The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-12-12
THE SPANISH TREATY.
secretary Frelinghuyscu Submits a State
menI of Hts Purpose and Rffect.

| WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.-Secretary Freling-
naysen today submitted to the President
compendium statement of the purpose and eff
rect OF the various articles of the Spanish trea-
ty, and an Analysis of the schedules attached
70 IT, showing succinctly the exact changes
proposed 70 be made in the existing Spanish
treaty. The Secretary points ont the necessity
lor opening new markets for American pre-
ducts, ana notes the restrictions which have
practically shut out such products from Cuba
and Porto Rico. While under the existing cir
cumstances the bulk of the production of ca
ba and Porto Rico comes to the United States,
this country only supplies one-ffth of the
goods and manufactures which those Islands
must receive from without to meet the abso-
lutte necessities OF existence, and the balance
OF trade is therefore, as to these provinces
against the United States in the proportion OF
to 10, and this is due to the operation of
canses which limit our facility to supply
and the ability of tho population of Cuba and
Porto Rico to demand. 1t follows, therefore,
that any change which cheapens the price OF
the nece ssaries of life in Cuba and Porto Rico
will increase the demand and so benefit the
United States.
The Secretary then gives the history of the
negotiations which have led to the arrange
ment OF the proposed treaty, and proceeds to
anayZe its provisions at great length. One
new feature is stipulation that the benefits
OF the carrying trade shall be limited to Amer
lean and Spanish vessels. This is regarded as
e"AS PhSNA12SA AOb tA0 uofolOELuOubul VI
our shipping.
Article correots the practice which has op-
Grated TO the disadvantage of American vesa
sells in the West India TRACE. BY existing laws
and customs regulations, foreign products re-
shipped in the ports of the United States when
transported BY Spanish vessels, are admitted
ante Cuba and Porto Rico ct 20 psr cent sess
duties thaa when carried by American vessels
ms rule being applied to ell Canadiau and
other foreign products in transit through tho
OF II
American vessels hencefottb, the same privi-
lege as Spanish vessels in respect of such tran
shipped cargo as they may carry. The re-
sttlctinns and technical penalties to which
American exporters and shippers have besn
subjected for many years past in Spanish Gus
tom houses, are designed to be removed. The
export duties on sugar have, in view OF the
pending treaty, been reduced to the lowest
rate consistent with obligations to Cuban boud-
holders to whom the revenues have been
pledged to wit; About one-sixth OF cent per
pound.
The reciprocal abolition of the tonnage dues
secures still further relief to our shipping,
and the reciprocal acceptance by Spain OF the
abolition of consul fees is significant from the
fact the Spanish consular tariff ID
much higher than that of the United States
and it also removes the Spanish consular ton.
nage fees imposed on all American goods ShiB-
ped to Cuba aud Port Rico. II is designed to
secure to American citizens capital and prop
cry III tue spanish ISLANDS 10 lLS IQIl66Is
Articles % and "A secure recognition OF the
Interpretation as ''the most favored nation"
the treatment contended for by this government
as the first essential condition of the treaties of
commercial reciprocity, in negaion OF COM
merce conventions with countries on the
American continent and adjacent islands. In
view of the disparity of population it is not to
be expected nor is it possible that we can
secure an exact equivalent exchange of pro-
ducts OF our markets for the agricultural pro-
ducts and manufactures of the country are
highly desirable in this period of over produc-
tion. And the encouragement of our shipping
is a matter OF the highest moment. Ii these
objects can be secured in exchange fer the
tropicalspro6ucts of general consumption ii is
net essential that the loss OF revenue of the
two contracting parties should be equal or
even approximately so. The only products of
Cuba and Porto Rico embraced in Schedule A
for admission to the United States which re-
cuire especial notice are sugar and tobacco
coffee and most of the items scheduled as duty
free being already on the free list 1t was COLI
sdered to be less Injurious to our native tobac-
co interests to grant TO Cuban tobacco both
leaf and manufactured reduction of so per
cent than to concede free admission to either
leaf or manufactured separately.
In view cf the fact that even after that re-
duction Cuban tobacco and cigars will be sub-
Ject to heavy import duty and to internal
revenue taxes in addition it seems that our
home products and manufactures shall enjoy
ialr and remuneratve protection, and that it
has gone as far towards the completely free ad-
mission of our products an examination of the
schedules will show. We have obtained large
and important concessions for our agricultural
industries and natural products.
While the Spanish government did not feel
that it could in good faith to its creditors re-
move ell import duties on American goods on
another list of articles such large reductions
have been made that products and naRufac-
lures of the United States can compete suecess-
fully for the trade of the island. I cannot
doubt, the Secretary says, that the convention
will work an immediate benefit to our citizens,
our trade and our vessels.
The completion of the compact By ratifica-
tion of the convention and by the passage of
statutes needful to carry it into effect GU our
part, rests wholly with the Congress of the
United States, and no delay should ensue, in
order that commerce may not suffer in the
meantime while awsitipg the result.