The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-05
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CUBA'S CASE

1t Is reported from Washington that
certain gentlemen who think they possess
the power to say what the majority in
congress ought and ought not to do. are
vigorously opposing the proposition to
minister to Cuba's real necessities by
making some concessions in the duties
upon her leading products, market for
which is an absolute necessity for the
Welfare of the island IT'S : 49,.
The president said in his message: s'In
the case Of Cuba there are weighty rea-
sons Of morality and Of national interest
why the policy (reciproctty) should be
held to have peculiar application and 1
mos. earnestly ask your attention. to the
wisdom, indeed, to the vital need, of pro-
viding for a substantial reduction in the
tariff duties on Cuban imports into the
United States. Cuba has in her consti-
tuition affirmed what VIC desired, that she
should stand, in international matters, in
closer and more friendly relation with US
than with any other power; and we are
bound. by every consideration of honor
and expediency, to pass commercial meas
ures in the interest of her material well
fare" This is explicit enough and forci-
BILE enough to suggest national duty which
cannot be honorably evaded. The late
President Mckinley took the same view,
OF course. until permanent govern
ment under the Cuban constitution is or
ganized. no definite action can be. taken,
for there is no Cuban authority to deal
with at present and it is to he hoped
that, ere the Cuban government is ready
to do business. the United States will
prove herself ready and willing to do the
fair thing for the islanders.
The condition of affairs on the island is
deplorahle, for. unless the Cubans can
have remunerative access to our market
for their sugar by the reduction of du-
ties. that industry will suffer very great
ly. The policy proposed by the president
is opposed by the beet root sugar manu-
facturers and by the cane sugar growers
of Louisiana, chiefly. The consumption of
sugar in this country aggregates 1856, $50
tons the present year and domestic sugar
producers, including Hawaii and Porto
Rico, supply less than million tons OF
this and the amount OF sugar consumed is
steadily increasing. Mr.. q. r. Atkins, OF
Boston, who owns a sugar plantation in
Cuba, shows in the North American Re-
view that there is little money for Cuban
! planters In sugar under existing tariff
conditions, as the duty paid price OF
standard cane sugar is 3.75 CENTS Pc.
pound, the duty amounting to / 68b cent q
leaving 2.065A cents a pound the price OF
Cuban sugars in bond in New York, and
deducting freight and handling, the Gu
! ban producer would get LIE cents a
pound, nearly the amount of the duty on
the sugar and, naturally the sugar plant
er does not see limitless fortune in SUI
! gar planting. The question comes with
| some force: eff We take steps to curtail
! the money-making power of the Cuban
| planting interest, by what process of rea-
| soniM do we expect to do a profitable
| business with the island?" If We want
business with another country it will be
necessary to give theA people there a
| chance to sell rs something. By main
tanning a stiff tariff against Cubais PROC
ucts, we can easily kill off what trade
we have there and England and Germany
| will get it because they comprehend that
| trade is produced by mutual buying and
selling, the more the better.
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