Morris said that from his
inquiry so far, he did not think the
claim was good. Mr.. Morris said the
matter could easily be remedied by
amendment.