Evening star., 1902-01-25
THE CUBAN MARKETS
Nav Be Secured for American Pro-
ducers.
COL. BLISS URGES RECIPROCITY
Proposition as to Abrogation of
Differential Duty.
PLEA OF LOUIS ACE


means committee today by Mr., Place, Gu
ban planter, in support of the plea of the
Cubans for tariff concessions for their
products. 1t was followed by an argument
by Mr. Mendoza, another Cuban, in which
the sentiment of justice in the Cuban's
prayers was expressed.
Mr.. Mendoza said very pointedIy that the
Platt amendment had been accepted by the
Cuban constitutional convention upon the
assurance to the delegates who visited
Washington from President Mckinley that
he would use his good offices to secure
economic concessions to the Cubans.
THE object of the Platt amendment
said Mr.. Mendoza, is not effected until
you enable us to live
He said that the present crop of sugar
in the island is being harvested at a loss of
Sl5OOOOco Mr.. Mendoza added that The
Cuban came to Washington as a suppli-
ant, little fellow asking aid of a giant,
out from the cries of alarm arising from
the beet sugar producers it would seem
that the conditions were reversed and that
the Cuban planters constituted a giant
threatening the little American industries
Mr.. Mendoza asserted that the production
OF sugar in Cuba would never come within
2,tOO,Ooo tons of the consumption in the
United States, and that there would always
be margin for the production of sugar
cane growers. Even then it would be
necessary to import sugar from Europe to
meet the demand. He said there was no
danger of the Importation of coolie labor
into Cuba-no labor of that kind has been
imported within twenty years-and to make
the assurance absolute the Cubans would
accept the immigration laws of the United
States as their own.
The most important witness before the
ways and means committee today was Col
Tasker H. Bliss of the United States army,
nn 10 fSalIn e
der the military government Col. Bliss
argued in favor of a commercial union be-
tween Cuba and the United States anc
said that such union would postpone the
political union which a great many people
advocate. but the wisdom of which he does
not admit.
The proposition that has been made to
the ways and means committee by some of
the beet sugar refinerS for the abolition of
the dinerential duty on refined sugar is
vigorously opposed by the louisiana cane
growers, whose industry is even more eX-
tensive. it is claimed, than the beet sugar
industry of the country. Mr.. Hill of the
Louisiana sugar delegation stated today, in
conversation, that the abrogation of the
dinerential would permit the Introduction
into this country of sugars which. being
washed IN pure water, would produce a
grade of sugar that would Immediately
compete with the refined article.
Colonel Bliss Statement
In opening his statement Colonel Bliss
T.,
said his knowledge was confined to that of
an observer for three years in an official
position dealing with the trade of Cuba
This had led him to hope that if there
was any change in the tariff it would be
such an adjustment would throw into
the hands of the United States the large
amount of Cuban trade now taken by for
eign countries.
Speaking first of the condition of the
CUBAN sugar industry, he said it was great
ly depressed. The leading Havana banks
We're refusing further credits to the plant
ers, and when this occurred it was a sure
evidence of the distress of the planta-
tions. He roughly estimated the sugar in
duStry of the island at 500, 100000 and said
about three-fourths of the people were de-
pendent in one way or another on the
sugar industry.
Chairman Payne asked Colonel Bliss to
specify what advantages the United States
could gain from Cuba, and Mr. Payne also
called attention to the low tariff rate Cuba
imposed against the United States
To Get the Cuban Market
Colonel Bliss said the average ad vaIorem
rate was about q per cent, and he pre-s
sented tables designed to show how a tariff
readjustment could throw practically all
OF the Cuban trade into the hands of Amer
fcan producers AT present he sadd Cuba
bought s66.0C0.OO0, of which the United
States furnished SIS I75 900 and the balance
tries On many articles, such as fresh
beef, railroad iron and other specified arti-
cies. the United States had practical
monopoly of the trade. But on many other
articles, tOtaling about s45.OOO.OOO The
United States had but 100000 of the
trade.
BY a reasonable modif cation of the Gu
ban tariff said Col. Bliss, lat least SO per
cent Of this trade can be thrown to the
United States
He submitted a list of articles on which
a1ffF f.al Of a1N1
able to the United States as against other
foreign countries would give us the trade
In reporting on this 10 the War Department
the condition had been imposed upon him
not TO reduce the revenues of Cuba Under
such circumstances, he thought it woulu be
necessary, first, to raise Cuba's tariff rates
Tor purposes OF revenue, and then readjust
lnem with suthcient differential to give
the United States control Of the trade This.
he put forward only tentatively as one of
several plans proposed to the War Depart
ment-
The Proposed Readjuxfment
The members of the committee ones
TONED Col Bliss on the details of the pro-
posed readjustment. In the course of the
examination Representative Newlands of
Nevada suggested that without our DO. .Ii-
cal control of Cuba there might be seryile
labor to compete with American labor He
added: Are the Cuban people prepared to
come into political relations with the United
States?''
Il think great majority of the Cubans
are ready TO come in Col. Bliss replied.
As a territory state?'' asked Mr.
NewlandS.
They would be glad to come in as a
state or a territory, or under the military
suthority-almost any way in order to come
under the authority OF the United States"
If invited to come in first a territory,
then as state. would this be accepted?"
II think II would"
Continuing on this topic Colonel Bliss said
ne thought commercial union with Cuba
would postpone political union Personally
ne was not convinced of the wisdom of an
nexation: The feeling In Cuba was one Of
United States might impose.
ASKED whether there was much poverty
4bo distress among the Cubans. Colonel
Bliss sal0 there was not. But the condi-
tion was like that of bank about to
preak, and the people did not know what
Colonel Bliss gave the cost of produeing
raw sugar in Cuba at about q cents &