New-York tribune., 1912-03-07
Republicans Say 1t Might Cause
Revolution in Cuba.
MINORITY REPORT CAUSTIC
Democratic Measure Denounced
as Delivery of Industry Into
Hands of Trust.
LErnn Tho Tribune Bureau.

Washington March 6.--Denouncing the
Democratic free sugar bill as destructive
Of American industry and pointing out the
danger of revolution In cuba II that
measure is enacted, the Republican mem
bers OF the Ways and Means committee
tomorrow will present n minority report
on the sugar bill recently adopted by the
Democratic caucus.
The Democratic bill is designated by the
minority "as the bodcst attempt in the
history OF the Republic to surrender an I'M
portant and growing industry to foreign
importers and foster a monopoly
Raising the question Of tho effect of the
bill on Cuba which would lose the existing
preferential market for It's output in the
United States. the report says;
This legislation violates the spirit an9
probably the obligation OF our treaty WIN
Cuba. as IL does not give thc required
twelve months notice for the abrogatloh OF
the treaty.
A vorv serious question arises as 10
what effect this legislation Will have VIII
II Cause disorder and revolution, which VIII
force the United States to enter mat flanH
and assume the government Thereon! II
such viii he the result, how Will VIC stand
I'm the eyes OF the world? VIII We not ne
accused Of the enactment or fiscal leslsla- %
ton for tho express purpose OF bringing
about the annexation OF Cuba? Such a
course will give the lie to all our pr0testa-
tons and manfestos relative to Cuba. Is
the Democratic party ready to cspouse the
cause Of the annexation OF CUBA
The report says that in no other country
is there such minglng OF the white and
black races as in Cuba and it asks II this
country wants to take on an additional race
problem by Cuban annexation.
The report. which is unusual from an
argumcntative point OF view continues:
With this legislation the Democratic
party reyerScs the policy OF the United
States government toward It's insuar pos
sessions and it's ward, over Whlcn " mas
assumed indirect control; they introduce
into the possessions hard times ana conse-
qucnt turmoil and disorder, and they Violate
every pledge which this government has
made to these islands and to the word,
throwing a suspicion upon the real motives
aCtuating our relationship with Cuba.
The report Is equally caustic regarding
the effect of the Democratic bill on the
sugar industry OF the United States. It
declares that testimony before the Hard
wick investigating committee showed that
the sole advocates Of free sugar were the
sugar refiners. with whom tho Democrats
have now Joined hands" The bill is de-
clared TO he against the domestic sugar
producers and solely in the interest. of the
trust
The report, prepared by Representative
Fordney. of Michigan. shows. from testi-
mony before the Hardwick committee. that
tho beet and cane growers OF the United
states are unable TO compete with free
sugar and that the removal Of all duty will
wipe out hundreds OF millions Of American
capital.
Predicting dire days for tho sugar con-
sumer. the report says:
Not in the palmiest days of the trust.
when Mr.. Havemeyer ruled its fortunes
with n rod OF iron and an ambition bounded
only by tho confines Of this country, did the
American Sugar Refining Company ever
consumed In the United States as the bill
would deliver into its keeping.
Democratic Collision with Trust.
In charging that the bcneficiaries OF tho
bill will be the sugar rehners. the report
makes this specification:
Another evidence Of the closeness OF tho
union between the Democratic party and
the sugar trust IL found in the chemical
schedule recently passed by the unanimous
vote OF the Democratic Representatives
and opposed by the unanimous vote OF the
Republican Representatives. The Payne
Aldrich bill places an ad valorem duty OF
% per cent on bone black. In the Demo
cratic chemical schedule the duty on all
items I'm this section, except bone black, is
reduced from . per cent TO 10 per cent.
Bone black rs taken out Of the section and
placed on the free lst Who uses bone
black? Practically no one except the sugar
rehners. II Is one OF the principal items Of
expense In refining sugar. Not pound Is
used in the domestic sugar inquiry.
Tho man who uses lampblack in painting
his barn must pay a L. per cent duty on
tho same, but the sugar trust that uses
millions OF pounds Of bone black, shall
have the duty removed entirely, so that
II can import the most expensive material
used in its business without paying any
revenue into the national treasury
Now. less than month after the passage
Of the chemical schedule, the same Demo-
cratic party introduces hill placing sugar
on the free list relieving these same retn-
ers 90 tho burden Of S52.0o0Ooo duty on their
raw sugar Thus tho union has been con-
summatcd.