The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-07
no SOMETHING FOR CUBA.
cu.1RMAN PAYNE DISCUSSES THE
SITUATION.

II. thinks the Tawney and Morris
propositions Entirely Impracti-
o.bIe-The 20 Per Cent. Rebate
prouosed by tht Republican Ma
,oritv the Only Feasible Plan, He
Tbiuks-WouId Not Increase Price
snaar Nor Inure to Benefit OF
sugar Trust.
washington, March 6.-Chairman
,,.,.,e of the Ways and Means Commit
zoe to-day gave out the following au-
tborized statement in connection with
the discussion over Cuban reciprocity:
.T think the large majority of the
perublicans have made up their minds
+ha+ we must do something for Cuba.
There are three propositions presented
which have this professed 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 Republicans are willing to in
crease the duty on sugar. Then there
is the proposition of Mr.. Tawney to
vote between 100000 and $4,000, 600
directly into the Cuban treasury, and
10 ask the Cuban government to dis
tribute about 81 10000 according 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 gov
eminent 1t hardly needs the opinion
of a lawyer to say that such a pro-
ceedure would be unconstitutional.
"Of course no bounty of this kind
could be distributed without a scandal
and a fraud. In the next place, seven
Fights of the Cuban laborers would
still remain WITHOUT work. 1t 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 a concession where the planter
knew he was to have a 20 per cent.
concession in duty. So that Mr.. Taw-
news proposition has no advantages
over that for a 20 per cent. reduction
and it has the disadvantages named.
The third proposition is that for a
20 per cent reduction of duties. This
would iniure no home industry. Coupled
with the provision to extend our
exclusion laws to Cuba, no one appear
ing before the committee on Ways and
Means contended that it would injure
home industries. All agreed that the
price of sugar to the American con-
sumer would remain the same. Nor
would it inure to the benefit of the
sugar trust The witnesses before the
committee united in testifying, and the
statistics prove, that the trust has re-
ceived no benefit in buying sugar,
either in Hawaii or Porto 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 believe the same would
prove true a. to Cuba. Many mislead-
ing statements as to the attitude of the
President, the cabinet and the House
Republicans are appearing in the news
papers. ] cannot speak of conferences
with the President.
But have every assurance that the
cabinet is not divided on this question,
nor has a majority of the House Re-
Dublicans committed themselves either
to the Morris. the Tawney or the do
nothing policy. The proposition of a
20 per cent. reduction if adopted will
put off. in my judgment, the anpexa-
ton of Cuba for. many years. She will
not come in until her population is
Americanized from the states. To re-
fuse to do anything would put the
House in position hostile to the Pres
ldent, would cause uncertainty and a
feeling of apprehension to the produ-
GERS of sugar in the states and would
be utterly demoralizing