Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-02-10
ANXIETY ABOUT CUBA
Electors to Choose President
in Two Weeks.
INDUSTRIAL SITUATION
1T WILL THEN PROBABLY REACH
A CRISIS.
No Move in Congress Toward Grant
ing Relief-The Question Of
Annexation.

Annexation.
The delinquency of Congress in respond
ing to the urgent demands for commercial
relief for Cuba may have an important
and. it is feared, unfavorable effect upon
political affairs In the island now on the
eve Of undergoing radical transformation.
This phase of the situation is causing some
anxiety among senators, which, is it said, is
reflected at the War Department.
Two weeks from today, February "a, the
Cuban electors, recently chosen by popular
vote. will meet in Havana to elect a presi-
dent of the republic vice president and
the senate. This action should mark the
beginning of the end of American control
of the government and occupancy of the
Island of Cuba. Whether 1t will in fact is
question which is being asked with some
anxiety.
When the Cuban electors, two weeks from
today. have chosen their executive and
completed the election of their congress
the house having been elected last month
it will be the duty of the present military
governor of Cuba, Gen. Wood, to proclaim
the new government and convene the con-
gress. The first Monday in April will be
the day set for the convening of the con-
gress.
OuIy OI congress.
The first duty of the congress will be to
ratify a treaty with the United States, en-
bodying in permanent form the stipulations
of the Platt amendment. An ordinance of
the new Cuban constitution provides for
the making of the treaty, but 1t will have
to be ratified by the Cuban senate before
the deal is effectually closed. That treaty
will embody the following agreement:
That Cuba shall never enter into treaty
with foreign nation which will impair
her independence.
That debt or obligation shall be as
sumed which the revenues of the island
will be inadequate to liduidate.
That Cuba shall consent for the United
states to intervene to preserve the indie
pendence Of the island.
That the acts of the temporary military
government shall be ratified.
That existing sanitary plans shall be car
ried out as far as possible.
That the title to the Isle Of Pines shall
be determined by a future treaty.
That the government of Cuba shall sell
or lease to the United States lands neces-
sary for coaling or naval stations.
Uneasiness Over the Outlook.
The uneasiness which is felt in Washing
ton over the outlook for the future rests
upon the possibility of friction arising out
Of the desperate industrial and economic
situation threatened in the island. It has
been claimed that the prospect is very
alarming in that respect, and American
statesmen fear that II will react unfavor-
ably upon the political negotiations
1t is the earnest desire Of every man in
Congress who has been in any way con-
nected with the dramatic series of events
designed for Cuba's acknowledgment, to
put the Cubans in possession of their own
at the earliest moment possible. They
would regard it a national calamity, a
disparagement of the national honor if po-
he pjV fhA han
and at the same time a commercial situa-
ton precipitated upon them which would
render that freedom worthless and virtual
ly force annexation upon them as an al
tentative of industrial ruin
1t is realized that when the Cuban eX-
ecutive government is created, as 1t will be
within two weeks, the industrial situation
will come nearer the crisis. The desperate
condition of affairs will be made more ap-
parent, and when the congress begins it's
deliberations no one can foresee the extent
to which the discussion and the criticism
of the policy of the United States might
proceed.
Question of Annexation.
Many statesmen in the American Con-
gress think the ultimate annexation Of
But without exception they want that day
postponed to the uttermost, and they want
Cuba to finally come of her own free will
and accord, and not driven by despair.
ious that everything possible should be
done to promptly launch the new republic
upon a career of political freedom and COM
mercial prosperity; to prove the assertions
of disinterestednesS with which the United
States went into the war with Spain.
With the beginning Of Cuban indepen-
dence but two weeks off there was today
no move by Congress in the direction of
granting the Industrial relief so impera-
lively requested for the Cubans. So far as
an intimation of action from the ways and
means committee is concerned, the sphynx
is a chatterbox in comparison with that
body. A deep, dense silence Is maintained
by the members upon the question Of prob
able practical legislation.
The Proposition Of Mr.. Morris.
Representative Morris Of Minnesota. who
introduced a bill in the House last week
proposing to deal with the question of
tariff concessions to Cuba, will amend the
measure Explaining the case this after
noon Mr.. Morris said to a Star reporter:
After going over the figures carefully
in the light Of further information re-
ceived from officials of the Treasury De-
partnent who are well acquainted with
the workings OF the rates of the sched-
ules. am satisfied it would be well to so
amend the bill that the rate on refined
sugar would not be increased at all. This
would not change the method proposed,
which is to increase the revenue from
sugar by raising the rate on raw sugar
operates in favor Of the refiner or
the sugar trust The increase in the rev.
enue produced by thus amending the bill
would not be as much as one-half of the
amount which would go to Cuba on a
concession Of 33 1-3 per cent. but would be
just about one-half that amount on a %
per cent concession.
Whatever the concession the balance
will have to be paid out of the surplus
revenues. Thus the whole people will be
bearing the greater part of the burden
and the sugar trust would be compelled,
as far as 1t is possible to be done by
tariff schedule, to bear the other part, and
their power to crush or cripple rivals
would be diminished By keeping the rate
on refined sugar what It is now. the nrice