Evening star., 1902-02-03
SITUATION DEMANDS RELIEF
GENERAL WOODS LETTER TO MEM
BEERS OF THE SENATE.
with Duties On Cuban Sugar Cut One
duction of Only 4S Cents.

A circular letter, which emphasizes the
Presidents views on Cuba and which is
signed by Gen. Leonard Wood, has been
sent to the members of the Senate. The let
ter. which follows. urges Immediate action
In the way Of tariff reduction:
Headquarters
Military Governor Of Cuba,
Havana.
January so, 1902
My Dear Sir: desire to invite your most
earnest attention and consideration to the
economic conditions existing I'm Cuba TODAY
conditions which threaten to bring ruin to
her principal industries. sugar and tobacco
unless prompt and efficient relief is given.
With the the ruin of her two principal in
dustrfes we must give up all hopes OF q
stable government for unless Cuba can sell
her products at a reasonable profit 1t is OBJ
v1ous that their cultivation must cease,
bringing fdleness and hunger to her people
We have established a reasonably efi-
cient government in Cuba, with all those
numerous ad1uncts which pertain to a sta
BILE. civilized administration. such as
schools. courts, sanitation, public works,
etc. The outlay for the maintenance of
these necessary adjuncts to the govern
ments is necessarily large and the revenues
therefor are derived principally from ma
and tobacco. These great Industries are
now In a most critical condition, especially
sugar. which is being sold at a price less
than the cost OF production. The planter
loss. for his entire fortune is in the fields
and Is liable to be swept away by fire or
deteriorate from the effects Of the e!e-
ments.
1t can be safely stated that the average
cost OF production of sugar throughout the
island Is not less than cents per pound; |;
by production is meant the production and
the grinding Of the cane. sacking and ship
ping Of the sugar and placing 1t alongside
ship. at which point it is sold The present
selling price is approximately 1.6 cents per
pound. or $3.50 per sack. The cost of pro-
ducton is. on an average, Sc per sack.
and the average loss today at the present
prices runs from ST. 20 per sack to perhaps
20 cents per sack where conditions are
more favorable. such as short freight haul
| lesser lighter charges, etc. The duty per
sack Is $5.O4 A reduction Of 33b per cent
in this duty will give reduction of 81. 6S
per sack, which, added to the average SELL
| ing price of $3.50 per sack, gives S64S, or
| an average profit of 4S cents on each 300
pounds Of sugar produced. 1t Is believed
when all the contingencies are considered
| that such a moderate profit is as little as
should be considered, and the SO 1-3 per
| cent should be the minimum reduction
granted.
The people Of this island have done all It
| is possible for the people to do. They have
maintained their credit despite the burden
of mortgage and debt hanging over them
but they have reached their limit. The
present prices of sugar are lower than ever
has been known. The over-production of
bounty-fed sugars has been the principal
cause OF this condition, and as prices are
today Cuba. without any bounty (Which it
Is impossible to grant,, and without any
tariff reduction, Is forced to compete with
sugars protected by a high bounty and
American sugars protected by a tariff
which is prohibitive. Each day Of delay in
| giving relief is dangerous. When once the
crash comes relief will be of little value
| except to the speculator who may gather
| up the wrecks here; the people Of the coun-
try. who have virtually reconstructed it In
| three years, will be ruined, and we shall
| have to step in and reoccupy the country
| or continue in occupation and do over again
| the work which we have spent thousands
| Of lives and much treasure in doing up to
| date. The situation demands relief, and it
| should be immediate and liberal I trust
you will give the matter your favorable
and earnest attention. Very respectfully.
| LEONARD WOOD
| Military Governor of Cuba