Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-07
WILL Be A LONG SIEGE
Both Republican Factions In
trenching Themselves.
OVER CUBAN RELIEF
BEET SUGAR MEN ARE VERY Elk
ULTANT.
Confident Tariff Reduction Cannot Win
Mr.. Morris Statement-Last
Nights Skirmish.
OVER CUBAN RELIEF

Today both factions Of the republicans
of the House have withdrawn to their in
trenchments after last nights shirmish.
They are further intrenching themselves,
and it looks as if it will be a long siege.
The watchword of the beet-sugar pro-
tectionists today is mo surrender" The
password Of the other side seems to be
watch and pray" They are watching de-
velopments are praying for happy issue
out of the present embarrassment.
The beet-sugar protectionsts, being still
in the majority, are very exultant. and say
they cannot see how the tariff reduction
lists can win. The latter, encouraged by
the statement issued from the White
House last night, say there can only be
one outcome-reciprocity with a tariff re-
duction That statement was that 1.-The
President has not changed his attitude on
the Cuban reciprocity business.
The Presidents Attitude.
The Presidents attitude" as expressed
in his message to Congress, was stated as
follows:
I'm the case Of Cuba, however. there are
weighty reasons of morality and Of national
interest why the policy Reciprocity should
be held to have a peculiar application. and
l most earnestly ask your attention to the
Wisdom-indeed, to the vital need-of pro-
viding for substantial reduction IN the
tariff duties on Cuban imports into lie
United States. Cuba has in her constltu-
ton affirmed what we desired. that she
stand in international matters in closer ana
more friendly relations with us than WIN
any other power. and we are pound by
every consideration of honor and expeui-
ency to pass commercial measures IN me
interest of her material well being.
The beet sugar protectionists today still
insisted that the President has assured
them he was not committed to particular
plan for the solution Of the problem, and
they repel the claim that he Is indorsing
the ways and means committee.
Representative Morris Statement.
Representative Page Morris today gave
out the following statement:
Il have read Mr.. Paynes statement. I do
not wish to say that he has made any will
flu! Interpretations in what he says
about the proposition which I presented,
but it is difficult to understand how one who
occupies the high place he does in the
House of Representatives could in fairness
make the statement he has made. To one
who had not read my proposition it would
appear from Mr. Payne's statement that
had proposed to increase the duty on all
sugar refined as well as raw and thus was
advocating proposition which would in
crease the price to our own consumers MIR.
Payne should know that. that is not true.
Mr. Payne knows that my proposition was
to increase the duty only on raw sugar and
to leave the duty on refined sugar, which
is the sugar which our consumers buy, just
what it is now.
MIR Payne also knows that the object l
had in view in increasing the duty on raw
sugar was to decrease the differentiai of
the sugar trust ana thus to diminish their
power to control and advance prices in
this country and to cripple or destroy their
rivals
But Mr.. Payne also knows that In the
conference 1 did not insist upon this, but
devoted myself to the other proposition
which had advanced long before Mr.. Taw-
ney had suggested anything on the subject
"a proposition which he seems anxious to
avoid, 1 do not know why, unless it is
that it Is not subject to any of the obiec-
lions he raises to that of Mr.. Tawney.
His Proposition.
My proposition is, to put it in the fewest
possible words. 10 authorize the President
to enter into a commercial agreement with
Cuba in which. in consideration Of such
trade concessions she may make to the
United States. we shall collect the same
duties on her sugar We do on sugar
from other countries and shall then pay
over to her government a certain per cent
OF the amount collected, that amount, how
ever, not to exceed what she would get on
her present estimated crop of $4,000 tons,
the agreement thus made to continue for a
limited number Of years. If at the end of
that time it should be found that the ar
rangement worked satisfactorily 1t could be
renewed; if not, it could be abandoned.
ct is left to the Cuban government to
extend relief to their people, II they need
1T. either by extending them direct
aid or by remission of taxation or other
burdens. And 1t tides the people Of Cuba
over the period which is to elapse before
the sugar bOunties are abolished in Europe,
which cable adviceS now inform US will be
done. The hearings before the ways and
m N NnyVa yDNtf CHI hot
bounties cease Cuba will not be in need Of
any assistance from us.
by this plan what we do for Cuba goes
to the Cubans, and cannot possibly be alb
sorbed by the sugar trust and the Cuban
government In the beginning Of that little
republics national existence Is made strong
just where it is apt to be weak. and where
weakness is apt TO be most embarra ssiIg,
If not disastrous.
Sugar Industry Will Not Be Injured.
'By this plan We are sure that our
domestic sugar industry will not be In
jured, either directly by making the fac
tories Tow in operation Improbable or In
directly by putting an end to that con-
fidence in the business which will cause
other factories 10 be built and put in oper-
alton.
Mr.. Payne further knows that this plan
was proposed in 10 spirit of hostility
either 10 the President or to the ways and
communities, DuL on the contrary as
a suggestion which would prevent the
House from being placed in an attitude
hostile to the President and would bring
peace and harmony in the republican party,
and restore confidence to our domestic
sugar producers. In the advancement of
this proposition no attempt was made to
work out details. That was left to the
wisdom OF the ways and means committee.
Il do not think 1t wise or conducive to
harmony that republicans, and especially
the chairman of the ways and means COM
mittee. should be making statements in
the nature Of arguments in the public
press while the conferences Of the repub-
iicans are in progress. I have refralned
from doing this since these conferences be-
gan, but feel that I cannot remain silent
in the face OF Mr.. Payne's statement"
A Suggestion of Compromise.
A suggestion OF compromise was made to
the beet sugar protectionists today by
member OF the ways and means committee
1t was that all pending propositions should
be resolved into a plan for q 20 Der cent
tariff reduction bill. with the assurance
that the reduction OF tariff would be but
temporary and would not hereafter be
amended to exceed 70 per cent.
The proposed compromise was rejected by
the beet sugar men. They said that in
their present position OF strength they
II 81 H.