New-York tribune., 1902-02-07
CHAMBERS CUBAN PLEA
FOR LOWER TARIFF ON SUG
Ar AND TOBACCO.
4 STRONG MEMORIAL ADOPTED AFTER
A FULL AND FREE DISCUSSION
FX-NfAYOR HEWITT SPEAKS.

A r
Fx-MAYOR HEWITT SPEAKS.
etrong ground in favor Of "a substantial re-
dnc-ion OF the tarif Juties upon Cuban sugar
and tobacco was taken by the Chamber OF
Commerce at ITS annual meeting yesterday.
There was a large attendance of members of the
Chamber and the passage Of the Cuban report
vss by a practically unanimous vote. after d
s-.a discussion. The report was prepared by
.ba Committee on Foreign Commerce and the
EsyeurJe Laws. consisting OF Gustav H Schwab.
Tsco-Ies Huber SiIas D Webb. Isidor Straus and
George 2 Victor and fl embodied a memorial TO
Congress in the name Of the Chamber of Com
mere urging early and favorable consideration
Of the important subject for these reasons.
That the conditions al present existing upon
fhe island Of cuba are such that unless some
rroup- measures Of economic reiler shall be
snnIied distress and suffering among large
re-r Of the population OF the island VIII in
syi-atI-- follow leading TO increased disafection
r,c5f-7Cal dissersi0r and general lawlessness.
that Crra is dependent upon the markets of
-he United States for the disposal at faIr pront
% her two principal pToouetS sugar ana To-
That the export trade Of The United States
20 The island If Cuba, instead or increasing our
i~z the last Two years. has shown continual
Tla- a substantial reduction Of the tariff
duties upon Cuban sugar and tobacco, 10 be fol-
5C--s5 nv reciprocal tariff arrangements with
rha island upon the establishment or an lnde-
renderr Cuban government, Will IN the opinion
Of your uemOrialists. not only nave most pene-
ec4aT results in improving conditions in Cuba,
F77Jr viii also advance the commercial interests
Of The United States
zo7e ayerv consideration OF honorable dealing
fu1peratively demands that. having effected the
complete separation OF the Island ot tuha from
-be kingdom OF Spain The United States should
not now deny 10 the Cuban people the conditions
of peace and prosperity that II IS IN the power
Cf this country 70 grant
The report contained references TO statements
made BY the late President Mckinley, by Presi-
dent Roosevelt and by General Wood. and said:
Relief for cuba is urgently needed, as the
sugar season is now approaching, and unless
Cuban planters are enabled TO export their
sugars 70 this country their crop viii be lost,
causing widespread disaster among the labor
ing population. Your committee believe, on ex-
animation Of the conditions affecting the sugar
and tobacco production Of the United States,
that a material reduction Of the duties of Cuban
sugar and tobacco VIII not 10 any extent IN
iuriouslv affect our interests.
Aside from the considerations of national hon
OF that should guide this country IN its attitude
toward Cuba, there are material reasons Of the
greatest Importance why policy Of tariff con-
cessions looking toward reciprocity Who" =
cuban government is finally installed should be
adopted by the United States. An examination
OF the exports from and imports into Cuba
shows that the exports Of this country 10 Cuba
have decreased during the last two years,
whereas Cuba's imports from some European
increase
tine the increase IN Cuba's exports 10
European countries IS greater than the increase (
ir Ter exports 70 the United States
The valua bic report made by Colonel Sanger
OF the census Of Cuba in 1900 draws attention
70 the fact that in q short time after the re-
m6ral Of duty on sugar in 1891 under the Nc
Kinley act nearly the entire trade Of Cuba was
transferred 10 the United States and Cuba en-
joyed degree Of prosperity never before at
taned. The geographical position Of Cuba IS
such that commercial and political conditions
OF thar island cannot be materially affected
without Weghty consequences for the United
States
n the discussion that followed the reading OF
the report. Thomas Clyde called attention TO the
reported statement OF President Palma, that
anything less than q reduction Of 30 per cent
Of the present duty on sugar imported from
Cuba would be Of no avail 70 relieve distress.
He said he was inclined 10 believe that the pro-
ducers q domestic beet sugar would be unable
10 stand a reduction Of 30 per cent Of Cuban
duty. Ex-NIayor Abram 8 Hewitt said in re-
ply:
The defect in the remarks made by Mr.. Clyde
is this: He assumes that any reduction IN the
rate OF duty viii reduce the price Of sugar. II
that were the fact il would be Of little no
benefit 10 the Cuban planters. They would get
10 more money than they do now. The fact is
that the reduction which is proposed to be
made, the theory which II is proposed 70
Be made, is that the amount Of the reduction
VII be added 10 the price Of the Cuban sugar
50 that the planter viii get the benefit Of It
II that proposition IS wrong the reduction IN
rate VIII do them no good. But the product Of
Cuban sugar is too small in quantity TO AFFECT
the price Of sugar
The only effect Of this relief VIII be 70 give 10
The planter in cuba additional amount which
otherwise he might have TO pay to the Treas
ury- Il VIII not affect the value Of the sugar
here nor the value Of the refined sugar made by
the beet sugar men.
Now, IN regard 10 the beet sugar interest
was approached few years ago TO make sub
flcaT n
fundamental statement was that with the local
9ountles offered by the several States they
could 1--we without any duty upon raw sugar
10 the extent Of my subscription l am still in
lerested. have learned nothing from them
which would lead me 70 doubt that original
opposition. don't know whether IL has made
aloLey OF not, but do know that the persons
~ho subscribed 10 that company all went in
On me fact that no protective duties were neces-
9aIy Whatever. If they We're I would not have
duty
Mr. Clyde again declared his belief that the
Price Of sugar would be affected and he said in
conclusion
=, can't see any possible reason why granting
a. mat you say Is true. sir. the same result /
-ahnot BE- accomplished at the same cost by /
PAYING that money directly TO the people who (
- -eeo Jhe money. Then would know that II /
'OAia 90 70 the right place.
The vote on the report showed that nearly all :
ne members Of the chamber were warmly in +
isyor OF it,
III JUROR POSTPOyES P1TRICK TRIAL. .
The ne trial Of Albert T. Patrick for the murder Of
,lafn Marsh Rice has been adjourned 70 next
Jurosa or account Of the continued illness OF
D.