The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-07
PAYNE'S VIEW OF 1T.
He Says the 20 Per Cent Plan Is the
Thing.

washington, March 7-Chafrman
Payne of the ways and means commit
tee has given out the following state
ment in connection with the discussion
over Cuban reciprocity:
II think the large majority of the Re
publicanS have made up their minds
that we must do something for Cuba.
There are three propositions presented
which have this protested end in view.
The proposition of Mr.. Morris of Min
nesota provides for an increase in the
tariff on sugar to the outside world and
a rebate on sugar imported from Cuba.
1t does not seem to me that many Re
publicanS are willing to increase the
duty on sugar Then there is the pro-
position of Mr.. Tawney to vote be-
tween million dollars and million
dollars directly into the Cuban treasury,
and to ask the Cuban government to
distribute about 1 million dollars, 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. It hardly
needs the opinion of lawyer to say
that such a procedure would be uncOn-
stitutional His proposition further is
to pay a like sum yearly on the grant
ing of reciprocal concessions and the
passage of our immigration and exclu-
sion laws.
'4Of course no bounty of this kind
could be distributed without a scandal
d e.
eighths of the Cuban laborers would
still remain without work It would be
just as easy for the sugar trust to OBJ
tain a concession on the sugar they
bought on account of the bounty, as to
obtain a concession where the planter
knew he was to have a 20 per cent con-
cession in duty. So that Mr.. Tawney's
proposition has no advantages over that
for 20 per cent reduction. and it mas
the disadvantages named
THE third proposition is that for n 20
per cent reduction of duties. This woCld
injure no home industry. Coupled with
the provision to extend our exclusion
laws to Cuba, no one appearing before
the comm ittee on ways and means con-
tended that it would so injure home in
dustries. All agreed that the price of
sugar to the American consumer would
remain the same. Nor would it inrre
to the benefit of the sugar trust. The
witnesses before the committee united
in testifying-and the statistics prove
that the trust has received no benefit in
buying sugar, either in Hawaii or Porto
Rico. since the duty was reduced or re-
moved.
The entire benefits have been reaped
by the planters in these islands. We
have every reason to believe the same
would prove true as to Cuba Many
misleading statements to the atti-
tude of the president. the cabinet and
the house Republicans are appearing
in the newspapers. / cannot speak of
conferences with the president
But 1 have every assurance that the
cabinet is not divided on this question,
nor have q ma jority of the house Re
publicanS committed themselves either
to the Morris, the Tawnev or the do
nothing policy. The proposition of 20
per cent reduction, if adopted, will put
off, in my judgment. the annexation of
Cuba for many years. She will not come
in until her population is AmericaniZed
from the states 1t Will settle the ques-