The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-07
PEOPLE ARE MISTAKEN
Junior Senator Thinks Platform In
dorsement of Delegates Could Not
Be Palmer and Explains
Cuban Situation.

Minnesota delegation and President
| Roosevelt, or that the president has a
| plan of Cuban reciprocity.
Senator Clapp says that all the
president wants is that something
shall be done for Cuba and that the
president would not thank anyone for
| suggesting that he has a plan or has
suggested plan to congress. The
Whole thing in a nut shell, says Sena-
tor Clapp, is difference Of opinion in
! congress touching Details which he
believes will be satisfactory settled be-
| Tor congress meets again in December
The senator is home for the lone
vacation and will spend a large por-
ton OF 1T in st. Paul aightening UP
his personal affairs and his law prac-
uce. The remainder or the time will
be put in tour of the state for the
discovery and patching of any holes
that may exist in the senatorial fence.
In discussion of the work of congress
yesterday Senator Clapp said:
1t was long and very important
session. During the seven months we
adjourned over only three Saturdays.
Ihe most important legislation was, of
course, the Philippine measure. The
practical difference between the two
parties was that the Democrats in
sisted we should announce just what
we purposed to do. The Republicans
regard Philippine legislation as forma-
tive and feel that it would be a mis-
take to announce in advance Just what
can or will be DONE
May Get Franchise.
The Philippine bill, as finally passed.
provides for a census and ultimately.
II the conditions warrant, the election
of the lower house of a Philippine leg
islature, and is probably as wise an
arrangement as the present conditions
would warrant.
Another important measure was the
fsthmian canal. 1t seemed to the ma
Jor1ty that the Panama route Is prefer
able, provided title can be secured. If
this cannot be done in eighteen months
| the law provides for the Nicaraguan
route. The question of title is diff
cult one on which eminent authorities
disagree and the whole matter is left
with the president
We all recognize that in our DEAL
1ngs with Cuba we are greatly en-
barrassed by the Teller resolution,
which, while 1t simply voiced the sent
iments of the American, people, gave
grounds for charges of bad faith be-,
cause we did not sooner organize a
Cuban government.
In response to q request for an ex-
PLANTATION of the difference of opinion
between the insurgents and the adj
ministration on the Cuban reciprocity
question, Senator Clapp said there
really is no difference of opinion be-
cause the president has no plan map
would hn AZ
appointed If a plan were charged to
him. He said:
THE Cuban question has given rise
to great deal of discussion and it is
very much misunderstood. The feel
ing In favor of doing something for
Cuba is, so far as my observation
goes, almost universal in congress. A
bill came over from the house which
provided for reduction of 20 per cent
in the tariff on Cuban sugar 1t is
not generally understood that Cuban
sugar is what is commonly known as
raw sugar. 1t has to pass through
the hands of the refining companies
before it can be used generally. A
small amount is used directly by can
ners and confectioners, but for COM
mon uses it has to be refined.
Trust Disapproves Bill.
The bill as it came to the senate
provided that the differentials should
be taken off refined sugar, or, in other
words, the tariff. 1t also provided that
before the bill should become opera
tive, Cuba should enact legislation on
the Importation of labor That is.
prohibit contract and coolie labor the
same as we have done for the United
States, Hawaiian islands, Philippines
and Porto Rico.
The refining intereets naturally OBJ
Jected for two reason. First, it would
interfere with the duty on refined SUI
gar; and, second, it would interfere
With the employment of contract and
coolie labor in Cuba. The gentlemen
composing the refining syndicate and
their associates are largely interested
in Cuban sugar lands, and Qaconic-
ally) the bill was not reported out Of
committee.
A number Of senators, largely West
ern men, insisted that whatever was
done should be in view of three prin-
ciples. First, the benefits sought to be
conferred on Cuba should go to those
who actually needed; second, and that
is merged in the first, that the bene-
fits should not go to the sugar trust:
third, that inasmuch as the debt we
owe Cuba Is a debt the whole people
owe, no one industry should be made
bear the whole burden, and to avoid
that result if possible.
Several propositions were submit
ted. One was the rebate plan, by
which the benefits would go directly to
the Cuban government to be distri-
buted by it as it saw fit. Another was
a simple reduction of 20 per cent on
raw sugar, with a provision that if
the president discovered that the hen
ehts were not going to planters he
could suspend them by proclamation.
Both were objected to by the Western
men, as they did not provide for pro-
hlb1tory labor laws and did not limit
the planters who might receive benefits
to citizens of Cuba.
Only Question of Details.
Under the proposition as presented,
Americans who owned large tracts of
sugar lands could secure the benefits.
notwithstanding the proclamation pro-
vision. While the matter was in this
condition congress adjourned. All at
temptS to show that there is any hos
tility or opposition TO Cuban recip-
rocity on the part of the Western men
will fall through. There s.none The
whole question is matter of details
which will be satisfactorily solved by
the time congress meets again in De-
cember.
How about the alleged illegal ex-
pend1ture of public money by Gen.
Wood, and what will be done about
it2'
Nothing will be done about it," in
terposed the senator. This expendi-
ture was perfectly legitimate from
Woods standpoint. If he had thought
1T advisable in the interest of Cuba
to send commission or commissioners
to the United States and used Cuban
funds for that purpose, no one would
have questioned the propriety Of his
action. He happened to take the 9TH
er course, deeming it better to employ