The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-12

ment, IL our ports, OF an export uuhN Oh iutT-
chandise-a duty which the United States can
not constitutienally impose, and, therefore, can
not sanction on the part OF another govern
nent
some of the defects and omissions in the treaty of
aruity and commerce Of 1889 and to secure to
American citizens capital and property in the
Spanish islands the fullest protection During
the late instruction in Cuba the absence Of such
treaty stipulations was source of serious injury
to American interests.
Articles % and "a secure recognition and in
terpretation of the most fa-ored nation treat
ment contended for by this government
as the first essential condition OF
treaties of commercial reciprocity 1t
is maintained by that the most
favOred-nation clause of treaties could not be
be applied in its unrestricted sense to reciproc
ity conventions, but that when two nations
stipula+e for reciprocal reduction OF duties upon
specified conditions third powers cannot claim
enjoy like favors except upon the same or
equivalent conditions By protocol attached
to the treaty it is provided that the agree
ment of Feb. l3 1854, is to terminate when the
present treaty goes into effect. The result OF
this stipulation will be again to subject TO the
forty-eighth column. or highest rate duties In
the tariffs of Cuba and Porto Rico, the products
of nations which have been admitted to the ben.
fits of that agreement.
I'm the negotiation of commercial conventions
with countries on the American continent and
adjacent islands, in view of the disparity OF po
pulation 1t is not expected nor is 1t possible that
we can secure an exact euulNaleIb eACldhSO VA
products. In the case of the Spanish Antilles,
two and quarter millions of Inhabitants cannot
offer market equal to that of ffty-five or sixty
millions of people. Other considerations besides
those affecting revenue merely have TO
be remembered. New markets for the
agricultural products and manufactures Of the
country are highly desirable in this period OF
overproduction, and announcement of our ship
ping is a matter of the highest moment II
these objects can be secured in exchange Tor
tropical products OF general consumption by our
people. it is not essential that the loss of reve-
nue. of the contracting parties sh0uld be equal
or even approximately so; indeed. if the conces-
spns ON either side proportionate to Dhe
population, respectively, of the contracting
parties the principle of true reciprocity may be
deemed to have been observed.
The only products of Cuba and Porto Rico
embraced IN schedule for admission to the
United States which require special notice are
sugar and TOBACCO coffee and most OF the items
scheduled as duty free being already on the free
list Our tariff duty sugar and tobacco Is
the chief basis upon which negotiate any
treaties of commercial reciprocity with tropical
countries of America. 1t was considered to be
less injurious TO our native tobac-
co interests to grant to Cuban tobac
co. both leaf and manufactured, a reduction
of 80 per cent, than TO conceGe free admission
to eIther leaf or manufactured separately. In
view of the fact that, even after that reduction,
Cuban tobacco and cigars Will be subject to a
heavy import duty and to internal revenue taxes
addition, its seems that our home producers
erative protection. eC.,-SIally when, under the
,-ssy,1ss- ana Porto Rico WILL for the FIRST
time be open to American tobacco at rate of
duty much lower than the reciprocal duty levied
in the United States. In arranging schedules b
and C. for admission OF American products into
Cuba and Porto Rico, the Spanish
government felt under the neces-
sity of respecting obligations which it
had contracted with regard to the Cuban debt
to secure the interest and principal of which
certain portion of the customs revenues bad
been pledged. That government claims it has
gone as far toward completely free admission of
our products as its public faith and obligations
permit
.:AD examination of the schedules will
show that have obtained large
md important concessions for
agricultural Industries and national products
Free admission is granted all kinds of meats
fish and fowls. lard, butter, cheese, fruits and
vegetables, all kinds of grain, including rice
with the sole exception of wheat the duty on
which is reduced from So 10 per 100 kilogrammes
to 50 cents, and -four, the duty which is
dueed from S4 40 to 81. 80 and 81. 60 per barrel;
eorn-meai and other fours free, also are
cattle, hogs, and other live animals; cotton and
eostonsseed, flax wool and various other agri
cultural products. The significance and value
of these concessions are shown by the fact that,
under the present tariff of the Spanish West
Indies, these products bHrdened with
such heavy duties that only limited
demand can be created, while with
the free market provided by the treaty, con
cessions to American manufactured goods are
not less important. On the free list Of the
schedules will be found almost all kinds of ma
terials for building PURPOSES, such as lumber of
all kinds, iron articles, stone. stating
bricks and similar materials also a
long list OF manufactures of woods,
Eooden-ware, breoms, brushes spokes and beut
wood, common furniture, etc; all manufactures
of castiron and steel, except fine Or high priced
articles undressed leather and skins; long and
important list of all kinds ofimpenents, utensils
and tools for agricultural use industrial and scien
tiie implements OF all classes and materials, and
loose pieces of the same material and articles
for railways, trauways, canals, and other works
Of public utility, materials OF I'll kinds for
featured articles in the production of
which this county excels While the
Spanish government did not feel that
it coald IN good faith TO its creditors,
remove all import duties American goods on
another long list of articles, such large reauc
tions have been made that the producers and
manufacturers of the United States com
pete successfully for the trade of
the islands. Under the tariff system
now in force two rates of duties levied on
foreign products first. when they imported
in Spanish vessels, the third column duty is
applied, but second, when these prod
ucts are imported in foreign vessels
the fourth column much higher duty is i'm
posed, as the carrying trade, except with the
mother country, is almost exclusively done by
foreign vessels If the pending treaty goes
into operation, other foreign products than
those of the United States will in great mea11re,
DO subject to the duties of the fourth column, to
which, also. American goods Were subject before
the agreement of Feb. l3 last"
The Secretary then presents a list Of articles,
and gives figures showing the duty to be paid
under the new treaty in comparison with those
exacted under the Fourth coulmn" schedule.
The letter concludes as follows:
tsOther points of comparatively minor i'm
portance are passed over in this letter but
which win be evident to you perusal of the
text. cannot doubt that the convention will
work immediate benefit to our citizens,
our trade and vessels. The loss
of revenue which a reduction of the