The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-12
TO SECURE RECIPROCITY.
Monoy Paid Out Of the Cuban Treasury to
Garry On the Work Here
(By the Associated Press. J


Washington, June 11.-F. B. Thurber,
president Of the Export Association, the
witness who has been wanted by the
Committee on Cuban Relations, was be-
fore the committee today. Senator Tel
Ter produced a copy of a voucher fof
$2,SS0 showing that the sum had been
paid by the Military Government of Cuba
by authority of Governor Wood to the
United States Export Association, of
which Thursber is president. Thurber
acknowledged that he had received the
amount and said it was ono of three
payments hs he'd received from the same
source. The voucher, which the wit
ness admitted to be genuine, is as fol-
lows:
Voucher. No. 81. Abstract "B," ac-
count month of April, 1902
New York, April End, 1902.
''The United States Military Govern
ment of the Island of Cuba.
''To United States Export Association,
DR.
For sending third edition of $4,000
circular letters and accompanying publi-
cations to leaders of Thought in the
United States, advocating reduction in
the duties upon Cuban products, with
reciprocal reduction in the duties upon
American products imported into Cuba
1880.
Received payment.
(Signed) U. S. Export Assn,
"F. B. Thurber, President
april End, 1902
''To service as per bill attached (see
above) in support of the applications of
the inhabitants of the Island of Cuba
for reciprocal tariff relations with the
United States$2,SS0
'Under authority of Gen. Wood, March
26th, 1902"
The witness said he had circulated a
large number of circulars in the inter
est Of a reduction of the duty on Cuban
sugar and he submitted specimens of
some of them. Being asked by Senator
Teller who paid the expense incident to
the circulation of this literature, the
witness replied that the Cuban commit
tee had paid the larger part of it and
that members of the association had paid
part of it.
All told he thought that $4,000 worth
CT literature had been circulated in the
interest of Cuba in the United States.
Mr. Thurber said that he had solicited
a subscription from Mr.. Havemeyer and
had received $1,000 from that gentle
Iaan.
The testimony given today before the
Committee on Cuban Relations by F. B.
Thurber. showing that between $4,000
and $4,000 had been paid out of the Cuban
Treasury under the direction of Governor
General Wood for the promotion of the
effort to secure reciprocity between the
United States and Cuba caused a sensa-
tion in the Senate today.
Opinions as to the ultimate effect of
the testimony are varied as the predilec-
tions and prejudices of the Senate, but
the immediate results are seen in the
decision reached during the afternoon to
have two caucuses in the early future.
The first of these will be held by the
beet sugar Republican Senator'S tomorrow
and the second by all the Republican
Senators Friday or Saturday,
Senator Aldrich expresses confidence
in being able to secure fully 45 Repub
Iican votes in favor of any bill that may
be reported by the Cuban committee.
This is Il majority of the Senate and the
friends of reduction express themselves
as hopeful of passing a bill. They say
the testimony of Mr., Thurber does not
affect the merits of the question in the
least and they contend that even admit
ting that the course of the Cuban Gov
ernment was censurable it cannot and
should not prevent the Government CT
the United States doing what it has prom
ised to do and what it is right to do.
They 90 not, however generally admit
that the course was improper
The beet sugar Senators are undenia-
bly, more hopeful than they haye been
heretofore, some of them profess to be-
lieve that the revelation viii have the
effect of at least causing halt in the
proceedings IN the interest of reciprocity