Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-01-28


sure evidence of the distress of the
plantations. He roughly estimated
the sugar industry of the island at
5000 100000, and said about three
6ourths of the people were dependent
dn one way or another on the sugar in
6ustry.
Chairman Payne asked Col. Bliss to
specify what advantages the United
States could gain from Cuba, and Mr..
tariff rate Cuba imposed against the
United States.
Can Secure Bulk of Trade.
Col. Bliss said the average ad va
= loren rate was about 81 per cent, and
he presented tables designed to show
practically all of the Cuban trade int o
the hands of American producers. At
present, he said. Cuba bought $6e, ooo,-
900, of which the United States fur
nished S2s,475,o00, and the balance of
about $37,000,OO0 came from foreign
countries. On many articles. such as
fresh beef, railroad iron, and other
specified articles, the United States had
practical monopoly of the trade. But
on many other articles, totaling about
45,O00,000, the United States had but
$10.0O0,000 of the trade.
"By reasonable modification of the
Cuban tariff" said Col Bliss. sat least
S6 per cent. of this trade can be thrown
10 the United States"
He submitted list of differentials
on which about 80 per cent, favorable
to the United States as against other
countries. would give us the trade. In
reporting on this to the war depart
ment the condition had been imposed
upon him not to reduce the revenues OF
Cuba Under such circumstances he
Thought it would be necessary first to
raise Cuba's tariff rates for the pur-
pose of revenue and then readjust them
with sufficient differential to give t he
United States control of the trade.
This he put forward tentatively as one
of several plans proposed to the war
department.
Ready for Political Union.
The members of the committee ques-
toned Col. Bliss on the details of the
proposed readjustment. In the course
of the examination Representative
Newlands, of Nevada, suggested that
without our political control of Cuba
there might be servile labor to COM
pete with American labor. He added:
Are the Cuban people prepared to come
into political relations with the United
Etates?"
ST think a great majority of the Cubans
are ready to come IN" Col Bliss replied.
LAS a territory or a state?" asked Mr..
Newlands.
'"They would be glad to come in as a
state, or a territory. or under the military
authority-almost any way in order to
come under the authority of the United
States"
'.If invited to come in first as terri
tory. then as state, would this be ac-
cepted?"
81 think it would
A Hindrance.
Continuing on this topic Col Bliss
said he thought commercial union with
Cuba would postpone political union.
Personally he was n OF convinced of the
wisdom of annexation. The feeling in
Cuba was one of readiness to accept
any condition the United States might
Impose.
Asked whether there was much pow
erty and distress among the Cubans
Col Bliss said there was not. But the
condition was like that of a bank about
to break and the people did not know
what would become of them three
months hence.
Col. Bliss gave the cost of producing
raw sugar in Cuba at about two cents
pound, the selling price in Havana
about IA cents.
Not Prompted by Sugar interests.
Mr.. Louis Place, head of the Cuban
delegation, made an earnest state
ment controyerting the claim that the
reciprocity movement was instigated
by the United States sugar interests
contending that the Cubans had long
urged and expected these concessions
'Cuba is fighting its own cause on its
own merits" declared Mr.. Place.
Amendment to Constitution.
Washington, Jan. 27.-The senate
committee on the judiciary Saturday
authorized a favorable report on Sen
ator Hoar's joint resolution proposing
an amendment to the constitution Of
the United States giving congress the
power TO designate some one to act as
president in the case of disability oil
both the president and the vice presi
dent. The resolution is as follows:
SIN all cases moi provided for by arti
sle second, clause fifth. of the constitution,
where there is no person entitled to dis
charge the duties of the office of the presi-
dent, the same shall devolve upou the vice
president. The congress may by law pro,
vide for the case where there is no person
entitled to hold the office Of president OF
Vice president, declaring what officer shall
then act as president. and such officer shall
act accordingly until the disability shall
De removed or president shall be elected"
Why California Voted for MCKINLEY
Washington, Jan. 27.--When the for
eign affairs committee of the house
Saturday resumed its hearings on the
subject OF the reenactment of law pro-
Ahtdng the coming into this country
d Chinese. - Hss tnfoEzaas 1het M a