Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-03-12
GUARD BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY
Republican Opponents to Reciprocity with
Cuba Draft Strong Resolutions.
AIM TO PROTECT AMERICAN PRODUCERS
Declare Method Advocated by Ways
and Means Committee would
Smother Development of
Home Concerns.

Home Concerns.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE fourth
conference OF the house republicans on the
reciprocity question was fruitless, the con-
ference adjourning at midnight until next
Tuesday.
The victory was with the advocates Of
reciprocity, as the motion to adjourn was
carried, as a motion to amend the motion
to make It a sine die adjournment had
been voted down. The motion to adjourn
was made by Speaker Henderson and the
opponents Of reciprocity claimed after the
adjournment that some of their friends did
not care to offend the speaker by declining
to heed his appeal for a further confer
ence. Earlier in the evening the oppo-
nents of reciprocity had insisted on a vote
tonight upon the main proposition. The
session tonight was a stormy one. Mr..
sibley of Pennsylvania offered a compromise
proposition for a reciprocity arrangement
to last until December 1. 1903, which he
claimed had the approval and Endorsement
Of President Roosevelt He also said he
had assurances that IL the house granted
20 per cent concession the senate would
not increase It.
Large Number Present.
About 100 members we're present. Speaker
Henderson and the leaders on both sides
Of the controversy were in attendance. An
arrangement was made for division Of the
time between the advocates and opponents
OF reciprocity.
Representative Long of Kansas, q MEM
ber of the ways and means committee,
opened with an argument in favor Of
20 per cent concession advocated by his
colleagues of the ways and means COM
mittee.
He argued that the maintenance Of pro-
tective tariff was not invested in the Philip
pine ways and means committee. but that
the policy of reciprocity was. ''The defeat
Of this bill,'' said he, means that the
republican party has refused to follow the
leadership Of Mckinley, and Of Roosevelt,
and it would mean that reciprocity was no
longer a part of the republican faith"
Platform ON His side.
He pointed out that the republican plat
form Of 1896 referred to the repeal Of the
reciprocity agreements under the Mckinley
law as national calamity and demanded
their renewal and extensions. The origi-
nal Dingley bill authorizing reciprocity he
recalled, naming sugar as ope OF the ar
ticles on which the president was author
lied to reduce the duties, but the section
was changed and sugar was stricken out.
He espoused reciprocity with Cuba, he
said, not only because It would be helpful
to Cuba, hut because he believed we would
get an adequate return, and In support Oh
that belief he instanoed the result OF the
reciprocity with Cuba under the MCKINLEY
law, from September 4, 1891, TO August u
xx.alg "A
and hides were admitted free and in return
Spain made concessions on our products
into Cuba. The results were demonstrated
| In the fact that our exports to Cuba in
creased from $12.224, 1888 in 1891. to $24,-
157, ,69S in 1898. In 1896. after the agree
ment was abrogated, they had fallen to
ST. $50, $50. Our exports to Cuba were now
only $28, 8,07s,702 out of a total OF $6b,O6O,l4l
Good Bargain for Americans.
The witnesses before the committee on
ways and means, he said, stated that with
prosperity in Cuba the mportattons OF that
island would amount to s15o'oOO'OOO to $780,
! OOO, ,OOo This, he said, was the trade that
Cuba offers us in return for concessions on
sugar and tobacco. This was not charity.
1t was a good bargain.
Mr.. Long contended that In addition to
| self interest there was a moral obligation
upon the United States to grant conces-
sions. He declared that when the com
mission from Cuba was prevailed upon to
accept the Platt amendment President Nc
Kinley assured them that In consideration
| Of its acceptance he would do all In his
power to secure economic concessions and
said that the commission so represented to
| the Cuban convention. He presented de-
| tailed figures TO show that the Porto Rican
sugar growers had received the full benefit
of the free admission OF sugar from that
island, from which he argued that the
| Cubans, not the sugar trust, would get the
beneht-and all the beneft-of any reduc-
| tion congress might make. In conclusion
Mr.. Long said:
After the establishment Of the republic
OF Cuba a treaty can be negotiated with
that country by the president. The moment
\ that the ratiications are exchanged under
the decision Of the supreme court in the
Porto Rican se we would have free trade
with Cuba on all products. The house
would be poweriess to prevent It."
Resolution of Opponents.
When Mr.. Long finished speaking Mr..
Taylor OF Ohio presented a protest against
| the plan o. the ways and means commit
tee representing the views of those opposed
TO reciprocity. In lieu OF the Tawney prop
osition for a rebate Mr.. Taylor offered the
following resolution:
Resolved, First, that we reafirm our
| adherence TO the republican national plat
form OF 1896. insuring adequate protection
| 20 the cane and beet sugar industries in
| the United States and to the policy OF
| 1900
Second. That we have maintained and
| Will continue to faithfully discharge the
| obligations to Cuba assumed by virtue OF
! the treaty Of Paris and the Platt amend
| ments; and that We favor such commercial
| agreements with her as her government,
| when established, may be willing TO make
| and which will be In harmony with our
national policy OF protection and reel
Third' Thai no nlrther action be takan