Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-08-08
SENATE BLOCKS
RESOL LUT|ON ON
SUGAR INQUIRY
Smoot Denies Proposing a
Reduction in the Duty on
Cuban Product in Return
for Limiting Crop.
Cd, The Associate ! Press J

Washington, Aug. T. - The
blocking of efforts to obtain imme-
Jdiate action on the Harrison sug-
ar investigation resolution and an
impassioned denial by Senator
sSmoot. republican. Utah. that he
had proposed a letter to Major
General Crowder. American rep
resentative to Cuba, a reduction
in the duty on sugar in return
for the limitation of this years
Cuban sugar crop to 2,500,000 tons
marked senate consideration to-
day of the sugar schedule of the
tariff bin.
Senator Harrison twice sought
to call up his resolution. but the
first time objection was made by
Senator Smoot who was waiting
to address the senate and later
by Senator Curtis of Kansas, the
republican whip"
When Senator Smoot objected,
Senator Nicholson, republican, Col
orado, moved to defer action on
the sugar schedule until there had
been an investigation of what he
declared were SERIOUS charges
contained in newspaper clippings
read to the senate Saturday by
Senator Harrison" His motion
was ruled out of order.
Reviews Efforts
Senator Smo,t gave a detailed
review of efforts which had been
made, he said. to save the domestic
sugar industry from destruction
by American sugar refiners and
New York bankers who, he added,
were faced with losses through
the dropping of sugar prices after
they had advanced two cents a
pound on the prospective Cuban
crop. He asserted that the pro-
posal to limit the Cuban crop had
come from Cuba and read a
statement by the president of
Cuba denying that American gov
ernment officials had proposed a
reduction of the crop in return
for lower tariff duties.
The Harrison resolution propos-
es, among other things. an inquiry
into charges that such proposals
had been made.
The Utah Senator said his let
ter to General Crowder had been
written after Senior Portuondo
Of Cuba and General Crowder
had called on him here last jan
uary and Senor Portu n d o
had proposed limitation Of the
Cuban crop and an increase Of ten
per cent In the tariff differential
in favor OF Cuba. The Smoot let
ter was dated January 80 and
said:
"I hope you will lay before the
president of Cuba my attitude to
wards the sugar industry both of
Cuba and of the United States.
"Mr. Babst. of the American
Sugar Refining company, Is do
ing all he can to arrange matters
so as to export at least 100000
tons Of sugar to--Europe. l have
agreed to do all in my power to
secure the passage Of joint res
olution authorizing Cuban sugar
to come into the United States
without duty, provided it is refined
in bond and shipped to any coun-
try outside of the United States.
This will do away with the finan-
cling of sugar In bond and assist
the refiners greatly In securing
foreign market for Cuban sugars
Limitation Of Cuban Crop
II am sure the Limitation OF the
Cuban crop OF sugar for the pres
ent year, to 100000 tons will he
a solution of the problem, not
only for Cuba but for the United
States as well. So sure am I OF
this that I think that It would be
wise to have incorporated in the
pending tariff bill rate Of duty
of ~ cents per pound when
would make the duty on Cuban
sugar Ia cents per pound. | am
sure that Hon. Eugene Meyer of
the war finance corporation Is
ready to assist in financing the
sugar refiners on their exporta-
tion Of sugar to foreign countries.
II shall be delighted to hear
from you as quickly as possible
after your arrival in Cuba. advis-
ing me of the results of your con-
ference with the president. I have
had the sugar schedule in the
pending tariff bill passed over un-
til | hear definitely from you.