Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1902-04-18
PA

the United States. The communication
IL too long for columns but the fol-
lowing are brief relations Of the reasons
given.
Investigation by the house ways and
means committee, OF which Mr.. New
lands is a member, shows that prior to
the Cuban civil war, the island produced
about 100000 tons Of sugar. During
the war the production fell off about
100000 tons annually. Meanwhile, the
production OF protected and bounty-fe
sugars III other countries increased.
takirE the place in the worlds markets
formerly occupied by Cuban sugars.
Since the close Of the war with Spain
Cuba has enlarged her production to
$4,000 tons yearly. The result OF all
this has been to create a phenomenally
low price for sugar i'll markets outside
OF the United States. In this country
the price Of sugar is double the inter-
national price, because OF the duty.
which is about equ Il the present mterna
tional price. To this market Cuba seeks
access. As yet she IL i'll no dist ress, her
troubles beng prospective. The pres
emit international price OF sugar equals
the cost OF production in Cuba. 1t is
claimed that the cost Of producing
sugar in Cuba is from . to 21G cents per
pound. IL the crop is sold at a quarter
/ OF Il cent less than the cost Of produc.
ton. it means n loss to the planters Of
% per ton. which on the present crop
would amount to Si.2I".0?0.
But Mr.. NewIuris denies that the
United States is responsible for this
condition, it being worldwide. or that
we are under any moral obligations to
make tariff concessions against our
interests. 1t is not contended that
tarili reduction on Cuban sugar will
cheaper the article to the American
consumer. We produce about one.
third Of the sugar we consume. Cuba
another third and the remainder we get
from other countries. The free al.
mission OF Cuban sugar would double
the value OF the Cuban crop, giving a
bonus to the Cuban planters Of S25.-
100000 or S30,000,O0 and subject our.
selves TO a loss Of about S25,C00,000 in
revenue, while the American people
would continue to pay the same price
Tor their sugar, unless there should ba
such an increase Of Cuban aud Amer.
can production that the sugar from
these sources. alone. will more than
equal our consumption.
Against such IA plan our home pro-
ducers protest. more especially the beet
sugar men. They claim TINT it would
stimulate the production OF sugar in
Cuba. which country as an independent
nation could and would make Use Of
Chinese labor. thus giving them the
double advantage of cheap labor and y
highly protected market.
Those who appeared for Cuba before
the committee were strongly i'll favor
Of II political union between the two
nations which, in itst 10. would mean, full
and free commercial union. IL is per.
fectIy clear that such union would be OF
the greatest benefit to Cuba. Under
existing condi loDs The American sugar
market ia the best IN the world, and is
Likely to remain such for a long time t
come. Even though Cuba should
eventually produce double her present
crop. our w consumptive capacity will
greatly increase, and the present domain
of the republic will produce sugar equal
tn the require ments OF the American
people
Complete commercial union with the
United States would practically double
the value OF every pound Of sugar that
Cuba may have for export, unless her
production OF the staple should increase
Tar more rapidly than Is fairly TO be er.
pected.
The p litical advantages to Cuba o'
incorporation with the United States
can scarcely be measured. The re.
solutions introduced invite her TO be
come II part Of the United States rs nm
organized territory under the coDstitu.
ton and general laws Of congress-, in
Guiding the tariff laws. md her people
to be American citizens. In other
words to become nm embryo State. with
the assurance ultimately oi perfect
Statehood. When this later condition
would be reached, would. Of course rest
with congress-. and must depend upon
tho rapIdity with which the Cuban
people might bring themselves into
harmony with American ideals. No
more splendid future could possibly he
offered to Cuba than that OF ultimate
American Statehood. Mcnnwhile, she
would merely have to pHss through
a probationary period similar to .llni
which was imposed upon nearly all OF
IN States. saw the Original thirteen .
or course reasonable time pusi be
given Cuba for delibe ration. She ahOuld
not bo forced into annexation. My
proposal 10 that n reduction Of - per
cent shall he made in the hutica Of Gu.
ban products for one yoar. This will
tile over existing business difficulties,
aud IA Cuba ia alb nj to inauguratc an
independent government, she will hive
ample time for cOnsidc ration, FREQ from