The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-02-12
CUBA and THE PHILIPPINES.
Congress Still Trying TO Work
Out a Policy.

Washington, Feb. 10.--There exists
peculiar situation in the House Of
Representatives, and that Chamber ap-
pears to be bent upon amply demon
strating to the country that with a
republican majority and the Reed
Rules it is a thoroughly impotent and
irresponsible body. Even the Presi
dent has ceased to urge his wishes
upon the lower house and has concen
trated his efforts upon the Senate
where there seems to be every reason
to believe that they have proved effec
/ tive. The recent statements of Sena-
/ tor Platt of Connecticut, chairman of
the Committee on Relations with
Cuba, and Senator Proctor of Yer
mont, are regarded, not only as indica-
tive of the attitude of the Senate on
the question of Cuban reciprocity,
but as threat that if the House does
not pursue a reasonable course the
Senate will disregard it and effect the
desired reciprocal relations by means
of treaty.
The excessive fear, inspired by the
attack of Representative Babcock upon
that portion of the Dingley tariff bill
which serves to augment the immense
profits of the Steel Trust, seems to
| have paralvzed the Ways and Means
Committee and that body is afraid to
report any measure granting recipro-
city to Cuba because of Mr.. Babcock's
announced intention to move the
amendment of the bill to secure a
modicum of tariff reform. While the
Ways and Means Committee is domi-
mated by the extreme protectionist
view such is not true of the entire
House and a republican member who
would not permit me to use his name,
said Yesterday: "The situation is most
distressing to the more progressive re-
publicans. They appreciate the truth
Of Senator Platt's statement that protec-
ton is likely to suffer most in the
/ house of its friends and they realize
| that, if the Democrats have the fore
sight to drop their anti expansion
theories and 90 before the country on
straight tariff reform platform hey
will make serious inroads in our ranks.
Our only hope is that the Demo
cratic propensity to blunder will lead
them to adopt anti-expansion' as their
slogan rather than "tariff reform.
The sneaker was an astute Western
republican who may be counted upon
| to know the situation in his own sec
tion, at least.
The republicans are holding perfect
love feast in the Senate committee on
the Philippines over the testimony Of
Judge Taft in regard to conditions In
the islands. It never seems to occur
to them that gentleman who is draw
inc a salary of $4,000 per annum for
governing thed "colony" is most like
ly to see the rosy side of the situation.
Without impugning Judge Taft's
sincerity, it is reasonable to assume
that from his magnifcently furnished
| Offices in Manila. and surrounded by
the members of a COMMISSION all hand
somely recompensed for their services.
things may look very bright in the
| Philippines. AS matter of fact, how
ever, there are others, perhaps equally
competent to testify, many of them
officers who have penetrated into the
strongholds of the insurrection, who
do not regard the situation from the
same hopeful and complacent stand
point as does Governor Taft.
The Philippine tariff bill continues
to occupy the attention of the Senate
and drastic censure Of the course Of
the administration has been the usual
order of the day on the democratic
side. Senator Lodge has, however,
stated that the Senate proposes to
pass the measure regardless of the
opinion of the minority: and his posi-
ton, that he and his colleagues are
not open to reason or conviction, may
serve to preci pitate the passage of the
bill. in view of the large amount OF
BUSINESS which the Senate still has
to consider.
Representative Newlands of Nevada
has introduced resolution in the
House providing for the collection of
three -fourths of the Dingley rates on
Cuban sugar and tobacco in considera-
ton of reciprocal concessions from
Cuba and concludes with an invitation
to Cuba to come into the United
States under territorial form of gov
ernment and with the proviso that
statehood will be granted when, in the
judgment of Congress, it seems ad-
visable. Mr.. Newlands deems such
! q COURSE Guo l1OSG OAPCO1CAe oOAooAO"
of the Cuban problem. Speaking of
the matter he told me that he had no
reason for waiting until the Cubans
bad formed powerful political organiza-
tions the members of which would
expect to derive their livelihood sfrom
politics and would therefore oppose
annexation, before inviting the island
to come into the United States.
"Under annexation, said Mr.. New
lands, "the beet sugar men believe
they would be better protected than
With reduction of the tariff, and l
am inclined to think they are right.
The Cubans have admitted before this
committee (the Ways and Means that
they now have employed in the pro
duction of sugar all the labor in the
islands and they have tacitly admitted
that the extension of the industry
must come from the importation of
cheap Chinese and other labor. II
the island was annexed to the United
States our immigration laws would
apply, the rate of wages would be