The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-12
What I'HURBER| SAID
CAUSED 1. SENSATION !. | { Il ! !
Over So, 900 Paid Out Of Cuban
Treasury for Reciprocity
BY ORDER OF GEN ERAL WOOD
BY oRDER. OF GENERAL WOOD
Bills Approved by the Governor or Gen
eral and Money Spent in Distrib-
uting Literature in Interest
of Reciprocity.
(By Associated Press.)

By Associated Press.)
wAsHINGTON,, D. c., June 1.-THE
testimony given to-day before the Com
%mittee on Cuban Rela tions by F. B..
Thurber, showing that between 5000 and
SC. 600 had been paid out OF the Cuban
trea sury under the direction of Governor
General Wood for the promotion OF the
effort to secure reciprocity between the
United States and Cuba caused sem
sation in the Senate to-day. The news
of Mr.. Thurber's statement reached the
Senate Chamber about the time that body
convened and when Senator Teller, whose.
examination had developed the facts
made his appearance. upon the floor. he
was Immediately surrounded by Sena tors
from both sides of the chamber who
professed great anxiety to know all that
had occurred Copies Of the one voucher
produced were eag erly sought and the
demand was not satisfied until forty or
fifty copies had been typewriter and
circulated in the Senate Chamber.
WILL HAVE CAUCUSES.
: Opinions as to he ultimate effect of
the testimony are as varied as the pre-
elections 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 one will be held by the beet
sugar Republican Senators tomorrow and
the second by all the Republican Senators
Friday or Saturday. Senator Burrows is
responsible for the statement that the
beet sugar men will meet and Senator
Aldrich for the announcement that there
will be a general conference before the
close OF the week. The conference will
be in the nature of a caucus and some
- ,.r-oxy 1,n1~ nj rs
enter it with the understanding that they
shall not be bound by any conclusion that
may be reached. The advocates of
tariff reduction say that no action by
Republican senatorial caucus is binding
but they add that defectionS have oc-
Cured only in rare instances.
FOR ANY CUBAN BILL.
Senator Aldrich expresses confidence in
being able to secure fully forty-fve Re-
publican votes in favor of any bill that
may be reported by the Cuban Commits
tee. This is majority of the Senate and
the friends of reduction express them
se4ves 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 adj
hitting that the course. of the Cuban gov
eminent was censurable. it cannot and
should not prevent the government of the
United States doing what it has promised
to do so and what is right to do They
do not. however. generally admit that
the course was improper.
The beet sugar Senators are undenia-
bly, more hopeful than they have been
heretofore Some of them profess to,
believe that the revelation will have the
effect of at least causing a halt in the
proceedings in the interest of reciprocity.
They think the report made by Mr.. Thur
Der will be accepted by the country as
going to show that entirely too much
interest has been manifested in the SUBJ
ject in Cuba. Some of them go so far as
to claim that there will be no reciprocity
legislation, at least during the present
session.
The Testimony of MIR. Thurber.
tBy Assoc,sreu rress.J
WASHINGTON, June If. B. Thur
Der. of New York, president of the Unit
ed States Export Association, was before
the Senate Committee on Cuban Rela
tons.
The witness said he had circulated a
large number Of circulars in the interest
of reduction of the duty on Cuban SUI
gar and lie submitted samples of some
of them. His employment being
at the instance of Secretary
Root, he admitted that a large amount
of literature circulated by him had been
Senator Teller then submitted the fol-
lowing receipt, which MIR. Thurber had
given to the Cuban Government and
which he admitted to be genuine:
Form S-Voucher 81. Abstract "B."
Account month of April. 1902.
New York, April 1. 1902. The United
States Military Government of the Island
of Cuba to United States Export Asso-
citation. Dr.: For sending a third edition
Of eighty thousand circular letters and
ACCOMPANYING publications to leaders of
thought in the United States. advocating
a reduction in the duties upon Cuban
products. with a reciprocal reduction In
the duties upon American products im-
ported into Cuba-S2,SsO
Received payment, ~
(Signed)
OMITTED STATES EXPORT ASSN.
"F. P. Turber, President.
"April 8. 1902
The document bore the following en-
dcrsement:
| HEADQUARTERS Department of Cuba.
Havana, April TO- 1902.
| ',The services herein charged having
| been performed under the verbal direc-
tons and authority of the military gov
ernment this voucher. as submitted, is
annroyed. and the auditor is authorized
! to pass the same.
"By direction Of the Military Governor.
(Signed) FRANK MCCOY.
'.Aide-de-C Camp.
"Paid by check NO. 4o5. 1905. April II,
/ 1902, for $3.50. on Banco Nacional de
Cuba
In reply to other questions, Mr.. Thur
her SAID that three bills similar to the
above had been presented by him and all
had been paid, but Senator Teller main
tanned that this discount could not have
emanated through the Cuba Committee
Mr.. Thurber denied that the money was
paid on verbal order given by General
Wood while the latter was In the United
] States.
Asked what was meant by the phrase.
/ .Leaders of thought in his bill to the
Cuban Government. Mr. Thuroer said he
had a list of $4,000 people in the United
States, who represent something to
whom this literature was sent.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Teller as
to whether he had consulted Mr.. Have
never, of the sugar trust. in the prepa-
4 "a finn of the literature, Mr.. Thurber said