The Lafayette gazette., 1902-02-08

Ways and Means COmmitt0e
ArOus0s Interesting Dis.
SussiOn Among Mem
bors Of CONGro0s.

bers Of Congress.
Washington. Feb. s.-Despite
the wishes of President Roosevelt
and the efforts of the Sugar Trust,
It is not believed that Congress will
do anything for Cuba during the
present session. The beet sugar
interests have succeeded in bringing
to their support combination Of
Senators and Representatives who
fear the competition of Cuban sugar
in their respective States, where
sugar beets are being produced, and
it is believed legislation for the
benefit of Cuba and the Sugar Trust
will not be secured.
An incident Of the campaign in
behalf of Cuban tariff legislation
that took place last week has
escaped very general attention, but
has aroused much comment among
Senators and Representatives, and
it may become more important be-
fore the case is closed. This was
the statement of Prof. H. NJ. Wiley,
chemist of the Department of Agri-
culture, before the committee on
ways and means, that Cuba is a
mendicant and a beggar, and has
already received from the United
States more than she has a right to
expect.
Much surprise has been caused
that Prof. Wiley, who is a subordi-
nate official, should express such
caustic opinions, but as yet he has
not been called to account for them.
1t appears that he was summoned
before the committee to give ~tatis-
tics of the Cuban sugar industry, and
was led to go outside of this branch
of the subject by questions put to
him by the members of the com
mittee.
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson,
as is we'll known, is stanch friend
of the beet sugar producers of the
United States, and therefore,, is
opposed to legislation that would
admit Cuban sugar into this country
on terms that would permit it TO be
sold at prices with viii. n the Ameri
can producers could not compete.
Secretary Wilson said to-day tha at
he had not seen Prof. Wiley's
papers prior to the professors ap-
pearance before the committee.
Dv@f
Wiley on the subject, he said, and
had given him no instructions.
81 did tell him, however," the
secretary said, 80 give the com
mittee the facts. l am here to help
the American farmer to produce.
That is the duty of the Agricultural
Department, and it is to this end
that Congress appropriates the
money necessary to maintain this
bureau. The department has aided
very materially in building up the
beet sugar industry, but the ques-
ton of whether it is an advantage
to make concessions to Cuba on
imports of sugar from the island is
a political question, and does not
come within the scope Of my work,
and I would not presume to instruct
Congress until l had more fully
studied the matter. I must refuse
to say just what l believe Congress
ought to do in the matter, as, while
I have my general ideas as to the
right and wrong of the question, l
have not gone into its niceties. and
do not consider myself sufficiently
we'll posted as to figures to endeavor
off hand to discuss the question of
an adjustment of the delicate
balance of tariff, but I certainly
had noting to do with Prof. Wiley's
remarks before the ways and means
committee, other than to tell him
to appear and give them the facts"
Secretary Wilson added that after
he had gone into the question
thoroughly, had studied the statis-
tics involved and the question of
cost of production to the cane
growers in Cuba and the beet sugar
manufacturers in the United States,
he would have no hesitation in Civ