The Loup City Northwestern

CUBA ANNEX BILL

IT PROVIDES UNION FIRST AS TERRITORY, THEN AS STATE.

INTRODUCED BY MR. NEWLANDS

Author of Resolution Under Which Hawaii Was Annexed—The Measure Advocates Absolute Political Freedom.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.—Representative Newlands of Nevada, of the ways and means committee, who was the author of the resolution annexing Hawaii, introduced a joint resolution inviting the republic of Cuba to become a part of the United States, first as a territory and then as a state of the union, to be called the state of Cuba, also authorizing a 25 per cent reduction of duty on the present crop of Cuban sugar, in consideration of Cuba's granting preferential rates to the United States. The resolutions confine the 25 per cent reduction of duties to the period prior to January 1, 1901.

The provisions as to annexation are as follows:

"In the meantime the republic of Cuba is invited to become a part of the United States of America, and her people to become citizens of the United States, with the assurance that Cuba will be entitled at first to a territorial form of government under the constitution and laws of the United States, with a delegate in congress to represent her people, and that ultimate statehood will be granted, when, in the judgment of congress, it is advisable to admit Cuba, including such other West Indies belonging to the United States as may be deemed advisable, as a single state in the union, to be called the state of Cuba."

Mr. Newlands in explanation of his resolution, said:

"All those who have appeared to voice Cuba's needs and requirements have indicated that an invitation to Cuba of annexation would be accepted.

"Annexation by force would not be justified. It must be accomplished, if at all, by the free act of the Cuban people, by which the popular will can be tested, but the Cuban constitution has been adopted. The Cuban congress will meet in February, a Cuban government will be organized and the United States will then leave the government and control of the island to its people. Cuba will then be in a position to express her will, and it is only necessary to tide over the present emergency by a temporary measure, such as I have introduced, reducing the duty on Cuban sugar one-fourth for one year and inviting Cuba to become a part of the United States under a territorial form of government, under the constitution, her people to be citizens, not subjects, with the ultimate result of statehood.

"In coming into our political union, Cuba will secure immediately the highest degree of freedom and with it a large market for varied products. Those products will not threaten our sugar industry so seriously as they would under reciprocal trade relations. For the reason that the restricted labor laws of this country will apply and will raise the cost of production to such an extent as to prevent over-stimulation of her industries, while her supplies will be bought in the high protected markets of this country, instead of the cheap markets of the world. I much prefer political union, for that involves the best kind of commercial union that can be established between the two countries.

Such annexation is entirely in line with the traditional policy of the country."