Evening star., 1902-02-21
FOR CUBAN RELIEF
Ways and Means Committee
Still at Sea.
LONG BILL DISCUSSED
KANSAS MEMBER WARMLY DE-
FENDs HIS MEASURE.
Proposition of Sliding Scale of Re
duction Growing in
LONG BILL DISCUSSED

| he TepuDlcdnS OF the ways ana means
committee resumed consideration at .
| O'Clock this afternoon of the question OF
Cuban relief When the members went into
conference they were apparently as far
apart upon the different propositions as
| they We're when they adjourned late yester-
| day afternoon.
| hfte1 The Stars report of yesterday 5
| session closed the members Of the committee
| present at the conference had very inter
| esting session. The first definite reciprocity
proposition thus far presented to the conf
| mittee offered by Mr.. Long of Kansas.
| 1t came in the form of a bill which ne I'D
! he was prepared to indorse, and provided!
| for reduction of 40 per cent in the tariff
| on all imports from Cuba, provided the
| CubanS give a like reduction of tariff upon
| at. American products going into the island.
Mr. Longs bill was understood, although
! no declaration to that effect was made N
! the conference, to have the Endorsement of
| the administration. The proceedings Of he
| conference, therefore, took Il more i'm
portant aspect in consequence.
Long Bill Opposed and Defended.
The Long bill was vigorously opposed by
| the high protectionists of the committee
who are averse to cutting the tariff sched-
! ule at all. They argued that Mr. Longs
plan would prove to be the. entering wedge
| for other schemes of reciprocity now pend
ing in Congress, and that a general re-
vision Of the tariff might be attemDt ed
also. They said that the consideration of
such bin in the House would open up
the old question of the tariff and lead to
endless debate.
Mr. Long made a very earnest appeal
III behalf of his bill He said that if some
such plan as this were not adopted Com
sress might as well look forward to Cuban
annexation within the next few years. In
the meantime there would be agitation
every year of the tariff relations existing
between Cuba and the United States; there
would be friction over the subject, and if
Cuba did come in as territory she would
come under dureSS and in bad temper
He thought 1t would be much better for all
concerned to enter upon this system of
reciprocity to let the Cuban governme mt
go ahead for few years; during which we
would control absolutely the trade of the
island and commercial and diplomatic rela-
tions would be of the most harmonious
character.
When 1t was suggested to Mr.. Long that
reduction Of 40 per cent in the tariff
on sugar would work injury to the Ameri-
can beet sugar industry Mr. Long was
ready with an argument to controvert the
statement. He doubted whether the beet
sugar industry would ever assume profit
able proportions throughout the country
he said It was a special industry, suit
able for the employment Of cheap labor,
for utilizing the women and children of
the farms and not likely to thrive except
! under irrigation, where production was
forced. Mr.. Long did not regard it as a
typical American industry.
1t was along these lines that the dis
cussion proceeded during the entire session
of the conference yesterday. The high pro-
tectionists We're trying to keep away from
tackling the tariff schedule. They brought
forward the several plans of rebate which
have been mentioned from time to time
conference ended no
bers were no nearer decision than be-
fore.
Sliding Reduction Meeting Favor.
1t is considered doubtful whether the
high protectionists will be successful in
their efforts to keep up the tariff war
against Cuban sugar. 1t is said that the
proposition which was advanced several
days ago by Mr.. Russell of Connecticut is
meeting with some favor. That was tenn
porary reduction Of the tariff on sugar
alone amounting to 2S or possibly 33 1-3
per cent for the first year, a lesser reduce
ton in the duty on the succeeding years
crop Of sugar and a still lower reduction
for the third years crop, the reductions
then to end.
is a sincere desire among the republicans
Of the committee to safeguard the measure
| of relief for Cuba SO that the Cubans will
be the principal benefic.aries Of 1t, and the
SuSdI ~ IlOt Uc pcIh hIttcu W
bulk of the benefit. 1t has been claimed
that the sugar trust was large owner Of
sugar lands in Cuba, and that whatever re-
duction Of the tariff was made would inure
to the benefit Of that corporation In the
end.
Mr.. Tawney. one Of the republican men,
bers of the committee, tried to get a reso-
luton through the House today. calling
upon the Secretary of War for informa
ton as to the purchasers of sugar lands In
Cuba under American occupation. The i'm
mediate adoption OF the resolution was pre-
vented by the objection of Mr.. Payne and
Mr.. Richardson. who wanted it considered
by committee. Mr.. Tawney says that he
would like to know who is going to get the
money that Congress will provide for Gu
ban relief, and that his resolution would
furnish that information.