The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1902-04-04
PAYNE OPENS The BALL
PRESENTS WAYS AND MEANS
CUBAN REPORT.
Chairman of Committee Says the Pro-
posed Bill Simply is an Act of
Justice and Fulflls an American
Pledge-Reduction Will Benefit
Cuban Planters, He Says, and Not
Iniure American Industry.

Washington, d. c., April CHAIR
man Payne today presented the report
of the ways and means committee on
Cuban reciprocity which the committee
had ordered reported earlier in the day.
After reciting President Roosevelt's
recommendation in behalf Of Cuba, the
report says:
"Our relations TO Cuba are peculiar.
In our declaration of war with Spain,
and ever since. we have solemnly pro-
claimed to the world that our object
was to give Cuba a stable and indie
pendent government. We have labor
ed for more than three years to accom-
plish that result. and in this endeavor
we have spared no expense. During
the years of preparation we have given
her an example of the benefit of law
and good order. of cleanliness and pre-
servation of public health, and Of good
government.
"She has organized her government
under a constitution. and is now ready
tc launch forth among the nations of
the earth in the month Of May"
Chairman Payne explained the de-
pressed condition of the Cuba sugar in
dustry as due to the worlds over-pro-
duction of sugar, quoting from a letter
dated March 20, in which an American
gives the actual conditions of the is
lands. The writer declares hat the
planters and business men are on the
verge of collapse and bankruptcy. their
hope lying in tariff concessions by the
United States.
This threatened financial distress"
continues the report, comes at the
| yyat,,r ti,,o rr-o ~ about 70 cot tho T,t-
ban government up in business on its
own account: We have performed the
part of guardian up to the present mo-
ment, and are about to send the ward
forth into the world. We cannot af-
ford to take the risk of her failure If a
little timely aid will insure success"
The report adds that we are bound to
care for our own people, but. after re-
viewing the American sugar situation.
says no injury can come to our sugar
industry, and that the enactment OF
this bill not not affect the sugar pro-
ducers Of the United States. There is
no reasonable pretense that some re-
duction on other products will injure
any other American industry.
The report asserts that the planters
and not the refineries will receive the
benefits Of the reduction, and adds:
"Cuba does not come simply as mendi-
cant. nor should she be treated as such.
She offers a good trade in return. This
she is willing to concede. Under the
provision of the bill we should be able
to double the amount of our export
trade with Cuba, which amounts to
$2S, 900, 900 more han we obtained in
the last fiscal year."
In conclusion the report says: at is
a happy circumstance that without the
loss of anything except 1000, 900 or
So, 200, 900 revenue, which we do not
need, we are able to extend this re-
lief to Cuba and at the same time get
reciprocal trade relations with her.
aside from the exceptional case that
Cuba presents the action of the COM
mittee is in entire accord with the rec
iprocity doctrine of the Republican
platform and declarations of Presidents
Mckinley and Roosevelt. 1t involves
no proposed revision of the tariff or
anything not entirely in harmony with
the maintenance Of the protective sys-
tenn"
Following the action of the ways and
means committee on Cuban reciprocity,
the Republican members who oppose
| the bill held a conference in the COM
mittee room of Representative William
Alden Smith of Michigan. Thirty mem
bers were present, representing the va
rious states interested in the beet sugar
production. No formal action wal taken
but the discussion was in line of con-
tinuing the contest on the floor OF the
house. 1t is expected, however, that
opposition will be from the members
individually. rather than from q com
pact and organized opposition.
After the meeting, it was claimed by
those present, that 80 Republicans
would speak and vote against the bill.
The ways and means leaders feel con-
fldent that the bill will pass, probably
by Republican votes. In any event,
there it said to be more than sufficient
Demscratic support of the bill to offset
| anv Renuhlipan dpfalpatian