Middletown transcript., 1902-02-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.


!, = Platt granted to your correspondent
yesterday, in the Marble Room of tn
Senate, he conformed the rumor that h
is favorably disposed towards the Presi
j dents wish to grant reciprocal concession
to Cuba, in the following language: g
am thorough believer in the doctrine o
protection and have so warmly advocated
it as to lave been charged with being {
partisan; am in favor Of granting Ger
tain concessions to Cuba in return fol
similar concessions from the island ]
believe that snch concessions can le
granted without serious detriment to
American industries and with material
benefit to American foreign markets.
The granting of reasonable concessions
would, in my opinion. greatly benefit the
trade of both countries. Without re-
ceding one iota from my position as a
sincere protectionist, believe that at the
present time protection is in danger of
tgreater injury from its friends who hold
out for immoderate and unnecessary du-
ties than from the open advocates of free
trade" The Senator refused to go into
further details in regard to the policy to
be pursued in dealing with Cuba, but lis
position as chairman OF the Senate COM
mittee ON Relations with Cuba makes his
statement sufficient guarantee of the
position which the Senate will adopt in
regard to the matter.
~
There is no doubt that the majority Of
the House committee on Ways and Means
is opposed to granting any concessions to
Cuba, nevertheless the knowledge that
the Senate is sure to do SO may serve to
induce the leaders in the House to take
some such action rather than permit the
Senate to overruIe its decision and take
the initiative in so important matter.
Judge Page Morris of Minnesota, has,
however, formulated plan for granting
the necessary relief to Cuba which is
commanding unusual attention from the
members of the House and which he
believes will meet all the demands of the
President and at the same time avoid the
danger to the beet sugar interests which
might result from straight reduction Of
Is per cent on raw Cuban sugar. Speak
ing on the subject recently, Judge Morris
said, "My bill Is intended to obviate the
difficulties which have seemed inevitable
if we accept either horn of the dilemma.
1t deals only with the sugar problem
which seems to me the most important.
Its chief provision is an increase of the
duty on raw sugar, So degrees proof, from
1855 to I.S44 cents pound, accompanied
by a rebate to be paid to the Cuban
planters Of 1873 per cent. This would, in
my judgement, divide the burden of re-
lief to Cuba between the whole people
and the refners, or in other words the
Sugar Trust. 1t would mean slight in
crease in the cost to consumers, bat only
a slight one, and the balance would be |
paid by the Trust. l figure that the in
crease of duty would result in an increase
Of revenue from sugar duties of about |
81, ,0OO, 600, one half of which we would |
return to the Cuban planters. think |
that quite possibly this arrangement
ought to be made only temporarily, say |
for two years, as that would be long |
enough to tide the Cubans over their
present difficulties and give them good
financial start"
~**
Another statement on this subject
which will be received with respect is
that of Senator Proctor Of Vermont, who
has said, after prefacing his remarks with
the statement that he is to-day as good
q protectionist as he ever was, SIN my
judgement we would not hurt an! indus
try in this country by dealing generously |
with Cuba. 1t is also my judg ment
that if we take any other than generous
course towards Cuba we shall iniure the
cause of protection in the United States"
In view OF the statements Of Senators
Platt and Proctor, the attempt on the
part of the Democrats to show serious |
friction between the President and the
Senate is surely idle.
~
From careful canvass of the members |
Of the Ways and Means Committee be-
lieve am safe in saying that the greatest
obstacle to action favorable to the Presi-
dents wishes in regard to Cuba is Rep
Babcock Of Wisconsin, and |
his following who, tits feared by the |
would seize upon any meas
ure looking to reciprocity with Cuba as a
vehicle to which to attach amendments
which would be in the nature OF tariff |
revision. Mr.. Babcnck attempted to do
this in committee and lost by q narrow
majority and he asserts that lie will make
the attempt again on the floor Of she
House. If the leaders can perfect rule
which will obyiate this danger there is
every reason to expect that the Commit
tee will report 3 reciprocal measure in
the near future.
In the Senate this week some exciting
scene occurred during the consideration
OF the Philippines bill which has not yet
been passed. The Democrats taking the
ground that the measure is sanction of
imperialism" are contesting it at every
point and delivering long harangues
which it is said they hope will stand as
q basis for the next campaign. So vio-
lent and unreasonable have been some of
their protestatiens that Senator Foraker
recently felt called upon to inform Sena-
tor Tillman that if it were not for his
immunity as a United States Senator he
would be indictaale under the law
& Ha@ .