The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-28
TO THROTTLE CUBA
DESPERATE EFFORTS OF AMERICAN
SUGAR INDUSTRIES.
RECIPROCITY PROPOSITION
Vigorously Fought Before h House
Ways and Means Committee by
Representative of the Sugar Pro-
ducers of this Country-A Sharp
Tilt Between Messrs Richardson
and GrOsvenor Over the Presidents
Attitude on the Question Of Reel
procfty With Cuba.

Washington. January 22.-The hear
ings on Cuban reciprocity were resum-
ed before the ways and means commit
tee today. The best sugar interests Of
the United States occupied most of the
time. being represented by Henry L.
gar Association and by delegations
from those states interested in the pro-
duction of sugar from beets. The zane
sugar interests Of Louisiana also were
well represented and Chairman Payne
arranged to give them a part of the
time.
At the outset Mr.. Place, head of h
Cuban delegation. made a statement TO
clear up misapprehensions on Cuba's
position. He had argued for free trade,
he said. as that was the earnest wish
Of Cuba: but while this was the judg-
men of the Cubal. people, he said, thay
deferred to the judgment of the Ameri-
car congress on the whole question.
Mr.. Oxnard made a extended state
ment of the position of the beet sugar
association. He said beet sugar produc-
ton represented a vast industry brought
into existence by the legislation of con-
gress. which Ia invited capital to in
vest to an extent little realized. Al
ready the industry was fiourishing IN
eleven states, with many people employ
ed and prospects of rapid development.
Continuing he said:
stripped of s~entimentality and all
frame considerations and 6pdllcT-
ing the Cuban demands for tree or freer
to its simplest equation, it is this:
Shall the United Stats through it's ag-
riculturalists produce it's raw sugar and
in it's factories scattered from the Az
lantic TO the Pacific refine it's pro~lucrs,
or shall it permit foreign lands to ex-
port to it the raw material and content
itself merilv with the refining. That is
what 1 fear would eventually come TO
pass if o interfere in any way at the
present time with the existing produc-
ton of home sugar"
Mr.. Oxnard characterized the Cuban
proposition as most vicious and asked
why it was that the American sugar
interest should be singled out for sac
rifice.
Mr.. Oxnard. severely criticised the
American sugar trust and H. Q. Have
meyer.
Chairman tavne asked Mr. Oxnard as
to the report hat he had suggested an
agreement with the Cubans. Mr.. Ok
nard answered that no such agreement
had heen made. There had been a dis
cussion during which it was suggested
that if congress decided to grant con-
cessionS to Cuba. it should be in the
form of a rebate He also denied that
there was any trust in the beet sugar
industry.
Representative G~rosvenor, of Ohio,
and Representative Richardson, of Ten
neSsee. had a sharp exchange during
MIR. OXnard'S examination.
Mr.. Richardson referred to a state
ment by the witness that the sugar
trust instigated the Cuban reciprocity
movement. Reading from President
Roosevelt's message recommending Gu
ban reciprocity, Mr.. Richardson said:
"Do you mean to say that was instigat-
ed in any such way?" ,
Mr.. G%rosvenor interviewed before the
witness could answer. 81 denounce
such proceedings said he emphatical!y,
land I make a point Of order against
such questioning"
Your announcement does not amount
TO anything" replied Mr.. Richardson
This witness asserts that the sugar
trust instigates this movement in be-
half of Cuba"
1T is a plain effort to get the witness
to make an attack on the president
declared Mr.. Grosvenor.
THAT is not true" rejoined Mr.. Rich
ardson.
Mr.. Oxnard finally secured an oppor-
tunity to disclaim any purpose of re-
iecting on the president whose recon-
mendation for Cuban reciprocity he be-
lieved was due to not having all the
facts in his possession.
While the hearing was going on a pc
tition was circulated on the floor Of the
house, requesting the ways and means
committee to make no change in tne
tariff laws likely to in~juriously affect
the beet sugar industry. About forty
five republican members from Michigan,
California. Indiana. Ohio. Kansas, aud
other beet producing states signed the
petition. On the democratic side the
Louisiana members and Mr.. Shafroth,
of Colorado. were among the signe-s.
Those in charge Of the petition expect
to get seventy names before it is pre-
scented to the ways and means COM
mittee.