The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1902-04-11

AS is well known, this ditferentlal
furnishes the major portion of the
enormous profits of the sugar trust
and its removal would not only
benefit the consumers by reducing
the cost of sugar, but would, to
ssan!e extent, dissipate the power OF
that octopus-a power freely used
to the detriment of the beet sugar
producers. Facing the alternative
of voting contrary to the interests
of the consumers and the beet SUI
oar producers on one hand, and of
voting against their friend, the
trust, on the other, the Republi-
cans were sorely perplexed, but
Chairman Payne came to their res
cue and, without rhyme or reason,
decided that the amendment was
not IN order. A similar ruling
will probably save the members of
the House when the bill comes up
for consideration there, as Mr..
Tawney will again present his
amendment.
When the Cuban reciprocity bill
gets to the Senate it will have to
face serious opposition. Senator
Elkins and Senator Burrows are
both determined that it shall not
pass and seventeen Democratic
Senators will espouse their cause.
1t is believed that the House has
delayed the passage of the measure
until the Trust has secured options
on all the sugar in Cuba and its
enactment at this late date will
serve merely to increase the profits
of the trust. Senator Perkins, of
California, tells me that the bill
will never pass the Senate. He
refuses to make public his figures
but it is known that he has made
a careful canvass and he ought to
know the situation in the upper
chamber. 1t will take forty. five
votes to defeat the measure in the
Senate and forty have been pledged
Where Senator Perkins expects to
secure the other five votes is not
known.
The investigating committee of
the House, appointed in response
to the resolutions of Representa-
tive Richardson, has not, so far,
unearthed any fraud in regard to
the alleged bribery by one Captain
Christmas, whereby Christmas
claims that he promoted the ratif
cation of the Danish West Indies
treaty, and it is not anticipated
that any corruption will be dis
covered, but the members of both
parties are glad that the charges
are being investigated as other
wise they might be the basis for
many unfounded rumors impeach-
ing the honor of the Congress of
the United States.
The efforts of Senator Hanna to
secure the interference of the
President with the sentence pro-
upon the defaulter Rath-
bone, who has been convicted of
embezzlement by the Cuban courts
in connection with the famous Gu
ban postal frauds, are regarded
with great complacency by the
Democrats. Mr.. Hanna will. it is
believed, be the candidate of Re
publican politicians for the Presi-
dency two years hence and this eff
fort on his part is considered an
evidence of the kind of govern
ment which the people would Sc
cure by voting for him. Rathbone
has strong political influence and
his release would be another credit
to the Senator from Ohio with the
politicians, but how the people
will regard his efforts remains to
be seen. The President has posi-
lively refused to pardon Rathbone,
notwithstanding Mr.. Hanna'splead
ing and threats, but he has con-
scented to have the case reviewed
by the Attorney General and MIR.
Rooseyelt's admirers are earnestly