The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-28
Teller Says Its ShTeWd Scheme
 to Kill Industry
BACKED BY THE SUGAR TRUST
Platt of Connecticut Sharply Criticises TelIer's Statements and Says There Is Nothing Sordd In
 Desire for Reciprocity.

Washington, June 7.-Quite unexpect- edly a sharp debate arose in the Senate today on the question of Cuban reciproct- ty. Mr. Teller of Colorado, at whose in- stance the Senate committee on Cuban relations made It's investigation of the subject delivered a spirited address in op- position to reciprocity with Cuba. He charged that the entire reciprocity propaganda had been backed by the Am erican Sugar Refining Company, and by Americans who were interested financial ly in Cuban sugar plantations. The pur- pose he said, was to strike down an im- portant agricultural industry of this country. He was willing to join in general revision of the tariff to meet changed conditions, but unless the duties on iron and steel and other products were reduced. together with those on sugar, In order that the arrangement might be equitable, the beet sugar growers never would consent to a reduction on their product
 MT. Platt of Connecticut chairman of the Cuban relations committee, maintain ed that there was nothing sordid in the desire to promote reciprocal relations be- tween the United States and Cuba and said the making of some concessions to Cuba was a plain duty of this country. It was a duty which this government owed to itself as well as to Cuba, be- cause absolutely friendly relations with the new republic were a necessary means of defense to this country, unless the United States should annex the island. He regarded annexation as a menace to our institutions.
 The District of Columbia appropriation bill was disposed of finally.
 Oregon Wants Appropriation.
 MT. Mitchell of Oregon presented joint resolution for the legislature of Oregon asking Congress for a suitable appropria- ton for a centennial exposition In honor of the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific coast to be hel1 in the city of Portland in 1905.
 The general deficiency appropriation bill was sent to conference with Messrs. Hale, Allison and Teller as conferees.
 MT. Pettus of Alabama offered the fol- lowing resolution:
 Whereas, It is asserted that American citizens holding passports have been and are excluded by the Russian empire from its territory solely because of their religious belief, contrary to treaty stipu- lations; therefore,
 Resolved, That the President of the United States is requested. if not incom- patible with the public interest, to in- form the Senate as to the attitude of the Russian government towards American citizens attempting to enter It's territory with American passports.
 The resolution was adopted.
 Consideration was then begun on the bill to provide for the allotment of the lands of the Cherokee nation for the dis position of town sites therein and for other purposes.
 Cuban Reciprocity.
 During consideration of the bill Mr. Teller taking advantage of the latitude offered in debate, addressed the Senate on the subject of Cuban reciprocity. He sad he did not think it proper to let this session Of Congress adjourn without sub hitting some facts on the subject.
 MT. Teller referred to the statements made of the distress of Cuba and to the statements that unless the United States should give relief to the island a revolu- ton would occur. MT. Teller declared that these statements were untrue and that there never had been any condition in the island which warranted the state ments. He asserted that it had been proved sffirmatively that no such condi- ton existed. T say" said he, ''measur- ing my words, that never in my experi- ence in public life has there been so patent and open an attempt to deceive the American people as this"
 He said the attempt at deception was made by those who were relying upon the well-known desire of the American people to assist any other people who were in distress.
 The Colorado Senator said the question was one of great importance to the peo- ple of the West It did not take them long to ascertain that the American Sugar Refining Company-the American sugar trust-was particularly active in urging the reduction of the duty on Gu ban sugar.
 Wants Reduction on Tobacco.
 He said there was some desire on the part of the Cubans to secure reduction of the duty on tobacco, but that was for a reduction in the duty on sugar. There has been," he declared. more misrepresentation and misstatements about OUT obligation to Cuba than about almost any other question. Every obli- gation which this country was under to Cuba has been performed
 "There is no distress in Cuba" he de- clared, and my correspondence with the people of the island proves this. The American holders of sugar lands in Cuba and the American Sugar Refining Com pany are at the bottom of this effort to change our financial system with refer ence to Cuba"
 MT. Teller expressed the belief that the Platt amendment ought not to have been adopted by the United States, as it was a violation-"an unnecessary violation"- of good faith on the part of the United States.
 He said that notwithstanding the fact that thousands of laborers recently had arrived in Cuba from Spain, labor in the island was scarce and high-priced. Re- ferring to the bill passed by the House MT. Teller said:
 When the differential was taken off there was a great falling In interest in reciprocity on the part of the sugar trust
 'I think" said he, that 1t will be ex- ceedingly unfair to the American sugar growers. both beet and cane. to make the proposed concessions to Cuba and let her maintain her present labor laws and compel the states of Colorado, Louisiana Texas and other states to compete with Chinese labor in the island.
 'I am willing to join you" said he, ad- >a.---sin- -A-A Rani,hlican side "unnn Ren-