The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-27

millions more the annual interest without reference TO
the probable premium which Would DO realized from
loan, bearing per cent interest would be 80 200 COO
six millions two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. OF
the iinposts Of fs3 ai6 OO0 thirty-one millions two
hundred and sixteen thousand dollars in 1858, your
committee have not before them the of ascertain
ing the proportion coming from the United States From
The summary OF Bahamas Generates from 1913 TO leo4
in the report Of Commercial Relations vol. /, page
49, il may, however, be fairly assumed TO be somewhat
inore than onefourh about eight millions OF doars
This proportion would doubtless be largely increased
ADMITTING " TO be tsl6,2lG 00Ol sixteen millions TWO
hundred and sixteen thousand dolan, II would leave
balance of Csl5, 900 000 fifteen millions of dollars on
which duties could be levied Under our present tariff
the average rate Of duties is about Is per cent but as
the articles free list Of very limited Consump
ton in Cuba the avegefhere would be at least 20 per
cent This would yield revenue from customs OF
(S3, 0GD 000) Three millions Of dollars. But under the
stimulus OF sset trade and free institutions, with the
removal OF many burdens from the consumer it would
necessarily be greatly and speedily augmented it would
lie moderate calculation 30 say that IN two years II
would reach four millions OF dollars ga 600 O00 On
the other hand may he said that expenditure would
&c largely Increased Such IS not the opinion of your
committee On the contrary il is believed that from the
geates security of foreign relations, resulting from
Che settlement OF this long agitaed and Ding ques-
ton naval expenditure might DO safely reduced
while addition to military establishment would
he required IL has already been shown that annual
saving of eight hundred thousand dollars $500 000
be effected by Withdrawing the African squadron when
its services will longer be necessary. Thus
pendtue for the interest the debt incurred by the
QUESTION would lie credited by four million eight hundred
thousand dollars, (Si 500 000,) leaving annual bal
ance of but one million four hundred and twenty-five
thousand dollars Isl 425 000) TO the debit OF the pu
chase Is this to be weighed In the balance with the
advantages, political and commercial, which would result
from it Your Committee think that it should not
few words the wealth and of Cuba, and
your committee viii close this report which has swollen
Go dimensions not incommensurate with the importance
of the subject but which il may be feared will under
pf 9th
be considered anduly espassng the attention Of
the Senate The amount of taxes that can be lcvie,
upon any people, without paralyzng their industry and
arresting their material progress is the erprun. ccis
of the fertility of the land they nhabit Tried by this
test Cuba will fvorably compare with any country
either side OF the Atlantic
Your committee have before them the last Cuban
Budget which presents the actual receipts and expend
lures for year. with the estimates for the for
the next six months The income derived from direct
taxes, customs monopoies lotteries &C., is sixteen mil
lion three hundred and three thousand nine hundred and
fifty dollars {Sl6, 3o3 950 The expenses are sixteen
million two hundred and ninety nine thousand six hun
dred and sixty three dollars Sl6, gee $3.50 This equi
ibrum of the Budget accounted for by the fact that
the surplus il RENTED to Spain. 1t figures u
der the head of itsacoaes de IN Peninsula and amounts
10 Isl 404 059 million four hundred and four thou
sand and fftynine dollars, and is the only direct pecu
uary advantage Spain derives from the possession of
Cuba and this veTJ much exceeds the average
met RENTED from thot island all the expenses of
the army aud navy employed at Cuba being paid
by the island The disbursements those OF Che en
cral administration of the island, those of Havana and
other cities being provided for by special mposts and
taxes.
1t may be moderately estimated that the personal
actions of Spanish officials amount to five millions of
dollars (S5 900 000) per annum thus increasing the
penses of the government of Cuba apart from those
which, with us, would be considered county or
nicpal to the enormous of twenty-one million
three hundred thousand dollars sal 00O about
thirteen dollars and fifty $13 5O per head for the
whole population of the island, free and slave. Under
this system of government and this excessive taxation,
the population has for series of years steadily increased
at the rate of per cent per annum, about equal
to that of the United States
Since the reference of the bill TO the committee, the
President in response to resolution of the Senate
questing him. if not incompatible with the public inter
est communicate the Senate any and all corIespon
ence between the government of the United States and
the government of her Catholic Majesty relating to any
proposition for the purchase of the island of Cuba which
correspondence has been furnished 20 either hose of
Congress- informs that such correspondence has
taken place which has not already been communicated to
Congress He takes occasion to repeat what he said in
his annual message that it is highly important, If not
Indispensable to the any negotiation for the
purchase that the should receive the previous
sanction of Congress.
This emphatic retcration of his previous recommends
tion throws upon Congress the responsibility Of failure if
withheld Indeed thc inference is sufficiently clear that
President will not feel Justified in renewing negotiations
The committee beg leave to append hereto various ia
bes concerning statistical details Of matters treated of in
this report.
All which is respectfully submitted.
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