Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-12
FROM WASHINGTON.
THE SPANISH TREATY.
ident a Compendium of the
Spanish Treaty.

WASHINGTON. Dec. IL.
| Secretary Frelinghuysen today submitted
to the President compendium statement OF
the purpose and effect of the various articles
of the Spanish treaty and an analysis of the
schedules attached TO il, showing the exact
changes proposed o be made in the Spanish
treaty. The secretary points out the necessi-
| ty for opening new markets for American
products, and notes restrictions which have
practically shut out such products from Cuba
and Porto Rico while under the existing cir
cumstar ces. The bulk of the productions
of Cuba and Porto Rico comes to the United
States. This country only supplies one fifth
of the goods and manufactures which those
Islands must receive. The balance of trade
| is therefore as 20 these provinces against the
United States, in the proportion of to 10,
and this 10 due to the operation of the causes
which limit to our facility to supply and the
ability of the population of Cuba and Porto
Rico to demand. The secretary then gives
the history of the negotiations which have
| led to the arrangement of the proposed treaty
and proceeds to anslyze its provisions. One
new feature is stipulated: that the benefits
of carrying out trade shall be limited to
American and Spanish vessels. This is re-
garded as an important provision for the de-
velopment of our shipping. Article cor
advantage of American vessels in the West
India trade.
The export duties on sugar have in view of
the pending treaty been reduced in the low
est rate consistent with the obligations to the
Cuban bond holders to whom the revenues
have been pledged, to wit: About one sixth
of a cent per pound. Reciprocal abolition
by Spain OF abolition of consul fees is sig-
nificant from the fact that the Spanish con-
sular tariff is much higher than that of the
United States, and it also removes the Span
ish consular tonnage fees imposed on all
American goods shipped to Cuba and Porto
Rico. 1t is designed to sececure to the
American citizens capital and property in
the Spanish islands. II the exchange of our
manufactures for tropical products can be
effected it is not essential that the loss of
revenue of the two contracting parties can
be equal or even appropriately so.
The only products of Cuba and Porto
Rico embraced in the schedule for admission
to the United States, which require especial
notice, are sugar and tobacco. 1t was con-
sidered to be less injurious to our native
tobacco interest to grant to Cuban tobacco.
both leaf and manufactured, reduction of
80 per cent. than to concede free admission
to either leaf or manufactured separately. In
view of the fact that even after the reduction
Cuban tobacco and cigars will be subject to
heavy import duty and to internal revenue
taxes in addition.
An examination of the schedules
will show that we have obtained large and
important concessions for our agricultural
industries and national products The whole
Spanish government did not feel that it could
in good faith to its creditors, remove all i'm
port duties on American goods or on other
lists of articles. Much larger reductions
would have been made that the producers of
the United States can compete successfully for
the trade of the islands.
l 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 the ratifi-
cation of the convention and by passage of
of our statutes needful to carry it into effect
on our part rests wholly with Congress and no
delay should ensue.