The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-16
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Have Another Hearing Before
Ways and Means Committee.

Washington, Jan. 16-Cuban reciprocity
was again under consideration today
by the ways and means committee, with
large representations of Cubans and of
the various sugar and tobacco interests
in attendance. A delegation from the
New York Produce Exchange favorable
to reciprocity, and several delegations
from the beet growing sections opposed
to reciprocity, arrived this morning;
Evan Thompson, ex-preSident OF the
New York Produce Exchange, presented
the views of that organization. He said
that last year $9,000.000 of American
food products went to Cuba, about 20
per cent. of the business being done by
members of the produce exchange. Con-
tinuing he said:
Should the United States refuse to
grant a reduction of duty on the inn
ports of the two great staples of Cuba
(sugar and tobacco, we believe the re-
suit will be ruin to the planter, bank
ruptcy to the merchant and great dis
tress to the laboring classes of Cuba,
followed by serious industrial disturb
ances and disorder.
Financial and economic disaster to
Cuba will correspOndingly injure our
trade and materially reduce our exports
of flour, corn, lard, bacon, pork, beans,
peas, canned goods and other commodi-
ties. The material reduction of exports
and our imports to and from Cuba fol-
lowed by a corresponding decrease in
the carrying trade will result in a loss
of freight to ship owners
This committee urges such reduction
in the duties now levied on sugar and
tobacco will avert this impending
disaster and thereby safeguard the in
terests we represent"
Representative Mcclellan of New
York. called attention to circulars re-
ceived by himself and other members
of the committee, attacking the current
sugar quotations, and stating they were
influenced by the sugar trust. The bust
ness men present gave their opinion
that quotations We're accurate and fair
ly impartial. Mr.. Mcclellan remarked
in this connection that there was an evil
dent purpose in some quarters of preju-
dicing the cause of Cuban reciprocity
by creating public impression that the
trust was behind it, whereas all the wit
nesses thus far had shown that the
Cuban cause stood on it's own merits.
Charles Rabidan and G. P. Armstrong,
of the produce exchange, also spoke in
favor of reciprocity, and were examined
at length by Chairman Payne and MEM
berS of the committee on the details of
our export trade to the island and the
effect of reciprocity on various sugar
interests.
Representative Robertson of Louisi-
| ana asked a series of questions tending
to show that the Cuban people had not
spoken for reciprocity. and that the
movement was directed by 1.-The sugar
people, interested in the trade.
Mr.. Armstrong answered that the in
terests of all of the Cuban people were
must stand or fall with it.
Mr.. Robertson also sought to show
that American capitalists were buying
large sugar tracts in Cuba and would
be benefited by reciprocity more than
Cuban people.
Louis Place. head of the Cuban dele
cation was heard as to the tariff reduc-
lions Cuba was likely to make in order
to give the United States control of the
market. He said the Cuban tariff was
very low now and should be raised so to
20 per cent and after that differential
granted to the United States sufficient
to control the trade, as against other
countries. He favored ultimate free
trade both ways, which he said, was the
only solution of 7Cuba's commercial
problem.
When Representative Long of Kan
saS brought out that MIR. Place had
fought free trade at Havana, the Cuban
spokesman explained amid laughter,
that he had yielded to the majority and
that by asking much 1T was hoped to
get as near that as possible.
He gave so to so per cent as the low
est concession which would grant re-
lief
AS the hearings closed Representative
Richardson of Tennessee, the ranking
Democrat on the committee said: II
notice that a very prominent United
States senator is quoted in today'S pa
per as saying the senate will settle this
whole question, will make a treaty and
that we win have nothing to do with
it."
He will find out differently before he
gets through" answered Dalzeu of
that the tobacco men would be heard
on the 21st, the beet sugar interests on
the 22d and that Gen. Wood was ex-
pected up from Cuba. The committee
then adjourned subject to the call of
the chairman.