Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-01-10
CONCESSIONS TO CUBA
President Has Won pls Point il
Matter Of Reciprocity
TREATY WILL NOT BE OPPOSED
Beet Sugar Forces 10 Concentrate Against
Philippine Tariff Bin-lmproyiog
the Ohio River.

Washington, Jan. 8. - [Special.l-
The president has won his point in the
matter of Cuban reciprocity. His de-
termination to have some tariff conces-
siqns made to the new republic pre-
vailed even against very strong opposi-
ton. In the first place, the opposition
of the Republican leaders had TO be
overcome. Later there was the minor
ity of Republicans In the senate, who
We're so successful in the last session
and who were finally brought into line
or their opposition silenced during the
vacation or since the present session of
congress began. The greatest work
was done after adjournment last sum
mer. The declarations of the president
in favor of Cuban concessions met with
favor everywhere. and when senator's
and representatives returned to Wash
ington they did no have the anti-Cu-
ban fight in them that was shown in
the last session. Then came the beet
sugar men with the declarations that
constant agitation was doing them
more harm than would the 20 per cent
concession to Cuba, and the battle was
practically over. 1t seems likely that
the treaty Will be ratified with but lit
tie opposition.
Fears of Beet Sugar Men.
1t is not Cuba that the beet sugar
men fear SO much as the Philippines.
The cut of 20 per cent to Cuba Is a
small matter, they say, compared to
the cut of 20 per cent to the Philip
pines. The house rushed through the
Philippine reduction bill, but the SEN
ate is moving more slowly. Three things
that the Philippine people want, 1t is
claimed, viii greatly injure the beet
sugar growers of the United States.
These are. The reduction of the tariff,
the importation Of Chinese into the
Philippines without restrictions and ~
increase from 5000 to $4,000 acres the
amount of land which a corporation
may acquire. All three, they say, would
be in the interest of Philippine sugar
production and, If all should be accom-
plisheG, would greatly injure the sugar
production in this country. Sc the fight
has been transferred from Cuba to the
Philippines, and instead of resisting
Cuban reciprocity the beet sugar men
are now trying to prevent the passage
of the house Philippine tariff bill.
For the Supreme Court.
When William II. Taft is selected for
the supreme bench, he Will be the sec
ond man called to that honorable posi-
ton who was appointed a circuit judge
by President Harrison, both of whom
left the circuit bench to serve In other
positions before being advanced to the
greatest place to which lawyers can
aspire. Mr.. Justice McKenna was APP
pointed n circuit judge in California
by President Harrison and President
Mckinley named him for his first at
torney general and afterward pominat-
ed him associate justice of the supreme
court. President Harrison first ap-
pointed Mr.. Taft solicitor general of
the department of justice and then adj
yanced him to the circuit bench In
Ohio. He left this position at the ear
nest solicitation of President Mckinley
to become chairman of the Philippine
commission and afterward the first
American civil governor of the archi-
pelago. 1t was understood then that
some time he was to become a justice
of the supreme court.
An Iowa Idea.
THE Ohio river thieves" said Repre-
sentative Hepburn-and he thus desig-
mates men who like to receive large riv-
er and harbor appropriations for the
Ohio riyer-"are talking about a grand
and comprehensive improvement of
that river, and they mean by that the
expenditure of $685. 0 900. Now, the
principal object of keeping the Ohio
river open and n~avigable is to give the
people down the river a cheap rate on
coal. 1t would be cheaper for the gov
eminent TO pay the freight on all coal
to all points reached on the Ohio clear
to the Mississippi. See how much the
government could do in the way of
paying freight by the expenditure of
the interest on $4,000, DOOR But it
WIN be remembered that Hepburn Is
vigorously opposed to the present meth
Cd OF improving rivers and harbors and
considers the Ohio river a local i'm
provement.
Statehood Suggestions.
"WeIl pass the omnibus bill or wei
have an extra session of congress-" de
clare some of the more enthusiastic adj
vocates Of three new states, meaning
that they Will hold up the %appropria-
ton bills or force a vote. But they
can't do that. There are not half a
dozen senators who would force an ex-
TIA session ia order to secure statehood