Show OUATAD1ITAT UBA Figures Presented to Ways and Means Committee RECIPROCITY QUESTION UP delegations From Now York and Cuba Who Favor Reciprocal Keln tions Are Heard Tobacco Men Will Ee Given a Hearing on the 21st and the BeetSugar Interests Will Present Their Case on the 22d inst I Interests of All Cuban People Tied Up in Sujjar Industry 2 Washington Jan 16 Cuban reciprocity reci-procity was again under consideration today by the Ways and Means committee com-mittee with large representations of Cubans and of the various sugar and tobacco interests In attendance A delegation from the New York produce exchange favorable to reciprocity and several delegations frctn the beet growing sections opposed to reciprocity reciproc-ity arrived this morning t Evan Thompson oxprcsldent of the New York produce exchange presented the views of that organization He wild that last year 9000000 of American Amer-ican food products went to Cuba k about 75 per cent of the business being done by members of the produce exchange ex-change Continuing he said Showld the United States refuse to grant a reduction of duty on the Imports Im-ports of the two great staples of Cuba sugar and tobacco we believe the result will bo ruin to the planter bankruptcy bank-ruptcy to the merchant and great distress dis-tress to the laboring classes of Cuba followed by serious industrial disturbances disturb-ances and disorder Financial and economic disaster to Cuba with corresponding Injury to our trade and a material reduction of our exports of flour corn lard bacon pork beans peas canned goods and other commodities would follow The material reduction of our exports and Imports to and from Cuba followed by a corresponding decrease In the carry ing f trade will result in a loss of freight to ship owners This committee urges such reduction reduc-tion In the duties now levied on sugar and tobacco as will avert this Impending Im-pending disaster and thereby safeguard safe-guard the interests we represent TRUST AND AGITATION Representative McClollun of New York called attention to circulars received re-ceived by hImself and other members of the committee attacking the current cur-rent sugar quotations and stating they were Influenced by the sugar trust The business men present gave their opinion that quotations were accurate and fairly Impartial Mr McClellan remarked In thlH connection that there was an evident purpose In some quartern of prejudicing the cause of Cuban vcolproclty by creating a public Impression that the trust was behind It whereas all the witnesses thus far had shown that the Cuban cause stood on Us own merits Charles Rabidan and C P Arm fltrong1 of the nrqduce exchange also spoke In favor of reciprocity and were examined at length by Chairman Payne and members of the commit leo on the details of our export trade to the island and the effect of reciprocity reci-procity on various sugar Interests DIRECTED BY SUGAR PEOPLE Representative Robertson of Louisiana Louisi-ana asked a series of questions tending tend-ing to show that the Cuban people had i not spoken for reciprocity and that the movement was directed by the sugar people Interested In the trade Mr Armstrong answered that the Interests of all the Cuban people were bound up with sugar production and must stand or fall with it Mr Robertson also sought to show that American capitalists were buying large sugar tracts In Cuba und would be benefited by reciprocity more than Cuban people CUBAN IS HEARD Louis Place head of the Cuban delegation was heard as to the tariff reductions Cuba was likely to make In order to give the United States control of the market He said the Cuban tariff was very low now and should be raised 50 to 70 per cent and after that a differential granted to the United fttales sufficient to control the trade an against other countries He favored fa-vored ultimate free trade both ways which he said was the only solution of CubaH commercial problem I When Representative Long brought out that Mr Place had sought free trade at Havana the Cuban spokesman spokes-man explained amid laughter that he ylnldcd to the majority and that by asking much It was hoped to get as near that as possible Ho gave 50 to 60 per cent as the lowest concession which would grant relief WILL FIND OUT DIFFERENTLY As the hearings closed Representative Representa-tive Richardson of Tennessee the ranking Democrat on the committee said I notice that a very prominent promi-nent TJnltqd Stale Senator Is quoted In todays paper as saying the Senate will Kettle this whole question will make a treaty aild that we will have nothing to do with It He will find out differently before ho gets through answered Mr Dal zcll of Pennsylvania Chairman Payne mated that the tobacco to-bacco men would be heard on the 2int l the beetsugar Interests on the 22nd and that Gen Wood was cxpoxtcd up from Cuba The committee then adjourned ad-journed subject to the call of the chairman |