Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-06-12
AID FROM THE TRUST
Summary of the Testimony Given Be-
fore the Senate Committee Re-
garding Reciprocity.
Several Large Contributions to the
Fund from Military Govern
...& ment of the Island,
Interesting Testimony of F. B. Thir-
Der, President of the U. S.
Export Association.

Washington, June IF. B. Thur
Der, president of the Exporters asso-
citation, the witness that has been
wanted by the committee on Cuban re-
lations, was before the committee dur
copy of a voucher for $2,8s0, showing
that, that sum had been paid by the
military government of Cuba, by au-
thority of Governor Wood, to the Unit
ed States Export association of which
Thurber is president. Thurber ac-
knowledged that he had received the
amount and said it was one of three
payments he had received from the
same source. The receipt was dated
April 2, 1902, and states that it was
for advocating a reduction in the du-
ties on Cuban products with a recip-
rocal reduction of United States prod
ucts going into Cuba" The witness
said he thought $4,000 worth of liter
ature has been circulated. He said he
had received contribution of $4,000
from Mr.. Havemeyer of the American
Sugar Refining company when he So
licited that gentleman for a subscrip-
ton.
In response to questions from Sen
ator Teller Mr.. Thurber said he had
been active in the efforts to secure a
reciprocal arrangement with Cuba. He
had come to Washington originally at
the instance of the Export association
and also of the Cubans who were favor
ing reciprocity. He was not, he said,
under salary for the Export associa-
tiOn but he admitted that he received
percentage of the fees for member,
ship in the association Influenced by
himself. The witness said he had cir
culated large number of circulars in
the interest of a reduction of&the duty
on Cuban sugar and he submitted spec
linens of some of them. Being asked
by Senator Teller
Who Paid the Expense
incident to the circulation of this lit
erature the witness replied that the
Cuban committee had paid the larger
part of it and that members of the as
sociation had paid part of it, He said
he had been in the employ of the Gu
ban government for a time in the sum-
mer and fall of 1901 in connection with
the preparation of the Cuban tariff, his
employment being at the. instance of
Secretary Root. In reply to questions
Mr.. Thurber said that the money re-
ferred to above had all come through
the Cuban committee but Senator Tel
Ter insisted that the voucher which he
had produced could not have emanated
from the Cuban committee. Mr.. Thur
Der then said that all was done through
an understanding that the Export asso-
citation should do all possible to get the
industries on a proper basis. He de-
MED, however, that the money was
paid on a verbal order from General
Wood given while the latter was in the
United States.
Asked what was meant by the phrase
of Headers of thought in his bill to
the Cuban government Mr.. Thurber
said he had list of 5000 people in the
United States "who represent some
thing" to whom this literature was
sent.
In reply to question by Mr.. Teller
as to whether he had consulted Mr..
Havemeyer of the sugar trust in the
preparation of the literature Mr.. Thur
Der said:
"After making my argument before
the ways and means committee I told
Mr.. Havemeyer that had been asked
if I was representing him and asked
him for subscription. He gave me
a check toward meeting our expenses"