Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-01-11

legislators-hearings to Be Held
on the Matter in About a Week
Belief That Cuba in Spasm Of
Povert. Would Seek Annexation
With This Country--Much Depends
on Sugar Controversy-Feasibility
Of Granting Relief Asked For by
cubans Apparent
Washington, Jan. 9.--Proposcd con.
cesSions In tariff rates TO Cuba and the
philippines will soon become a leading
topic for congressional consideration
The Philippine bill having PASSED the
house Is now in the senate committee,
while the Cuban matter will promptly
he taken up by the house committee.
On the 10TH, hearings will begin. first
TO AL advocates of concessions to cuba.
to hc followed by rcmonslrnntS.
This will open n contest the results of
which may be of history import,
ance. MoSn people believe the trouble
IN cuba Is economic, and that should
this country adhere to II policy which
would leave Cuba no market for her
products, that island in Il spaSm of pow
erty would ask admission to the United
States. If, however, we grant such
concessions that the industries of the
island van live, the new government
there will have II chnncr for itself. In
the pending sugar controversy both
sides realize this; they know that the
beet sugar people are liable to III limatcly
defeat their own ends if they succeed
in preventing any reasonable access of
Cuban products TO our market, for an
neXatiOn is Il much stronger issue han
reciprocity and would be likely to pre-
vail in congress, were he application
properly made by Cuba. even il rccip-
rocity did not command Il majority.
Representative Payne, chairman of
the ways and means committee, has
been quoted as having changed his mind
on the subject Of Cuban concessions
such is not the ease so far as the pro-
priety or desirability Of reciprocity IT.
self is concerned, but is merely true of
the legal phases of the matter. Before
congress met he remarked shat he did
not see how anything could be done un-
til an Independent government was In
operation with which we could treat.
He did not say he was opposed to rccip-
rocity itself. so Mr.. Payne explained
yesterday. He wants to hear the nrgll-
mentS which are to he presented to his
committee and in advance of them has
steadily declined 10 express IN opinion.
MIR. Payne now feels. however. that
1t would be entirely feasible to grant
the relief that the Cubans ask for. if it
is found desirable to do SO. He believes
that II bill can he framed in advance of
the establishment by the Cuhans of an
Independent government prescribing
certain reductions of duty in sugar and
tobacco to take effect whenever Cuba
makes reciprocal concessions of GER
tain prescribed percentages 70 us. the
power to prOclH i'm our new rates of duty
to be repOSed in the president.
The feeling of the ways and means
committee toward Cuba is more en-
couraging than at the opening of the
session. The great trouble is in The ol-
position of the beet sugar people.
through the representatives of the
states in which that industry is begin
ming to make some headway. The
Michigan members have come back
particularly earnest in the matter.
The present plan of the senate COM
mittee on the Philippines is TO modify
the bill which has already nnsSrd the
house to the extent of low ering Dinglcy
rates on imports from the Philippines
by the amount of the export duty i'm
posed in the archipelago upon the va
riOuS articles. This concession is less
important than it seems. The export
duties are very small. That on to-
baccO is understood to Inc less than n
cent Il pound, where our duty is 50
cents.
1t is said that the total amount Of
revenue which has been received from
export duties since our occupation Of
the Philippines is only $1.7OO,OOO. and
this includes exports to all countries of
which our own part is relatively small.
1t is not to be expected. therefore, that
the proposed senate concession will
greatly stimulate Philippine Industries
or turn the current of traffic in this di-
rection. 1t will perhaps he welcomed
among literally minded people here.
and by the Filipinos. as an evidence Of
our obligation to promote their indus
tries through favorable tariff arrange.
ments wherever possible. even if the |
present concession he a very modest |
one. 1t is not believed that there
would he serious opposition in the house
to the proposed senate changes.
Washington. Jan. 9.--Secrctary Root |
has referred Il large number of cable |
grams to congress received by him from |
nearly all the mercantile associations |
in Cuba. appealing for legislation re-
ducing tariff duties on imports from |
Cuba
--------------
Seeking Extension of Time.
Cleveland. Jan. 9.-Seventy percent
of all the creditors of the Everett Moore
syndicate have now given thcir consent
to the extension of time asked fOr.
This includes both traction and tplc-
phone interests and is regarded as en-
81,