, 1879-05-12


plaoc obstacles in tho why Of tho onforcc-
mcnt of general mud Wholesome laws These
petty local eovorcignttoa Impose hoayy l1tr-
tlcnR on tito frntto and commerce of the
country, although in direct violation of tho
lptter aud spirit Of tic Constitution, and tho
Rystcm Of espionage l,aa become so popular
TINT ia eradication now hos bccome nln,ost
mn iinpossibility. S1r. A1ERnthL soys
that this Ia woll illustrated by tho
tribute which, Importers aro obliged
to rny ns Vera Cruz, tho principal
port Of entry, for commissions. 1ightcrnge,
drny ynge, and other charges incident to the
transfer Of goods from vessols to the cnta Or
warehouses, which Ii m expense that often
e1cceda tho cost Of transportation Of goods
from nny OF tic principal ctioY Of tho United
States. This system IL 80 obviously at war
will, tho commercial prosperity Of the whole
country that various nttemptH have boen &C.
rlousy mado to remedy It, both OIL tho part
Of tho Central Government Of Mexico and by
association Of merchants and business mon
who have folt the necessity of rofor1n but
thus fur all their efforts havo boen tlofoatcd.
Tho people Of Vera Cruz mainly dercnd on
lovying tribute OIL goods in transit, md
neither Tho Governor Of the State nor the
city officers could DO e1ooted linlosa they
were Pledged not to interfere with this we'll
established method Of getting n livelihood.
Until this il cured by the voluntary notion Of
Tho citfzons OF Vera Cr1z,-tho Central Gov
srn,nont seeIns imroscnt to prohibit it,-or
until great trunk llnos Of railroad penetrate
tho heart of Mexico, this systom Of clargea
must intorfero with all foreign trade to MI
extout easily comprol'ended by overy In
tolligent business man.
The second great obstacle in tho way Of
extending our trade with thht country is tho
Mexican thrill, which Is 40 high that it
amounts to practical prohibition in some
instances, and in others reduces tho profit
on goods to point that uttorly destroys alt
inducomont to trailc. This high tariff is
also groat incont,vo to smuggling, which iH
often exclusively carried on with the knowl-
odgo and conuivance Of tho oftlcin1s. Another
great impeachment in tho why of trado is tue
1ack OF proper facilities for conveying goods
from the seaport towns into tho interior,
md the high prices for carrying them. For
hrst-class freight from Yorn Cruz to tho City
Of 1to1ico, 2Ga miles, tho chorgo In $40 per
ton. It In easy to SEQ that, When tho first
cost of tho articles, commissions, exchange,
interoat, and profit aro aflded to theao e1or-
bitnnt rates Of transportation, the price Of
most nrtloles is placed quito beyond tho
reach Of tho ordinary purchaser. The Hon.
JouN ". Fosrzn, the American Minister to
Mexico, in his report published last winter
In Tue TRIBUNE, quotes itoms-tlutioH,
froights, comlnisaionB, exchange, aud so forth
from tho books Of Importers to show the
cost of goods taken from New York and hid
down III tho City Of Mexico. Ho adda this
list Of six articles In common use:
Hams at lie. per b. In New York cost 31c. per 1b.
Esi1s. ii a4c. per lb. In Now York cos. lie. per
F!ent p i - per bril- In New York costs saa oa per
Crackurs 1t ss. no per brl. in Nov York cost
S2H 10 per brl. in MexIco.
snis Il 9? per bFl. III Now York costs s2o 40 per
Furniture At slal. Is in New York costs s:40. 10
In Mexico.
Mr. MERRILL anys TINT tho excnrstonists
had frequent interviews with President
D1Az ind members Of Ills Cabinot, at which
questions Of public policy wero freely dis
cusaod, especially tho modification Of the
Tariff laws, aud tho project Of 4 great inter-
national railway connecting tho two Repub-
lies. They seemed to feel sincere desire
for closer commercial relations with the
United Stntes, but woro not iusonaiblo to tho
serious diiHcr1ltics That lio in tho way Of
TINT desirable contamination. hlr, MEnn1l1.
himself Is not at Nil enthusiastic oyor tho
prospect Of making sudden fortunes in the
Mexican trade. IIo Is too practical nun
for that, and knows that thcra Is too muol,
involved in tho enterprise to bo wrought
out as onco. Tho Mo1ioaua aro not pro-
grossive raoo; tloy are far bohind most other
nations In tho arts aud sciences, md in all
elso TINT distinguishes u civilized md on-
lightonod people.
y. Nanlfestly, soctotary EyAnrs was right
whon ho fIeolarntl On Sat1,rt]ny Tint fin