The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-28
eral revision of the tarir. in making a

eIdI IeNlSlOn OI Ine IdIlllE III uldklIlB u proper reduction of the tariff to meet changed conditions. but I don't propose to submit g. reduction alone on the only product of the American farmer that has any real protection. When you get ready to take 20 per cent of duty off steel and iron, I speak for my people when l say we will agree to a reduction of duty on sugar We can make all the sugar neces- sary for the United States in this coun- try if we are given only equitable pro- lection. There is a reciprocity in pro- lection that must be maintained and that we are going to Insist on.'
 Mr. Platt. Connecticut, chairman of the committee on Cuban relations, re- piled briefly to MT. Teller's argument. He declared that 1t was in the nature of an attack by the beet sugar trust on the refiners' sugar trust.
 He declared that no effort to excite dis trust of. and prejudice against the su- gar trust would affect materially the real issue of Cuban reciprocity.
 He sharply criticised MT. Teller's speech saying 1t was made up largely from the speculative iniaginations of a witness employed by the beet sugar lobby here"
 Of Political Importance.
 MT. Platt said this was a question of political importance, and one of the most important of such questions present ed to Congress in many a year. He thought only one real question was involved in the reciprocity issue. Is Cuba to be a friendly power, so that in time of trou- ble for the United States, it would be an outpost of this country; or Is 1t to be an unfriendly power, so that this gov ernment might have to seize and an nex the island as a means of defense.
 By affecting a reciprocal arrangement with Cuba, the United States would be z,F Nrf Hrit fol points. He declared there was wonder full opportunities in Cuba for the exten- sion of the United States Referring to MT. Teller's criticism of the sugar trust, the Connecticut senator said:
 You cannot make this question revolve around a prejudice against the sugar trust. It will not down. I am sure sev- enty-five per cent or the people of this country would be humiliated because Con- gress Is going to adjourn without action upon 1t. The people, however, will not be diverted from their duty by anything that may be said to obscure the real issue"
 MT. Platt said that from the time our military forces occupied Cuba, he had believed that eventually either the United States must come into such relations with the Cubans as to produce in them contentment. prosperity and happiness, or that we would be obliged to accept an offer of annexation from a discontented and happy people. He regarded annex ation as one of the greatest dangers to the United States. He could think of no greater menace to the future of shis country.
 Opposes Annexation.
 When we annex Cuba" said he, we shall have taken he first step toward demoralization, if not the disintegration of our republican institutions We have one plain duty to 'rform and that is to so treat Cuba as to make her our last ing friend. I stand for a permanent republic in Cuba, thet is what the amend ment (referring to the so-called Platt amendment) meant which we adopted In reply MT. Teller referred to Mir. Platts expressed fear of annexation as baby cry' and childish attack on those who differed from him on the ques tion of reciprocity. He declared that the question had been started in the inter- est of the great American sugar trust and that the people had been deceived in the question ''by the purchased news pa pers of this country
 Refarring to the pending legislation MT Teller said after taunting MT. Platt for not bringing a bill into the Senate al this session.
 We are prepared to take the bill as 1t now"
 The Cherokee Indian bill then was passed
 The conference report on District of Columbia appropriation bills was agreed to, passing the measure.
 The conference report on Choctaw and | Chickasaw Indian treaty bill was agreed | to.
 The Senate concurred in the House amendments to the bill providing for a term of the United States Circuit Court | of Appeals to be held Tn Atlanta each | year.
 | A bill was passed to incorporate the So- ciety of the army of Santiago de Cuba. The Senate at 5:55 went into executive | session and soon afterward adjourned