The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-03
Congress and Cuban Reciprocity.

OcDU fALhh AoS bCht - WYNN
to President ROOSEVELT expressing
the satisfaction of the agriculturalists
of Cuba over the fact that the United
States Congress will shortly be sum
moned to consider the subject Of recl-
procity with Cuba, and expressing con-
fidence that Congress will do justice to
to the island by approving the treaty
The Cuban planters hitched their
wagon to the Roosevelt star in Decem-
Der. 1901, when in his message to the
Fifty-seventh Congress the President
urged upon that body "weighty reasons
of morality and Of national interest,
and earnestly asked their attention to
"the wisdom, indeed to the vital need,
of providing for substantial reduction
in the tariff duties on Cuban imports
into the United States
Cuban faith in the generous purposes
of the American Congress has been
fearfully shaken.
The long session Of the Fifty-seventh
Congress showed that body to be be-
yond Presidential control in the Cuban
business. A new condition presented
itself before the short session. Cuba
had become nominally independent
republic and treaty relations were pos
sible. Again the President urged action,
though with less vigor and with less of
insistence for generous and Substantial
reductions. Congress adjourned without
effective action.
The President was cast down, but he
was not destroyed. He might modify
his demands for Substantial conces-
sions and accept instead of them a Jug
handle treaty, but that treaty must be
effected If 1t took an extra session to
accomplish it, Therefore it was de-
clared unto the islanders and the world
that Congress should meet in extra
session for the express purpose of doing
justice to Cuba.
This firm determination Of the Presi-
dent will, of course, be adhered to.
Nothing else can be expected from Mr..
ROOSEVELT.
In consideration of the present status
of the matter of reciprocity with Cuba
two questions appear prominently:
Do the Cubans approve the terms OF
the proposed treaty?
Is immediate action upon the treaty
necessary?
AS to the first question, it may be said
that the treaty finds only a qualified
approval. 1t asks too much from the
Cubans in return for that which it gives
them. But they understand that its
conditions are the best that are likely
to be granted to them by the stronger
power, and that some small benefit will
accrue to their industries. Therefore,
on the ground that something is better
than nothing, the measure, with little
doubt, will be accepted by the Cubans.
The special desire and earnest wish
of the planters is that it shall be acted
upon and disposed Of, in one way or the
other, without further delay. For two
years their interests have been upon
tenterhooks. Uncertainty has pre-
vailed Buyers have hesitated to buy
Sellers have not known whether to sell
or to hold. Prices have been persist
emily uncertain. Determination of this
uncertainty, even adversely, would be
preferable to it's continuance.
All consideration Of that moral obliga-
ton" which was so vehemently urged
during the winter of 1901 1902 has prac-
tically disappeared. But new obliga-
ton, equally potent and equally moral,
has arisen. 1t is that we should no
longer keep the Cuban planters in a
state of costly and wearing suspense
II our market il TO be opened to them
on more favorable terms, it should be
so decided without further delay. II
not, the Cubans should be- made aware
of the fact, clearly and promptly, that
they may adjust their affairs to inevitable
conditions.
Some opponents OF an extra session
have urged that it was unnecessary in
view of the fact that the Cuban sugar crop
IL not made, and therefore not mar
keted until the closing months OF winter
and during the spring For that rea-
son, it has been argued the determine
ton of market prices by treaty action
several months before the marketing
of the crop is in no way imperative
This is an error born of ignorance OF
sugar market conditions. The estab-
lishmsnt Of prices at the beginning Of
the crop is most desirable, II it be not all
important The reason for this IL plain,
Vow planters in Cuba are now in q
tpanciM position 20 harvest their croI
without borrowing money A few arr
able 10 borrow upon terms which H.
them are moderate, but which 10 III
would be- exorbilant Most must pa,
usuIiOlI. rates Few IN the island ear
borrow AZ as low u rate ~ u per cent
The rate runs from that up W 10 and u
per nopl The prospective crop is RiyeI
~ SECURITY for the Tom A knowledg,
thai his SALES will bs made in the spring
AZ improved priass enhances ths ysly'
81 tbs planters security, enables hin
to effect his loan upon better terms ~
to BORROW larger sum with which h,
nnD baryes, hls crop 10 better sG0nOWi'
advantage, sHablas hIm ~ pay b,ghs,
wages ~ hls employees or 10 pay then
more promptly.
In these facts there Hes the aDsws