The age-herald., 1902-03-07
Thinks Majority of Republicans
 Are of Same Opinion EXPLAINS THE DIVISION
According to Witnesses Before Com mittee MT. Payne Says the Trust Has Received No Benefit In
 Buying Sugar of Islands.

Washington, March 6.-Chairman Payne of the ways and means committee today gave out the following authorized state ment in connection with the discussion of Cuban reciprocity
 T think the large majority of the Re- publicans have made up their minds that we must do something for Cuba There are three propositions presented which have this professed end In view. The proposition of MT. Morris of Minnesota provides for an increase in the tariff on sugar to the outside world and rebate on sugar imported from Cuba. It does not seem to me that many Republicans are willing to increase the duty on sugar. Then there is the proposition of MT. Taw- ney to vote between $7, 100000 and SS.O00,- GOO directly into the Cuban treasury and ask the Cuban government to distribute about $1,OO0, 900 according to his figures to native Cuban planters. This first pay ment is to be paid without any compen- sation from Cuba in any way or manner a pure gift to the Cuban government.
 Would Be Unconstitutional.
 "It hardly needs the opinion of a law yer to say that the procedure would be unconstitutional. His proposition further is to pay like sum yearly on the grant ing of reciprocal concessions and the passage of our immigration and exclu- sion laws. Of course no bounty of this kind could be distributed without a scan dal and a fraud. In the next place seven eighths of the Cuban laborers would still remain without work. It would be just as easily 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 20 per cent concession in duty. So that MT. Tawney's proposition has no advantages over that for a 20 per cent reduction and 1t has the disadvan- tages named.
 '"The third proposition Is for 20 per cent reduction on duties. Coupled with the provision to extend our exclusion laws to Cuba, no one appearing before the com mittee on ways and means, it Is contended home industries would be injured The price of sugar to the American consumer would remain the same. Nor would it in- crease to the benefit of the sugar trust.
 Trust Received No Benefit.
 "The witness before the committee uni- ted in testifying to, and the Statistician proved, that the trust has received 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 that the same would prove true as to Cuba Many misleading statements as to the attitude of the President the cabinet and the House Republicans are appearing In the newspapers I cannot speak of conferences with the President, but I have every as- surance that the cabinet is not divided on these questions, nor has a majority of the House Republicans committed themselves either to the Morris, the Tawney, or the do-nothing division. The proposition of 20 per cent reduction. if adopted, will put off in my judgment. the annexation of Cuba for many years, She will not come in until her. population is Americanized from the states
 "It will then settle the question for gen. erations to come and rest and tranquilize the sugar interests"
 President Has Not Changed.
 Washington, MaNh 8-The following authorized statement was made public at the White House this evening:
 Any statement that the President has changed his attitude on the Cuban reef procity business is without the slightest foundation in fact"