Evening star., 1902-03-04
FOR CUBAN RELIEF
No Agreement at the Con-
ference Last Night.
BEET SUGARMEN HAPPY
THINK THEY CAN CONTROL THE
SITUATION.
Mr.. Tawney's Proposition Met the
Most Favor-His Arguments
Set Forth.
BEET SUGARMEN HAPPY

Set Forth.
Today there is great jubilation among the
opponents in the House Of the proposed re-
ductiCn Of tariff on Cuban products. The
high protectionists are in the ascendancy.
Last nights conference of republican repre-
sentatives demonstrated that there is
rocky road ahead Of the ways and means
committeemen's plan of Cuban reciprocity
or a twenty-per-cent tariff cut.
While no vote was taken last night, 1T is
claimed that the sentiment as expressed in
tho applause the speeches made and in in
dividual expressions indicated that had
vote been demanded the ways and means
plan would have been defeated.
Beet Sugar Men Encouraged.
There will be another conference Thurs
day night. and in the meantime the beet
sugar men, encouraged by their success
thus far, will further strengthen their lines.
They are now confident of being able to de-
feat tariff reduction. if indeed not postpon-
ing indefinitely the whole question of Cuban
relief.
The principal figure in last nights con-
ference was Mr.. Tawney Of Minnesota a
member Of the ways and means committee.
but opposed to the report of the majority
of the committee in favor of reduction of
tariff.
Last night Mr.. Tawney presented a sub
stitute for all pending propositions. In
brief, 1T provided that a rebate Of 20 cents
ton on all Cuban sugar produced since last
November and imported into this country
should be paid out of the United States
treasury direct to the Cuban planters. In
return the Cubans are to make concessions
On American products entering Cuba. 1t
was Mr.. Tawney's speech in favor of this
substitute which induced the outbursts of
approval from the republicans present. 1t
is said that undoubtedly he won many re-
cruits to the ranks Of the opponents Of
tariff reduction.
The position of those who favor Cuban
reciprocity has been stated heretofore. In
asmuch MIR. Tawney's argument in be-
half of his substitute states very clearly the
attitude Of the opponents of tariff reduc
tion 1t may be of interest to recite the lead
ing points of his argument, as follows:
Points of Mr.. Tawney's Argument.
GAS to the question of granting relief and
at the same time obtaining a reciprocity
agreement we are practically united. AS
to the manner of granting the one and OBJ
tanning the other is our only difference.
My reasons for favoring the accomplish
ment of both by remission of 20 per cent
rather than by a reduction Of the duty 20
per cent on Cuban products:
'First-1n this way we preserve the prin-
faith the expressed and implied pledges of
our party to the American sugar industry.
''Second-Because in this way, under
my proposition, We make our relief imme
diately available and it's continuance de-
pendent upon Cuba's enacting our inlmigra-
ton and exclusion laws and entering into
favorable reciprocity agreement with us.
Third. Because, under this plan our
relief will go to the government of Cuba
and from the government only to those we
are told are In need of It, or may be In
need Of it; and this relief cannot go to
those who neither need it nor are entitled
to it.
Fourth. 1t is a temporary trade condi-
tion that has caused the necessity, if any
exists, for the relief we asked to grant.
The relief should, therefore, be likewise
temporary.
Fifth Because, under this plan the ma
tion contributes to the relief of Cuba and
not single industry. The iron and steel
industry, earthenware and glassware in
industries and classes alike, will bear their
equal and proportionate share of the
burden.
Objections Not Valid.
ITO this plan there are only two objec-
tions, neither Of which is valid:
"First. That the agencies the President
is directed to appoint to distribute part of
this money to the actual bona fide resident
sugar planter cannot be trusted to do SO
honestly and that fraud and scandal may
follow.
Second It is not constitutional.
1.-The answer to the first proposition Is
that the same agencies which have hon.
estly administered the government Of Cuba
since the close of the Spanish war can be
depended upon to honestly distribute the
favor of the United States among those In
Cuba who are entitled to it under the law.
1.-The complete answer to the second OBJ
lection has been made by the Supreme
Court of the United States in the case OF
United States VS.. Realty Company, which
will be found beginning on page 44O. United
States reports, volume 163. Also in Emer-
son VS.. Hall. 13 Peters 400; United States
VS.. Price, 116 United States 43; Williams VS..
Heard, 40 United States 529
The Ways and Means Proposition.
"The proposed reduction will not benefit
the resident Cuban sugar planter. It is this
class we are told are now, or in the near
future will be, in need of governmental aid
because of the bounty paid sugars Of Eu-
rope.
"Becanse this years Cuban sugar crop
is now practically all in the hands of the
sugar refining trust and other large Amer
lean corporations and wealthy nonresident
planters. who would. therefore. derive al
most all of the benefit from the proposed
reduction
Independent Of the question of the own
ership of the present crop, In my Judgment,
based upon the testimony or COL Bliss,
customs collector at the port of Havana,
the benefit Of this reduction of duty will
hereafter inure TO the sugar trust
IF this is not So that Is. If the sugar re-
f1ning trust does not derive at least 20 per
cent of the benefit from this reduction, it
Is admitted that at least two-thirds Of that
benefit will go to nonresident corporations
and nonresident wealthy individual plant
ers, and only one-third to the sugar planter
Of the island, who Is the only person inter-
ested who is in danger Of bankruptcy and
in distress.
Abandonment Of Protection.
"To adopt Mr.. Paynes plan of giving
Cuba relief would be equivalent to the
abandonment of protection to the sugar
Industry of the United States. It might
not injure the sugar beet factory that is
fully established and in successful opera
tion but 1t would be warning to capital
not to engage further In this enterprise
for the reason that the influence Of Amer
ican corporations engaged In exploiting the
Island OF Cuba, being sufficiently strong
now to obtain 20 per cent reduction
would in the future be suficietly powerful
to secure a still further reduction, either
In the Senate of the United States AS an
amendment to the House bill or through,
a reciprocity agreement"
Judge Morris OF Minnesota, who pre-