The San Francisco call., 1903-01-09
CUBAN TREATY
IS THE THEME
Representatives Of Beet
Sugar Interests in
Session.
Secretary of Agriculture at
Conference in Wash
ington.

WASHINGTON, Jan. S-Representa-
tives Of the American Beet Sugar Associ-
alton to-day met in annual session at the
Arlington Hotel in this city. During the
day, before the meeting the members OF
the association held informal conferences,
but when they entered formally upon
their meeting at o'clock no conclusions
as to what action would be taken had
been reached. The principal subject of
consideration was the attitude the asso-
citation would assume toward the Cuban
reciprocity treaty now pending in the Sem
ate.
Henry T. Oxnard, president Of the as
ISOLATION, informed President Roosevelt a
few days ago that so far as he personally
was concerned he would withdraw what
ever opposition he had to the Cuban
treaty. He believed that that would be
the view taken by the association, all
though he did not undertake to pledge the
association not to oppose the treaty.
When the representatives of the associ-
atiaI.-sAet here to-day some objections
developed to the taking of any action ia
vorable to the treaty. During the inform
al conferences in the early part of the day
a majority of the larger beet sugar grow
ers and manufacturers expressed them
would bring about stability In the indus
try 1t was pointed out that the treaty
would insure for five years specific tariff
rates with Cuba on sugar, but some or
the representatives said they were not so
certain that the treaty in fact would ac-
complish that result.
If they could be assured Of that, they
said, they were willing to withdraw any
opposition they might have to it. At the
fret Of ha tiOO the matter
was discussed at length, the arguments
al times becoming decidedly spirited. No
conclusion had been reached when the as
socia ton took a recess until o'clock to-
night.
Subsequently Oxnard and some other
members of the association had a confer
ence in Oxnard's apartments with Secre-
tary Wilson of the Agricultural Depart
ment Before the conference with Secre-
tary Wilson Senator Burrows Of Michigan
discussed the question thoroughly with
some of the beet sugar representa- of
his State.
At the meeting tonight resolutions
were passed Withdrawing opposition TO
Cuban reciprocity, but recommending
that the treaty be so amended as to ex-
press in precise language what is intend
ed TO be secured by it to the beet sugar
manufacturers of the United States, viz,
that during the period of five years COW
cred by the treaty no sugar exported
from Cuba shall be admitted to the
United States at reduction greater than
20 per cent of the rates of duty thereon,
provided by the tariff act of July 24.
1887.
The association also adopted a resolu-
ton protesting against the unnecessary
stimulation of the sugar and tobacco in
dustries OF the Philippine Islands by
means Of further tariff reductions, thus,
az the resolution stated, encouraging the
people of those islands, where the labor is
but a few cents per day, TO produce those
things which this country can produce
rather than such commodities as we are
unable to produce.
The. action of the association was not
unanimous, the vote on the passage of
the resolution standing to 2, although
Henry I. Oxnard, president of the asso.
citation, said he had enough proxies with
him to make the vote IL to 2. The op-
ponents of II resolution claim there are
thirty or more factories in the associa-
ton, and that the representation at the
meeting does not comprise half Of them