Middletown transcript., 1902-02-22

Monday the House of Representative
teok up the bill reported by the Way
and Means Committee abolishing tn
war revenue taxes. II the present pr,
gram is successful 3 rule will first b.
adopted prohibiting the offering of mo
tions during the discussion of the meag
ure and limiting the debate to two days
This is regarded as necessary by til,
leaders to prevent Democratic filibuster
ing and an effort to precipitate the ques
tion of tariff reform, policy which the
President opposes as strongly as the lead.
ers in Congress.
The WAYS and Means Committee Mon
day took up the question of affording
relief to Cuba by reciprocity or other
means. There is wide diversity of op-
iniOn as to the advisability of such a
measure and as to the means to be en-
ployed, if it is determined that some-
thing must be done. No amount Of
questioning from Chairman Payne,
whom Isaw Monday morning, secured any
further information than that the Com
mittee would try and determine some
means of meeting the Presidents wishes
without injury to any American industry.
Mr.. Roosevelt is 30 firmly convinced that
our duty to Cuba necessitates this action
and certain of the Republicans are so
strong in their belief that il would be
wisdom to take steps to secure the bulk
of the Cuban trade that it is most pro-
bable some measure will be framed but
even the members of the Committee are
at loss to determine what form it will
take.
- f=T
Representative Samuel D. Woods, of
speaking on this subject, tells
me that he considers the position of the,
President most erroneous one and that
he is confident that, had the President
had the time and the opportunity to lis-
ten TO the testimony before the Ways and
Means Committee on the subject, he
would have changed his position. ''The
party" said Mr.. Woods" IL
pledged by its national platforms to pro-
tect the beet sugar interests. This nation
has, At the direction OF the Republican
party, spent thousands of dollars and
thousands of lives to free Cuba and now
Mr.. Roosevelt wants US to assume ths
ARE of horde of foreigners at the ex-
oense of our own people. The form of
'ur government is not paternal and
here iscertainly no reason why the pat
inony of American farmers should be
urned over to lot of idle dagoes. To-
lay, all the Cuban laborers are employed
md at good wages. They get $23 per
month and II their sugar industry Is tuy- |
her developed they will have to import
1hinese and other cheap labor to do it.
The fact is that the Cuban sugar crop o
n the hands Of speculators, many of
hem Americans, and that the same peo-
lie have purchased options on the crops |
or some years 10 come. Now thay want |
IS to lower The tariff in ordefto increase
heir profits. The laborers and the plant
RS win gain n1thipg from any reciprO-
q arrangements We may adopti Il win |
llgo into the hands of g few sugar men. !"
Representative Joseph g. Sibley, of
told me Saturday, in
peakiRg al the prospect of the Ways and
leans Committees reporting measure
roviding for reciprocity with Cuba, that
nth certain provisions be would be will
NJ to vote for 1t. He said: "The experts
sll me that our lands will produce beets
from to per cent. more
ugar than will the lands Of competing
ountries, such as Germany. The beets
rown in Germany will yield but 1871 per
ent while in some sections in this coun-
y the yield is as high as Is per cent.
nd in my State it is from Is to l6.
therefore,, argue that the time is not
cry remote when we will produce all the
1gar we require for onr own consnmp-
on. do not admit that we owe any
hing to Cuba. We have secured for her
Ne most priceless pearl than can be be-
'owed npon mankind ier freedom
sFetthalasa / aRl Wiling ia help heF
ven fattheF in8his say. ! am willing to
ole for bill shat win return, In the
,fm Of bounty say Is psE eeat. ut our
resent duties, Tor . deiarnils siod,
Of 10 exceed three yeaFs II tie most.
~ opinion Is shat befare that time Cuba
i'll be eIamoring for Snnexafion to the
Tnitsd Etates i an willing to do this
OF because consider that we owe ii TO
uba bat because she els young ana II
link we can afford 10 help bese upSn
sr feet, % 81 spsak =
Representative W1aswofth, OF New
'ork, said Monday: am opposed to
in every form. l do not say
nat would not vote for some temporary
.easurs of relief to Cuba il I was certain
bat 1t would iniuFe no American ipdusI
", but am opposed also to any form
bounty and / do not see how relief is
) be brought shout without working q
ardship to our own people" No one
ould be found Monday orsunday who
rould make any sort of prediction as to
be outcome ofthe Committees deliber-
lions; although j saw most of the mem
ers Ofthe GamMittse,4
W
The Senate has varied its regular per-
,rmance, 80 speech BY the Democratic
,ember on the Philippines reveaus bill"
,ng enough to give some consideration
, the permanent census bill during the
ast week and II is believed thss both
I'LL pass within few days. The Demo-
rats have almost exhausted their oratory
n the subject and can hardly put of the
nal vote much longer.