The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-11

The Three Propositions ~ TO Duty
on Sugar Discussed by Chairman
Payne.

Washington. March ~e-ChliTnE,n
Payne. OF the Ways and Means on
mittee today gave out ths following
authorized statement in connection
with the discussion over Cuhs,n re-
ciprocity:
Il think the large majority OF the
republicans have made w their minds
that We must do something FOR Cuba
There are three propositions presented
which have this professcd emo In view
The proposition OF Mr.. Morris. OF
Minnesota. provides for an Increase in
the tarin on sugar to the outside
world z a reoA,e on uEa Imported
from Cuba. 1t does not seem TO me
that many republicans are willing To-
increase the duty on sugar.
Ihen there Is the ~proo0sIion OF hr.
Tawney TO vote between $1,000. 600 and
sS.o0o.000 directly into the Cuban reas-
ury and 10 ask the Cuban government
to distribute about 81. 000. 900. according
10 MS ngures, TO native Cuban planters.
This first payment is & be nI.G. with
out any compensation from Cuba in
any way or manner-a pure gift 10 the
CuUan government. 1t hardly needs
the opinion OF a lawyer TO say that
such a procedure would be unconsti,u
tional.
"Of course no bounty of this kind
could be distributed without a scandal
and a fraud. In the next place seven
eighths of the b laborers would
still remain Without work. 1t would
he lust as easy for the sugar trust TO
1htaln a CONCESSION on the sugar they
bought on account of the bounty as to
obtain a concession where the PAINTER
knew he vas to have a 20 per ccat.
concession in duty. So that Mr.. Taw-
naUfC nrnnnCifin. hos M
over that for a 20 per cent. reduction.
and ii has the disadvantages named.
The third proposition is that for q
20 per cent. reduction of duties. TnIs
would iniure NJ home industry.
Coupled with the provision to extend
our exclusion laws to Cuba no one ap-
pearing before the committee on ways
and means contended that it would in
jure home industries. All agreed that
the price Of sugar to the American
consumer 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
received no benefit in buying sugar
either in Hawaii or Porto Rico.
the duty vas reduced or removed. The
entire benefits have been reaped by
the planters in these islands. We have
every reason to believe the same would
prive true as to Cuba
MANY misleading statements as to
the attitude of the president, the cabi-
net and the house of republicans are
appearing in the newspapers. 1 cam
not speak of conferences with the
president: hut 1 ave every assurance
that the cabinet is not divided on this
question, nor have a majority of the
house republicans committed them
selves either to the Morris, the Tawney
or the do-nothing policy. The propo-
sition of a 20 per cent. reduction, IL
adopted, will put off, in my judgmeT
the annexation of Cuba for many
years. She will not come in until her
population is AmericaniZed from the
states. To refuse to do anything
would cause uncertainty and a feeling
Of apprehension to the producers of
sugar in the states n would be ut
terly demoraliZing." .