The Washington times., 1902-04-09
Continued from second Plse)


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which to speak on the bill it is likely to
run At least ten days.
The debate was opened by Mr.. Payne
tRcp. y. v. chairman of the committee.
Our relations with Cuba. he began. were
peculiar growing ont OF a war With Spain:
that war he had opposed until the last mo-
ment. and only yielded to what seemed to
be the unanimous sentiment of the House.
All our dealings with the island since,
he declared. had been based upon the as
sertion that the United States desired
only to see established stable govern
ment. All the acts OF the Executive and
of legislation had been done with that in
view.
Now the Cuban Government was about
to be installed and the military force of
the United States to be withdrawn. The
United States had done its full duty and
more to Cuba up to this time. but every
guardian. if he be fair minded man.
when his ward starts out on an independ-
ent career does all within his power to
make that career a success. That duty
was upon the United States to see that
Cuba started out on her new career under
the most favorable auspices.
Success of Sugar Planters.
The sugar planters of the island after
their fortunes, and had done well. in
creasing their crops in three years from
goo 900 to nearly 9O0, 900 tons
Mr.. Fordney (Rep. Mich Are you not
now seeking to strike down the protection
given to an American industry?
Mr.. Payne. with great intensity-By no
means. But you are pursuing a course
that will strike down the very industry
you assume to protect.
Discussing the effect of the proposed
reduction. Mr.. Payne said it would leave
a protection of LBS cents pound to
American sugar-15 points less than the
amount fixed by the Dingley bill. which
provided for reciprocal trade relations.
No beet sugar men. he asserted. protested
against that duty: it was Dingley protec-
tion. Mckinley protection, and no one
objected.
To meet the objection that the bill
would stimulate the production of sugar
in Cuba until it reached an amount which
would supply the United States market.
IL had been provided that as precedent
condition Cuba must pass our immigra-
tion and exclusion laws. 1t would be i'm
possible to get the labor for making the
immense crops predicted. and the opera
tion of the reduction would not take eff
one scintilla of the protection to Ameri
can sugar. The reduction would give the
Cubans 2.15 a pound for their sugar.
slightly over the cost of production.
Upon this matter of price Mr.. Payne
referred to the assertion that reduction
would go to the benefit OF the Sugar Trust.
That organization he said paid the price
of sugar in New York. which was the
worlds price, fixed at Hamburg. plus the
duty and cost OF transportation. 1t had
been conclusiyely shown in the past. he
said that reductions OF the tariff bene-
flied the planter.
Law by May 2o
He had been asked. Mr.. Payne said
when he expected the Senate to pass the
bill. II debate was not unduly protract-
ed here. he having understood that =
disposition exists in the Senate TO take
prompt action. there was no reason why
the bill should not become a law By
the 2oth CT May. the date at which the
new government of Cuba was to go into
existence. And having held the sugar
thus long. he had no doubt that the
Cuban interests would continue to hold
Il until the people of the islands received
he benefit intended by the bill.
Mr.. Payne said that the reduction of the
luty on sugar would not play into the
hands of the Sugar Trust. He uuoteG
rom reports from the War Department