The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-08
THE NEW MEXICAN TREATY.
The Benefits the Coast May Receive
and the Price to be Paid in Re-
turn-The Present Tariff.

The text of the proposed reciprocity
treaty between Mexico and the United
States has just been given to the pub.
lie and is u general topic of discus.
sion among the merchants and manu-
facturers of this city. The importance
of the early ratification of the treaty
was conceded by every one, in order
that no trade disturbances can occur
or undue speculation take place on
the event of its acceptance or reiec-
ton by the senate OF the United States
ana the Mexican government. Near
ly all The business men of this city an.
pear To be jubilant at the possibility
OF It's ratification, and look forward To
Il large increase of trade with Mexico
as soon as 1t goes into effect. From
lack OF information as to the tariff
| charges IN Mexican ports on many of
the articles 1t Is now proposed to adj
unit duty. free, no one seemed to he
able to give an exact statement of
the benefits that would accrue to Cal
fOrnia in particular. and the United
States in general, but all who were
spoken to on the subject admitted
that this country would reap the
greatest share of the financial advan-
tage.
TIE PRICE THIS COUNTRY Is TO PAY
For the benefits Mexico is asked to
grant to American trade is held to he
very small, and, with one exception.
in no way entails any cost to Cali
iOrnla or any possible interference
with her productions. The import
ant articles from Mexico to be adj
united free into America are as fol-
lows:
Live animals for breeding. which
are admitted free under existing laws
Barley, other than Pearl-This can
be raised cheaper i'll California than
in Mexico, where the methods of
cultivation are of the crudest kind:
and as Mexican barley already goes
-ree to England, to compete with
California barley, the removal of the
tariff Will make no difference to the
barley raisers of this state.
Beef.-On beef there is at present
an import duty of one cent per
pound. The removal of this duty is
"A question of some Importance to
California and Nevada cattle raisers.
1t IS fact that for years past Mexican
| cattle have been struggled across the
border into Texas and Arizona by the
thousand; in fact, all the surplus
Mexican cattle are disposed of as
Anglican by the adventurous cow
boys of the lower country. The COM
petition has already existed, though
illegal, and it is an open question
whether or not the removal of the
One-cent duty will interfere with the
business of American cattle growers.
Hemp.-The duty on hemp is at
present 30 per cent ad valorem.
COffee.-Already free.
MATERIAL FOR PAPER MANUFAC-
TURE.
Grasses and pulp for the manufac-
ture of paper. The present duty on
these goods Is 30 per cent ad valorem,
and was put on for the special benefit
of Miller and his partners in the
wood-pujp paper monopoly, which
| leVles an enormous tax on every
book, paper, pamphlet and letter Is
sued in the Uni ed States. The free
admission of the eSparto grass, which
makes splendid paper. will force the
wood pulp monopolists to lower their
tax on the dissemination of knOwl-
edge. Paper mills will start in Cali
fornia, and instead of imp lrting all
her paper from the east, this state
will be able to manufacture enough
for herself and a surplus for the colo
NAL and island trade. 1t will give
birth to large and profitable indus
try, and will be great boon to the
poorer class.
Hides and Skins, except sheepskins
with the wool on.-Alread admitted
free.
Quicksilver.-Already free, but a
protective tariff has been asked for
and will probably be granted Wheth-
er the admission of Mexican quick
silver free Will hurt the quicksilver
interests of California or not cannot
be determined without considerable
investigation, but it appears to be I'M
likely that, with their present crude
and wasteful methods Of milling, the
MeXicanS can prove formidable oppo-
nentS to the California industry.
FREE SUGAR.
Sugar up to sixteen. Dutch stand
ard.-At present the duty on sugar is
Ia cents per pound, Plus % per cent
for all grades up to No. Z, Dutch
standard; and from to 2A cents per
pound, plus 20 per cent for all
grades from No. to No. Is. The in
PRODUCTION of Mexican sugar free may
mean the erection of half dozen re-
tineries in San Francisco and death to
the present monopoly, by which the
people of this state are compelled to
pay more for duty-free Sandwich Is
land sugar than the Eastern sugars
can be sold for. While it may be pos
sible for one man like SpreckleS to
control the cane supply of the Sand
witch Islands, it would be utterly i'm
possible for any combination TO con-
troll the enormous area of Sugar cane
lands in Mexico. This provision of
the treaty will be opposed by the Lou
isiana planters, as is the Sandwich
Island treaty, and doubtless by SINH
lar methods, out it will probably re-
ceive substantial support from all
other parts of the union.
LEAF TOBACCO.
Tobacco, in leaf and manufactured.
This means simply natural leaf to-
bacco and leaf with stems removed,
|, or leaf pressed into plugs. 1t does
not include cigars or cigarettes. At
present the duty on plain leaf is 30
cents per pound; on manufactured
leaf, 30 cents per pound and 16 cents
per pound internal revenue duty; on
manufactured stems, IL cents
per pound. The Mexican consul
states that at present large
proportion of the best Mexi-
can tobacco is shipped to Havana,
where it is made into Havana
cigars, which are imported into
America. The benefits accruing to
San Francisco from the free importa-
ton of Mexican tobacco, which will
give this city control of the line cigar
trade of America. have already been
discussed in the Examiner, and are
fully understood by every cigar dealer
here. The duty on imported cigars.
will still remain $3.50 per pound, in
addition to the internal revenue tax,
and six months after the ratification
OF the treaty none but American
made cigars Will he smoked in
America. San Francisco will also
regain the Colonial and Island trade,
lost by German competition.
MEXICAN WOODS.
Woods, manufactured or unmanu-
featured, including ships timber.
The importation of Mexican hard
woods free will give tremendous
impetus to the cabinet-mab ing and
ship-building interests of this city,
and will lay the foundation for ex-
tensive manufactures of fine furni-
fu1-a cnDh iC rnxy iunrnrf o6 from