Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-06-12
MONEY USED BY THE CUBANS
Between Eight and Nine Thousand Dollars
Spent in Behalf of Reciprocity,
STATEMENT is MADE BY F. 3. THURBER
Advocates Are Not Dis
concerted by Report, but oppOn-
ents Say IL VIII Help Them
to Prevent Concessions.

WASHINGTON. June 1.-THE testimony
given today before the committee on Cuban
relations by F. E. Thurber, showing that
between $4,000 and $4,000 had been paid
out Of the Cuban treasury under direction
OF Governor General Wood for the promo
tion OF the effort to secure reciprocity be-
tween the United States and Cuba, caused
a sensation in the senate.
The news OF Mr.. Thurber's statement
reached the senate chamber about the time
that body convened, and when Senator Tel
ler whose examination had developed the
facts, made his appearance on the floor
he was imedlately surrounded by senators
from both sides Of the chamber, who pro-
fessed great anxiety to know all that had
occurred. Copies Of the one voucher pro-
duced were eagerly sought and the de-
mand was not satisfied until forty or fifty
copies had been typewriter and circulated
in the senate chamber.
Much interest was also manifested on
the part Of the members of the house and
some Of the beet sugar advocates Of that
body pointed out that Mr.. Thurber had not,
in his testimony before the ways and means
committee, indicated any connection with
the Cuban government in his effort to
create sentiment in this country favorable
to concessions to Cuba.
Brings About Caucuses.
Opinions as to the ultimate effect of the
testimony are as varied as the predictions
and prejudices OF the senate, but the i'm
mediate results are seen In the decision
reached during the afternoon to have two
caucuses in the early future. The first
Of these will be held by the beet sugar re-
publican senators tomorrow and the sec
ond by all the republican senators Friday
or Saturday. Senator Burrows Is respon-
sible for the statement that the beet sugar
men who meet and Senator Aldrich for the
announcement that there will be a general
conference before the close of the week.
The purpose of the meeting of the beet
sugar men is to consider the situation as
affected by today's developments, and also
to receive a report from the committee
consisting of Senators Elkins, Burrows and
Jones of Nevada, appointed to confer with
the republican members of the Cuban com
mittee. This committee will state that the
Cuban committee has declined to consider
all the propositions looking to a compro-
mise which have been made and 1t probably
will ask to be discharged. The propositions
that have been made are two-the first for
rebate and the second for commercial
treaty with Cuba.
DUN AeNICCtCus
The committee will say that both plans
we're rejected and that the members OF the
Cuban committee would not change their
position, that there must be a straight re-
duction of 20 per cent without any condi-
tions. except that the president might have
| power to revoke the concession in case he
found that the Cuban planters we're not
| getting the beneflt OF 1t. The full confer
\ ence will be in the nature of a caucus and
| some of the beet sugar men say they will
| enter 1t only with the understanding that
they shall not be bound by any conclusion
that may be reached. The advocates of a
| tariff reduction say that no action by a re-
publican senatorial caucus is binding. but
they add that defections have occurred only
| In rare instances.
Senator AldJic expresses confidence in
being able to secure fully forty-fve repub-
lican votes In favor of any bill that may
be reported by the Cuban committee. This
is majority Of the senate and his friends
express themselves as hopeful Of passing a
bill satisfactory to them.
Are Not Disconnected.
They say the testimony of Mr.. Thurber
does not effect the merits OF the question
| in the least and they contend that, even
admitting that the course Of the Cuban
government was censurable, 1t can not and
should not prevent the United States doing
what it has promised and what is right ia
do. They do not, however. generally ad-
| NIT that the course was improper.
| The beet sugar senators undeniably are
more hopeful than they have been here
tofore. 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.. Thurber will be ac-
cepted by the country as going to show
| that entirely too much interest has been
| manifested in the subject in Cuba Some
| OF them go so far as to claim that there
| will be no reciprocity legislation, at Least
| h.