The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-03-28
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A DIFFICULT PROBLEM.


A few days ago it was reported that
a compromise had been reached be-
tween those in the house who favored
a concession to Cuba in the matter of
sugar duties, and those who are OPP
posing it, by which a reduction of 90
per cent in the duty was to be made.
This concession is not enough to do
any good, that is it will not allow the
planter TO market his crop at small
profit even, but it seemed to be the
best that could be arrived at. But it
seems that no such compromise was
arrived at The gathering was not
caucus of house Republicans, simply
a conference, and those Directing to
such concession, refused to be bound
by action of the majority, SO that
the difficulty is just as great as ever.
1t is now said that if the house passes
a bill granting the 90 per cent conces-
sion the senate will increase it to 33 l-3
per cent. But while the senate might
gain in its contention in this respect,
it would doubtless cause more or less
friction among Republicans, and make
matters bad for the campaign next
fall
The matter of a concession to Cuba
on sugar. presents peculiar difficulties.
In the first place the sugar trust
wants a reduction of duties upon raw
sugars. In fact it would like TO see
the entire duty removed, while it
would not object if that on the refined
product was increased. 1t is said that
the present crop in Cuba has passed out
of thehands of the planter, and whatever
concession is made as to that will do
them no good, but simply benefit the
sugar trust which holds the present
crop and has it stored in warehouses
awaiting such an action as congress
may take. It has been proposed that
the concession be made so that it will
not apply until the next crop is ready
to market, but it is replied to this
that the trust will simply hold on I'M
til then, and make a good profit upon
its present holdings. There does not
seem to be any way by which help
ing hand can be extended to the
Cuban sugar planter, without the
sugar trust reaping some benefit on
the present crop.
D. II; 60 ~ 70
the beet sugar magnates so much as
the fact that in the concession made,
they will lose some of the protection
they now enjoy, though the farmer is
made reason for some of the opposi-
tion to the concession. AS a matter
of fact the sugar duty could be reduc-
ed 90 per cent upon the Cuban crop,
and all of it marketed here. and the
beet sugar producer would never know
the difference. The 30 per cent pro-
lection which he would enjoy against
Cuba would give him ample protec-
ton, while the wide margin between
the total of the Cuban product and
the total consumption of sugar by the
country, would give the beet sugar
industry ample room to grow for
years.
Then what we would gain in the
Cuban trade on basis of reciprocity
would more than Offset any possible
injury which might be inflicted upon
the beet sugar industry, were that
possible. Last year out of the total of
$66, 600, 900 imports of the island the
United States furnished $2S, 900, 000.
1t could just as easily furnish the
greater per cent of this, and it is esti-
mated that upon reciprocal basis the
imports of the island would grow to
nearly the hundred million point
within few years, the greater por-
tion of which would come from the
United States. But as we said at the
outset the fact that the sugar trust
will benefit from the start of this con.
cession, is one of the difficulties in the
way Of doing justice to the Cubans.