The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-06-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent

week the inquiry being conducte1 by
the Committee on Relations with Cuba
elected from Mr.. Thurber, OF New
York, the statement that he had secured
from Mr.. Havemeyer contribution OF
81. 500 towards fund used to influence
public opinion in favor of reciprocal re-
iations with Cuba, aud that General
Wood, on behalf of the Cuban govern
ment, had contributed to the same fund
1850. This testimony was regarded as
extremely sensational by the opponents
of reciprocity and, partially as a result,
thirteen Republican senators who oppose,
a measure providing for straight recip.
rocity, held a meeting at which they
agreed to stand firm for the bill as passed
by tho House, and which removed the
differential from refined sugar. or for
adjournment without action. In addl-
ton to the thirteen senators present It
WAS stated by Senator E;kins, who is
acting as leader of the ''insurgents,
that five others would consider them
selves bound by the action of the con-
ference. The total number of sen ttnrS
is 80, of which 80 are Democrats. Ii AL
the Democrats and 1S Republicans voted
against a straight reciprocity bill there
would be left an affirmative vote OF but
38.
When the prospects for an agreement
on a reciprocity bill looked particularly
blue, however, the President, alleging
that such action he believed to be his
'plain duty" sent to Congress mes
sage urging that body to carry to its
highest completion the policy inaugurated
by the war undertaken to relieve Cuba
of Spanish oppression, by 80 legislating
as to insure to the new republic medium
of prosperity. Mr.. Roosevelt asserted
that, in his belief, certain reciprocal con-
cessions were essential to Cuba's pros
perity and that such could be granted
without injury to any American industry.
He had been advised by many Of his po'
litical friends that message to Congress
at this jnncture would seriously iDjure
his prospects of denomination but he re-
fused to listen to any suggestion of per-
sonal profit or loss and sent to Congress
a message which will command the re-
spect of his friends aud opponents, and
even of those who hold that his reason
ing is fallacious. On Saturday Senator
Elkips introduced a resolution to admit
Cuba to the Union as State.
During the past week the Senate
passed tn. Naval Appropriation bill in
structinC tho Secretary 0f III" Nrvv :"
secure the cunstrlcIion of two fi'sf-claSS
| battle ships, two arinored cruisers, two
gun boats ami five submarine torpedo
boats of the Holland typ. The p.oyisiou
| of the House that one vessel of each
class should be built in government
navy yard was stricken out and under
stand that the house will seriously op-
pose this elimination of one Of its pet
schemes when the bill is taken up in
conference and also that it will object to
the Senate amendment providing for sc
many torpedo boats of one and, it is
claimed, insufaiciently tested type. The
Senate will vote on the canal bill on
Thursday.
On Wednesday the House will take up
the Philippine bill and will, according to
the rule which has been adopted, devote
one week to its consideration When
this bill is passed the members of the
| House will be so anxious to get away to
their districts that it will be almost i'm.
possible to hold them longer in Wash.
ington and they will bring tremendous
pressure on the Senate to hasten its pro-
ceedings and adjourn. July 3rd is being
talked of as the probable date of adjourn
ment.
The Secretary Of Agriculture has
adopted new platform. He told me
one day this week that in view of the
magnificent possibilities he could foresee
in the way Of scientific development of
the agricultural industries Of the cOun.
try he had determined to ask nothing
further from Congress in the way of
protective duties but to preach to the
farmers, early and late, the advantages
to be derived from pursuing the most
approved methods. The Secretary made
this statement when quoted to him the
remarks Of some congressman who had
expressed the fear that when Secretars
Wilson had succeeded in establishing the
silk industry he would ask of Congress
a protective industry on raw silk. They
need not be apprehenslve for shall ask
them for nothing" said the Secretary
"They said, when first stated that W.
could raise our own tea, that it could be
done only by means Of an immense pro
tective tariff but we are today raising
tea and selling it al profit and we are
raising tea that, because of it its superior
qualities and the fact that it is cured
without the use of chemicals command
a better price than imported tea The
same will be true in time Of the silk in
dustry. We have reasonably cheap la
Dor in the South, among the negroes
and expect to secure the help of Tus
kegee and similar institutions to trair
the reelers of raw silk. Meanwhile oul
scientists will direct their attention tC
decreasing the amount of labor and t.
finding methods that will compensate
for the difference in wages. In the rice
fields in this country there and instances
OF one man doing the work that it would
require 400 cheap foreign coolies to ac
compish. If we can do that with rice
wky connot we do it with other things?''