Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-03-16
CHAIRMAN PAYNE
ON CUBAN SUGAR
Three Propositions Now
Before Ways and
Means.
TAwNEY WANTS DIRECT
GIFTS TO The CUBANS
Morris, Of Minnesota, Suggests More
Tariff Oh Sugar TO Outside
World and Rebate
From Cuba.

Washington, March chairman
Payne of the Ways and Means Com.
mittee today gave out the following
authorized statement of the discussion
over Cuban reciprocity:
81 think the large majority Of the
| Republicans have made up their
minds that we must do something for
Cuba. There are three propositions
presented which have this professed
end in view. The proposition Of Mr..
.Iorris of Minnesota provides for an
increase in the tariff on sugar TO the
outside world and a rebate on sugar
| imported from Cuba. II does not seem
to me that many Republicans are will.
ing to increase the duty on sugar.
Then there is the proposition Of
! Mr.. Tawney to vote between S7.000.00O
and SS.00O.O0O directly into the Cuban
| treasury and to ask the Cuban Govern.
ment to distribute about $1,000. 900 ac.
cording to his figures, to native Cuban
planters. This first payment Is to be
| paid without any compensation from
Cuba in any way or manner-a pure
gift to the Cuban Government. II hard.
| ly needs the opinion Of a lawyer to
say that such a procedure would be
unconstitutional. His proposition fur.
| Their is to pay like sum yearly on
| the granting of reciprocal concessions
and the passage OF our immigration
and exclusion laws.
"Of course, no bounty of this kind
could be distributed without a scan.
dal and a fraud. In the next place,
seven.eightns of the Cuban laborers
would still remain without work. II
would be just as easy for the sugar
trust to obtain a concession on the
sugar they bought on account Of the
bounty as to obtain concession
where the planter knew he was to
have a 20 per cent concession in duty.
Thus Mr.. Tawney's proposition has no
advantages over that OF a 20 per cent
reduction. and It has the disadvan.
ages named.
THE third proposition is that for a
20 per cent reduction of duties. This
would injure no home industry.
Coupled with the provision to extend
our exclusion laws to Cuba. no one
appearing before the Committee on
Ways and Means contended that IL
would so injure home industries. All
agreed that the price of sugar to the
American consumer would remain the
same, Nor would II inure to the bene.
| 1t of the sugar trust. The witnesses
before the committee united In testi.
| tying-and the statistics prove-that
the trust has received no benefit In
buying sugar either in Hawaii or Por.
to Rico since the duty was reduced
or removed. The entire benefits have
been reaped by the planters in these
islands. We have every reason TO be-
lieve the same would prove true as
to Cuba.
MANY misleading statements as to
the attitude OF the President. the Cab
met and the House Republicans arc
appearing In the newspapers. can
not speak of conferences with the
| President: but I have every assur.
ance that the Cabinet is not divided
on this question. nor have a majority
of House Republicans committed
themselves either to the Morris or
the Tawney policy. The proposition
of 20 per cent reduction. II made. will
put on, in my judgment the annexa.
ton OF Cuba for many years. She will
not come in until her population is
Americanized from tho States. 1t will
settle the question for generations to
come and give rest and tranquility to
the sugar business. II the reduction
ls made. no further change will be
made. We have annexation and free
trade. To refuse to do anything would
put the House in a position hostile to
The President, would cause uncertain.
~ and feeling of apprehension to the
producers OF sugar in the States, and
would be utterly demoralizlng.
The following authorized statement
was made public at the White House
this evening: ANY statement that
the President has changed his attitude
IN the Cuban reciprocity business is
without the slightest foundation in
TACT"