The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-12-15

washington, December 12.-The
Senate spent more than five hours to-
day in discussing the Cuban reciproc-
ity bill and during that time three
speeches we're made. Mr.. Oster' OF
Louisiana, led the discussion and "c-
cIpiei the greater part of the day
with an argument in opposition 10
the. measure He declared that its pas
sage would greatly injure. If It did not
destroy the sugar growing industry
of the United States.
Senator Depew, on the Republican
side ana Senator Clay. on the Demo-
cratic, supported the bill rs meas
,Ire in the interest of both countries
Senator Clay said that he accepted II
as Il provision for the reduction oil
duties on the part of both countries
Mr.. Foster declared that there Is no
moral obligation on the part of this
government TO enter into the pro-
posed arrangement with Cuba He
said we are standing at the open
Door of the tar east. saying "" can
comuete with England and Othe: Tor
rights. while we are entering into q
contrary arrangement in our own
hemisphere. Speaking OF the Cil.lA
from the standpoint of business. he
cOutended that even without the pro-
DOSed reciprocal arrangement, the
manufacturers of the United states
could get the Cuban trade if they
would work for it. He also declared
that the reduction of our revenues
which would result from the enact
ment of the proposed law IN tie hNe
years that the law was to Continue
in force would be $35,0OO,OOO or SiO,-
100000 This money must go either
to the Cuban sugar planters o. 10
the sugar trust. In either event, tie
policy was one contrary 10 our own
best interests
The sneaker pronounced the treaty
not only a political and econGmI:
hlunder, but declared 1t falls llttte
short of a Legislative crime. The 1un-
damentaI error of the measure, he
says is the taking of the fruits ana
vegetables of Florida and the far west.
the tobacco and sugar products or TINS
country and placing them in COM
petition with the Cuban products. in
which the tariff is reduced twenty
per cent. He predicted that the pref
erentiaI provision of the treaty VIII
bring on Il tariff war with foreign
countries. because any thing coming
In from foreign countries Will be DIS
criminated against. Reciprocity, ne
said. was called by some Republicans
the handmade of protection and by
some Democrats the handmald OF
free trade. but in this age of COM
mercialisn. If he might so term II.
he declared. reciprocity to be the
handmade of special interests
Senator Foster declared that be
hind the treaty are every power and
influence of the sugar trust, giving as
his reasons that the building up OF
the beet sugar industry of the west
means the down pulling of the sugar
trust Cuba is competent within
the life of the treaty" said Mr.. Eos
ter. Ito make all the sugar this coun-
try needs. 1t can make sugar cheap
er and with the reduction which Is
made in this treaty. il means the SLOW
but sure death Of the best industry
and the certain death of the cane IN
dustry in my State.
Mr. Fairbanks inquired the r@lativ'
cost of the production of sugar II
Cuba and of both cane and beet suSaI
in The United States.
Mr.. Foster gave the cost of sugar
production in Cuba at from l cen
10 l - cents per pound. while. III
said. the cost of cane sugar prOduC
cents pound and of beet sugar II
the west IT a slight increase over thi
figure.
Mr.. Fairbanks then asked if tn
sugar industry of Cuba would not. II
time. inundate the industry of thi
country even without this tariff re
duCtiOn.
Mr.. Foster replied that probabl
would be the result. but that the pas
sage of this bill would only hasten il
Mr.. Foster closed his speech wit
the declaration that the passage G
this bill would mean a denial to tn
sugar states Of the slsterly consider
alton due from other states. and pre-
dicted an outbreak of SectiOnaliSr
not unlike that which prevailed in III
South in civil war times.
Mr.. Depew. in response to this de
cIared that Mr.. Fosters cOnCludin
remarks had no rightful place in tn
debate on the bill before the Senat
He said this bill shows no sectiona
ism. nor revival of the old feeling bt
tween the South and North, and +
declared that while Louisiana is intel
ested, 1t is no more so than Colorad
Arizona, New Mexico. Michigan, NJ
braska, New York and a number
other states. This, he said. Shoul
end discussion Of the character IL
duIged in by the Senator from Loui
lama. The Senator expressed the b