The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-03-07
WANT TO GET TOGETHER
Chairman Payne Has Something 10
Say on The Situation.
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE FOR CUBA
He Makes an Argument in Favor of the
20 Per Cent Reduction on the
Tariff on Sugar.

Washington. March e-Chairman Payne
OF the ways and means committee today
gave out the following authorized state
ment In connection with the discussion or
Cuban reciprocity: Il think the large ma.
iority OF republicans have made up their
minds that we must do something for
Cuba. There are three propositions pre-
sented which have this professed end ln
view. The proposition OF Mr.. Morris
CMlnn) provides for an Increase in the tar
in on sugar to the outside world and a
rebate on sugar imported from Cuba. II
does not seem to me that many republicans
are willing to increase the duty on sugar
Then there is the proposition OF Mr. IaW
ney to vote between S1,UUpVOO ana $svvl
90 directly into the Cuban treasury ana
ask the Cuban government To distribute
about 81 ,0yOuoO according TO his figures 70
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. IL hardy
needs the opinion Of a lawyer to say that
the procedure would be unconstitutional
his proposition further Is to pay a axe
sum yearly on granting Of reciprocal con
cessiohs and the passage Of our immigra-
ton and exclusion laws.
or course no bounty of this kind could
be distributed without a scandal and d
faud In the next place seven-cighths OF
fhe Cuban laborcrs would stlll remain out
Of work. 1t would be just as easy for the
sugar trust to obtain concession on the
sugar they bought on account OF the bounty
| as TO obtain a concession where the planter
knew he was to have 20 per cent conces-
sion Ia duty. So thus Mr.. Tawney's prop
ostion has no advantages over that for a
20 per cent reduction and II LAS the DIS
| advantages named
The third proposition is that for ,,
#fs.rN Fn
iujure no home industry. Coupled with the
provision to extend our exclusion laws %
cuba, no one who appeared before the
committee on ways and means contended
that it would so injure home Industries
All agreed that the price Of sugar to the
American consumer would remain the same
Nor would it lnure to the benefit of tht
sugar trust.
The witnesses before the committed
united IN testifyirg-and the statistics
proye--that the trust has received no ben
eht in buying sugar either IN Hawaii ol
| Porto Rico since the duty was reduced OF
removed The entire benefits have beet
reaped by the planters IN these islands
( We have every reason to believe tho SAM
I would prove true as 10 Cuba. Many mis-
! leading statements as to the attitude
! the president, the cabinet and the nous
| republicans are appearing in the news
papers ! can not speak OF conference
| with the president, but ! have every assuT
| nnce that the cabinet Is not divided oil
! IDS question: nor mas a majority Of tH
| republicans of the house committed them
selves either to the Morris the Tawne
or the do nothing policy The proposItio
of 20 per cent reduction, If adopted. WI
put off in my judgment the annexation o
Cuba for many years She will not com
in until her population Is AmerirnniZe
from the States 1t will settle the Questio
for generations to come and give rest an
tranquility to the sugar business. II "a
reduction is made no further change wi
he made until we have annexation an
free trade To refuse to do anything woul
put the house in a position hostile to IN
president, would cause uncertainty and
feeling Of apprehension to the producers
sugar In the States and would he utterl
demorallzlng"
The following authorized statement wa
made public at the White House III
afternoon: ANY statement that the pres
dent has changed his attitude on the ~
. ban reciprocity business is without "A
slightest foundation In fact"