Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-12

who still contend that they VIII WIN
the victory. 0- t,F-
At the opening of the session of the
House the post Office appropriation bill
was sent to conference. The House
then went into committee of the whole
and resumed the consideration of the
Cuban reciprocity bill.
Long, Kas., a member of the ways
and means committee, who from the
outset of the present controversy has
been one of the most ardent advocates
of reciprocity, was the first speaker.
He analysed the evidence before the
committee on ways and means, as to
the cost of producing refined sugar
from both Cuban cane and the sugar
beet and argued that even at the re-
duccd tariff proposed by this bill re-
fined beet sugar from Michigan could
he placed on the Chicago market for
26 cents a hundred less than refined
Cuban sugar and that Nebraska and
Colorado beet sugar can be placed on
the Kansas City market for Is cents a
hundred less than Cuban sugar, and
that Cuban sugar cannot compete at all
with it's beet rival on the Denver mar
kct.
He quoted from the statement made
by the Oxnard Beet Sugar Co, at their
annual meeting held April L. 1902, that
they can manufacture refined sugar
below the cost of graduated sugar
made from imported raws." He read
the evidence of all the beet sugar ex-
perts to the effect that reduction in the
Cuban tariff would not lower the price
of refined sugar and argued that there
fore the beet sugar industry would not
be injured by the proposed legislation.
He devoted much time to the PROPOSE
ton that the Cuban planters and not
the sugar trust would get the benefit of
the concession in tariff.
Turning to the benefits which would
accure to us from reciprocity with
Cuba he reviewed the results of the
Blaine reciprocity which existed from
1891 to 1894. showing that while our
exports to all other countries fell off
materially during this period owing to
the depreciation in silver and other
causes that our trade with Cuba more
than doubled and that our exports to
countries with which we had recipro-
city agreements were the only ones
that showed an increase. Reciprocity
he declared. would give the United
States a monopoly of the Cuban mar
kets. A moral obliga ton, he said, rest
ed on the United States to aid Cuba
from the fact that the Platt amend
ment was accepted only upon the vir-
tual promise of tariff concessions.
In closing Long said that lit is oul
duty to complete our work in Cuba i:
recognized by every patriotic American
We can discharge that obligation and
still do no harm to any American in
dustry. Special interests have endeav-
ored to prevent action and tried Il
alarm Congress by the cry that theil
particular industries will be ruined Il
reciprocity with Cuba is adopted. The
facts do not warrant this assumption
and if this Congress does its duty al
did the Congress that passed the reso
luton of Intervention, it will provide
before this session ends. for reciprocit,
with Cuba which will bring Happiness
and contentment to the people of tina
islands. further promote the prosperit.
Of the people of the United States an,
honorably finish the work undertaken
when the war with Spain began
Long met volley of questions from
the opponents of the reciprocity on TIL
Republican side. At various times dur
ing his speech he sustained the FIRE O
Prince. H.; Hepburn, Iowa: Neebhan
Cal: Kahn, Call; and W. A. Smith
Mich. He ridiculed the Republican ad