New-York tribune., 1909-03-22
CUBANS TO ASK RELIEF
CONCESSIONS FOR RAW
SUGAR DESIRED.
Planters Fear Intervention Unless
Something Is Done-Treaty Pro
Uision Stands an Way.
From The Tribune Bureaul

Washington, March 21.-An earnest EFFORT Is
soon to be made by representatives. or the sugar
industry in Cuba to secure some further CON
cession for Cuban raw sugar IN the pehol"e
tariff bill. The representatives Of the industry
submit that under existing conditions the grow
ing of sugar IN Cuba IS a precarlous business
that a temporary decline in price. the lheFlIdoie
occasional shortage in crop. or the occaslohdliS
unavoidable dimfnution of sugar content which
results from wet seasons will. any one OF theiH'
completely wipe out the profit and leave the
grower facing a deficit They argue that the
nrosDerfty of Cuba depends her sugar indus
trv that the tranquility of the republic depehus
on her prosperity and that commercial ue-
presson. resulting as it inevitably must IN
large numbers of unemployed. Will uhqueS'io
ably precipitate discomfort and reVolu'loli<'i
disturbances They argue that the United states
can far better afford to grant somewhat sIed''i
concessions in the matter of the duty on sugar
than again be called on to intervene IN Cuo'ii
affairs. with the great expense OF sehdlhe al
army Of occupation and re-establishing native
government They insist that without relieL
such an emergency will again arise as II Is I'M
,,ossibIe for the sugar planters long to continue
ar,rIoying large numbers of men with sugar
selling at its present figure
The representatives of the Cuban ihuue'IS
,vouId prefer an increase Of the dlIerehHS VI
oo - cont now granted on Cuban sugar DuI
+bo.. cav that II that be unattainabe they at
,aos+ bona to secure some reduction Of the DUTY
on raw sugar. and they seem to fnd some eIi-
dence of the friendly attitude of Congress III the
provision of the Payne bill declaring that MOTH
ing therein shall be construed to disturb the eN-
listing trade arrangement with Cuba
There is, however, provision in the CUBAN
recinrocty treaty itself which these representa-
tfves appear TO have overlooked. A paragraph
IN Article & in the reciprocity treaty expressly
stimulates that while it is in force Cuban sugar
shall not be admitted to the United States at a
lower duty than 20 per cent below the Dtngley
rate The phraseology of the stipulation is as
follows
Provided that while this convention is in
force no sugar imported from the Republic OF
Cuba and being the product of the soil or IN
dustrv OF the Reoublic OF Cuba, shall be ad-
mitted into the United States at reduction OF
duty greater than 90 per centum of the rates or
duty thereon as provided by the taI1f act OF liie
United States approved July "a. 1907
In view Of this provision it would seem not
ONLY impossible 10 make any alteration OF the
duty on sugar which would benefit Cuba by
means OF the tariff BILL but more than probable
that anv determined effort along that line would
,aonardize thu, existing concession which Cuba
now enjoys
The representations Of those interested in
sugar growing in Cuba are supported by high
authority in the administration in Washington
but that relief can be afforded by any provision
inserted in the Payne bill is apparently impos-
sible.