Evening star., 1902-03-25
MORE CONFERENCES
Beet Sugar Men and Ways
and Means Leaders.
A PLAN PROPOSED
STRONG OPPOSITION DEVELOPED
TO THE PROPOSITION.
Benefit Of Tariff Reduction Would Be
Enjoyed by Planters-Ex-Se -Sena-
tor Washburn's Views.
A PLAN PROPOSED

Informal conferences were held this after
noon between the beet sugar protectlonists
Of the House and the ways and means
leaders over the proposition which the
former submitted to President Roosevelt
yesterday to take off the differential pro-
lection on refined sugar The beet sugar
men were invited to submit the details OF
their plan, and did So
The Dingley rate on refined sugar is / %
cents per pound and on uureflned is 1875
cents per pound, the difference being the
protection to the American retiner. Some
OF the beet sugar men claim that if the
duty on Cuban sugar is to be reduced 10
per cent the sugar trust should suffer a
duction of its protection by reducing tho
tariff on refined sugar. Some Of the beet
sugar men do not like the plan, however. as
they think that 1t would hurt the reflner OF
beet sugar as well the refiner of cane
sugar.
Strong Opposition.
There Is strong opposition among the
ways and means leaders to the plan. They
say that an amendment Of that character
would open the whole tariff schedule to
amendment and discussion, the one thing
the high protectionists want to avoid, The
plan was voted down in the last republican
conference. The ways and means leaders
are not disposed. however. to reject the
proposition out of hand, and are willing 20
hear the arguments OF the other side.
Important evidence has been obtained by
the advocates of the Cuban reciprocity lin
TO discredit the claim put forward hy The
beet sugar men that the ~ per cent rrduC-
ton OF the tariff sugar would inEre
mainly to the benefit of the sugar trust
Figures are at hand showing the Ia alton
and probable disposition of the Cuban su-
gar crop.
Location Of Sugar Crop.
1t is said thai about 400. 900 tons, less HI
one-half the estimated crop have been
ground. the bulk OF it being held h. the
planters. Some sugar is held by the banks
as security for loans
1t Is said that the sugar trust controls
not more than 10000 tons. and that.-not
more than 50,H1 tons are in the ware
houses of exporting firms
The direct statement Is made on official
authority that the benefit OF the tariff re-
dUction would be enjoyed by the pla alters.
for whom it is intended.
Mr.. Washburn's Views.
Former United States Senator William ID.
Washburn OF Minnesota is at the Arlington.
Accompanied by Mrs. Washburn, Mr.. CAD
wallader Washburn, his son, and Miss
Washburn Of Portland, Ne, a niece, he ar
rived this morning from Havana, where he
spent the past month. Like MANY obIltES
who have spent any time in Cuba of late,
Mr.. Washburn came away Thoroughly i'm
pressed with the opinion that something
must be done by Congress to alleviate the
conditions that obtain there.
The conditions in Cuba have improved
in a certain way" he said to an Evening
Star reporter this afternoon. I'm Havana
there is an air of cleanliness that Is really
pleasant to breathe. 1t had been ten years
since I was last in Havana and L noticed
the change at once.
"Financially the people of Cuba are in a
desperate condition. There Is no mistak-
ing the sentiment that the island must have
some relief from the tariff on sugar. The
sentiment is deep: desperate is the better
word. 1t is a question of survival. The ape
peals the people make are almost pathetic.
From a commercial view point they have
received no advantages since this govern
ment became responsible for the island.
They are looking to relief from the duties
now enforced on sugar. followed as it would
be by close reciprocity relations. That is
what the people of Cuba want, what they
are paying for. fairly begging for. There
seems to be a disposition on the part of our
people to grant something In the line.
II think to give the people of Cuba any
where near reasonably fair chance. there
should be a reduction of 30 per cent at
least from the present duty on sugar,
coupled with close reciprocal relations.
This would mean advantageous reciprocal
returns to this country
Mr. WashbIrn called upon President
Roosevelt this afternoon. He Will go to
New York tomorrow and expects to reach
his home in Minnesota the latter part or
the week.
Among the arrivals at the Raleigh this
afternoon was Mr.. Jose Eugeno Marx OF
Havana who is extensively interested in
the manufacture of tobacco and is the own-
er Of the largest office building In Cuba.
Commercially the conditions in Cuba are
bad he said TO Evening Star reporter.
THE sugar crop has been held up awaiting
the action of Congress on the matter OF
tariff. Otherwise there is lack of conf
dence that is injurious to all branches OF
trade.
The people are poor. They are what you
in the states would call land poor There
Is absolutely no hope of definite settle
ment Of affairs. The proposed 20 or so per
cent reduction in the tariff sugar would
not help conditions. There is something
deeper. A settlement of Cuban political af-
fairs is the only thing that will do it.
Few persons believe that the Inaugural
ton of the Cuban republic will settle the
political situation. 1t will take years to get
things around to a normal condition. An
neXaton is the only thing that will settle
ii. Even those who are opposed to annex
alton look forward to ii the only practt.
cal solution. Every one knows, too, that an
neXation is only a question Of compara-
lively short time"
Mr. Marx saw President-elect Palma and
Mr. QueSada at the Raleigh this afternoon.
Mr.. Marx is loud in his praise Of General
Woods administration.