New-York tribune., 1902-01-31
PLEDGES DISREGARDED
WAY AND MEANS COMMITTEE
ACTS AGAINST CUBA.
SERIOUS RESULTS FEARED FROM PUT
TING WAR TAX REDUCTION Be
FORE RECIPROCITY-SENAT
LOOKED TO FOR RELIEF
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.I

Cuba, and the Republican party's solemn pledge
to promote the rehabilitation of that stricken
islands PROSTATE industries, the Ways and
Means Committee of the House has instructed
Chairman Payne to report bill adroitly
phrased to give the measure the appearance
of reducing the burdens of taxation in the inter
est of the American people-an ancient and
convenient method employed by timid legisla-
tors to conceal from the public view motives
which inspire action. No such fragrant viola
tion of promises earnestly made has been COM
mitted by Congressional leaders since the Re-
publican party into full control Of the
government. and the master minds of the or
ganization looking to the Senate TO
save national honor and party faith from the
irreparable injury that would be inflicted should
the proiigate disregard by the House of the
higher duties of craftsmanship be crystallized
into law.
DEMANDS OF TRUSTS PREVAIL
1t can be stated without straining the facts
that there has been no pressing demand from
any source save one for further reduction OF
internal revenue taxes That one exception is
the organized beer interests of the country
While the extensive and farcical hearings were
in progress before the Ways and Means Com
mittee into the subject of tariff concessions 10
Cuba the only industry of the nation that pro-
tested against a reciprocity treaty with Cuba
was the Beet Sugar Trust and the only indus
try and demanded a reduction Of taxation TO
the former basis was that represented by the
Beer Trust, both of which organizations main
tain expensive and ostentatious lobbies IN
Washington to browbeat and buIlyrag members
of the House How we'll these lobbies have sue
ceeded is shown by the formal action OF the
Ways and Means Committee to-day in directing
Chairman Payne to frame bill that undouDt-
ediy will be forced through under the tyranny
of the Committee Rules. which is completely
dominated by the Speaker and Messrs- Dalzell
and Grosvenor. the latter two being also mem
bers of the Ways and Means Committee
SECRETARY WILSON MAY GO.
That is the bill will be passed unless the
threatened revolt materalizes into vigorous ac-
ton. The bill was formed without consulting
the wishes of any of the Republican members
except those on the Ways and Means Commit
tee. and two of these-McCall, of Massachusetts.
and Hopkins, OF Ilnois-earnestly protested
against it. 1t was also framed in opposition to
the expressed wishes of the President and every
member of his Cabinet except Secretary Wilson,
who. strangely. has been using the full power
and resources of the Agricultural Department
for the pauperization of helpless Cuba and the
further fattening of the beet root industry. al
ready engorged with rich pickings from the
people to the extent of more than S5.O000O0
year. or S36 ton in the form OF tariff protec-
ton. 1t has been suggested heretofore in this
correspondence that Secretary Wilson at
variance with President Roosevelt on one of the
most popular purposes and sacred obligations of
his administration that the President might find
it advisable to make change in his Cabinet
before the responsible executive force of the
government can work in harmony. and it is
strongly believed in we'll informed circles that
the President will be forced to seek a new Sec
retary of Agriculture in order to appease the
public wrath that will rage around that depart
ment with stormlike fury when the country
learns how Secretary Wilson has employed the
great influence of his office 10 strengthen the
clutch of the beet root magnates upon the throat
of defenceless Cuba.
A SERIOUS MENACE.
While there is no thought in responsible quar-
ters in Washington that the House can smut
Cuba off from the help which reduction of the
tariff on sugar and tobacco from that island
will afford still the action of the committee is
regarded with serious concern because of the
possible results that may follow the course
marked out by the Ways and Means Committee
The action of that committee to-day is accept
ed another evidence that the House of Rep
resentatves does not appreciate fully the weight
of responsibility resting upon it as the organ
of popular expression Its tendency to pass
up" to the Senate all subjects of grave impor-
tance for final determination has been growing
for years. until now it has become a byword in
Washington that the House proposes IegisIa-
ton and the Senate enacts.
RELIEF EXPECTED FROM THE SENATE.
That this will prove to be true in the case
of Cuba there Is no room for doubt. Although
they are not yet ready to announce their pro-
gramme. the Senate leaders do not hesitate to
assert their firm determination TO provide at
this session of Congress means for the tariff
relief Cuba so badly needs 1t may be that the
Senate will force the House to pass reduc-
tion bill in the closing days of the session: or
if this is not done, the result may be Sc
cured through resort to the treaty making
power of the government. There is some doubt
it is true. whether or not commercial treaties
negotiated by the President and the Senate
would stand test in the Supreme Court be-
cause of the great constitutional questions in
volved. but there is very little doubt that the
Senate will run the risk of this experiment IL
the House should refuse in the end to concur
in a reduction bill.
1t is realized keenly by Senate leaders that
concessions must be made to the island with
all possible speed, in order to avert a more Sc
rious situation in Cuba than now exists. Unless
the Cubans get a market for their sugar and
tobacco. there will be famine in the island
Starvation in Cuba means internal strife of the
bitterest sort. Under the terms OF the PIatt
amendment the United States is pledged to the
maintenance of order in the island. In the event
of revolutionary uprising this country would
have to send troops to Cuba to restore peace
and sustain the government in power. That
would mean a costly and cruel war; entailing
probably, the expenditure of more blood and
treasure than was caused by the war with
/ Spain The result of this would be 10 make
/ the mass of Cubans the unrelenting foes of the
/ United States. and for generations this gov
ernment would be compelled 10 maintain a
heavy military force in the island 20 keep the
I rriNra al AIMS IN hap In