Evening star., 1923-10-13
CUBA PLEDGES AID
TO SUGAR CAPITAL
Zayas Denies New Tarafa
Bill Would Curb Rail or
Other Rights.
By the Associated Press.


NEW YORK, October 13.-The
Cuban government has every desire
to continue its assistance to foreign
capital in the sugar industry, mot
disregarding other interests" in which
foreign capital also is concerned 1t
was declared in a letter made public
by President Zayas of the Cuban re-
public to attorneys for American
sugar companies who have directed
criticisms at the Tarafa railroad bill.
The letter was given to the Asso-
ciated Press by f. n. Robaina, corre-
spondent for Havana newspapers.
At the outset President Zayas said
he had nothing 10 do with the draft
ing of the bill and learned nothing
of 1t until it had passed the Cuban
house of representatives. He said he
realized the original draft contained
features Objectionable TO Amerlcan
sugar interests. but in its modired
form as passed by the senate. ana
may benefit the established railway
companies without causing percep-
tible prejudice to any other interest
which ought to be protected
Rail Restrictions Denied.
In answering criticisms from Ameri-
can sugar men the Cuban president
denied the bill prohibited them from
building private railways on their
own lands in provinces of Camaguey
and Oriente. which adjoin a public
service railway. The bill does pro-
hibit them he said, from conversion
of a private railway into puDilc
service railway in the municipal DIS
trict in which the consolidated rail-
ways may be giving service. the
bill excerpts from this provision, ne
said, those railroads already built and
those that may be constructed, pro-
vided the latter are not USED by an
industry connected with consoll-
dated public service railway, or so
long as there is no public service
railway in the port to which tnev
run. ,.,,
The Interpretation that the bill
prohibits railways which do not join
the consolidated from constructing
new or extending existing lines, was
declared erroneous by President I'd
vas He said the bill only gave the
consolidated a preferential right Tor
such construction.
Infringements Denied.
1t also was denied that the Tarafa
bill infringes upon the rights of
sugar companies to load and unload
their product in existing supports
private ports and embarkatlon points,
but, in reality, continues to recognize
TINS privilege "llnOul hiA"SS
operations to a determined amount.
H pointed out, however, that a con-
cession to one company for support
is not transferable to another com
pany who does not possess the IN
dustry for whose products the con.
cession was granted" He declared
1t was fitting that such SUPPORT
should not be used by the same con-
cessionnaire for products other than
those for which the grant was mafe.
Confirmation of existing permits
could not be denied, President Zayas
stated.
The right of a company to ship
It's own products, transporting them
by sea to port authorized for ex.
portation, is not denied by the BILL
said the letter, although license
will be required in order to dc
this"
Regarding the constitutionality of
the act, President Zayas said he
would prefer not to discuss the mat
ter. AS soon as the law is enforced.
he said. any interested party could
determine that fact by taking the
case to the supreme court.