Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-06-14

Sugar King, Was Also a contribu.
tor-Enect Of the Testimony. -.,
Washington. June 12.-F. r. Thurber,
president Of the Exporters associa-
ton, the witness that has been wa anted
by the committee on Cuban relations,
was before the committee yesterday.
Senator Teller produced copy of
voucher for $3.50, showing that that
sum had been paid by the military gov
ernment Of Cuba by authority of Gov
ernor Wood to the United States Export
association, of which Thurber Is presi-
dent. Thurber acknowledged that lie
had received the amount. and said it
was one of three payments lie had re-
ceived from the same source.
The receipt was dated April 2. 1902,
and stated that 1t was for advocating
IL reduction in the duties on Cuban
products going into Cuba" The Wit
ness said he thought $4,000 worth Of
literature had been circulated. He said
he had received Il contribution of $500
from Mr.. Havemeyer of the Sugar Re
filming company when he solicitate ted that
gentleman for subscription.
The testimony showing that between
$1,000 and $4,000 had been paid out of
the Cuban treasury under the direc-
tiOn of Governor Wood for the pro-
motion of the effort to secure Iecip-
rOcity between the United States and
ttnr, tn tl,n
ate. Opinions as to the ultimate effect
of the testimony are as varied rs the
predictions and preiudices of the SEN
ate. but the immediate results are seen
in the decision reached during the
afternoon to have two caucuses in tho
early future. The first of these will
be- held by the beet sugar Republican
senators today and the second by all
the Republican senators tomorrow or
Saturday.
The purpose Of the meeting of the
beet sugar men Is to consider the situa-
tion as affected by yesterdays develop
mentS. and also to receiver report from
the committee consisting of Senators
.Elkins, Burrows and Jones of Ncvada.
appointed to confer with the Kepubli-
can members of the Cuban committee.
This committee will state that the Gu
ban committee has declined to consider
all the propositions looking to com
promise which have been made, and It
probably will ask to be discharged.
The propositions that have been made
hn Po,. a nI,nx L
second for commercial treaty with
Cuba.
The full conference will be in the
nature Of a caucus, and some of the beet
sugar men say they will enter 1t ( My
with the understanding that they shall
not be bound by any conclusion that
may be reached. The advocates of a
tariff reduction say that no action by
Republican senatorial caucus is bind
ing. but. they add that defectiOns have
occurred only in rare instances.
Senator Aldrich expresses confidence
in being able to secure fnlly ~ Repub-
lican votes in IA vor Of any billthat may
be reported by the. Cuban committee.
This is majority of. the senate and
the friends Of reduction express them
selves as hopeful Of passing a bill sat-
,sfactOry to them. They say the tpst-
niOny of Mr.. Thurbor does not effect the
merits Of the question in the least. and
they contend that. even admitting that
the course of the Cuban government
was censurable. It cannot and should
not prevent the government Of the
United States doing what 1t has prom
ised to do and what 1t Is right to do.
They do not. however, generally admit
that the course was improper.
Some of the beet sugar senators pro-
fess to believe that the revelation will
have the effect Of at least cansing a
halt In the proceedings In the Interest
Of reciprocity, They think the report
made by Mr.. Thurber will be accepted
by the country as going to show that
entirely too much interest has been
manifested In the subject In Cuba.
Some Of them go so far as to claim that
there will be no reciprocity legislation,
at least during the present session.