Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-15
FOSTER ON HIS TREATY.
CUBA'S COMMERCIAL INTER
ESTS TO BE REVIVED BY 1T.

ESTS TO BE REVIVED BY 1T.
The Ruin of Louisiana's Sugar Planters
Virtually Admitted-An Advantage
Seen in the Opening of the Cuban
Tobacco Market-An Increase of Ex-
ports to $5O,OOO.OOO Predicted.
Mr.. Foster, our Minister to Spain, who
negotiated the Spanish treaty, is engaged
in explaining the provisions of the treaty,
and has had already several talks with
commercial bodies and newspapers with
| regard to it. He is, of course, very much
in favor of it, and thinks that this country
VIII be great loser If it is not ratified.
Being asked for some points respecting
the treaty, he said:
spain, under the treaty, agrees TO admit
| virtually all the agricultural products of the
| United states free of duty, except wheat and
| flour. IL also admits free long list of manu-
iRctures, embracing ali OF the leading depart
| menis except textiles In addition to this
| Spain admits almost all OF the remaining
| articles which are manufactured in the United
| States at a reduction of from 20 TO 80 per
/ per cent.
"The treaty would be considered a complete
| reciprocity treaty If Spain admitted the
| products and manufactures of the United
states free. She insists that she has done
| this to the extent of her ability. Unfortu-
| nately, Cuba has a large bonded Indebtedness
and both import and3Nport duties have been
pledged to secure the pdyment of both the
| principal and interest upon this debt, This
made II impossible for her to remove the du-
ties without obtaining the consent of the
oonuholders ana providing some other method
OF security. 1t was not thought practicable
10 accomplish this within Il reasonable time.
rms, IN part, may explain why portion of
| duty IS retained on American products"
what benefits does Spain expect to derive
under the tTeaty?''
"Spain expects to revive the drooping COM
mer' iai interests of Cuba. but the benefits
will be political well as financial. Greater
contentment Will follow a revival of COM
merce. When people are prosperous they are
naturally better satisfied with their rulers.''
THE TOBACCO TRADE.
"What will be the effect OF the treaty on the
tobacco trader"
Il am satisfied when the provisions of the
treaty as TO this article are properly UNDER
stood and its effects examined by the proa-o-
ers and manufacturers, that they will become
satisfied that In view OF the conflicting inter-
ests of the different branches of these indus
tries of the United States, no better provision
could have been made, especially When it IS
remembered That the treaty secures an open
market in Cuba for American leaf tobacco at
nominal duty of one and two third cents per
pound from which all foreign Importations
have been heretofore absolutely excluded.
This believe to be an important concession
to the producers in many States of the Union"
'What Will we sacrihce?"
'We will lose the revenue derived from the
sugar imported free from Cuba, which repre-
sents about $3O,000,000. If the revenue were
the only consideration to be taken into ac-
count, it would no doubt be bad bargain
for the United States, but 1t is to be remem-
bered that sugar is an article of general con-
sumption and has become one of the neeessi-
ties of life. There is a growing demand for
an absolute repeal of the duty following that
OF the duty on coffee and tea, sugar being an
article OF much more general use than either
of these. If we can secure free sugar and at
the same time open market for portion Of
our surplus products, we can, in the present
condition of the Treasury, well afford the ar
rangement.
OUR SUGAR INTERESTS.
''Will not the sugar planting interests of this
country be ruinedP
1T is not to be denied that the treaty may
injure the Louisiana planters, II they have not
already been ruined by the beet root over
production of European countries. Since the
war the Louisiana planters have been pro-
tected by heavy import. sugar duty, winch
to-day are equal to 100 per cent. of the value
of foreign sugar. In this time the cOnsump-
ton of sugar in the United States has IN
creased 300 per cent. Notwithstanding the
high protection and the encouragement which
sugar cultivation received in Louisiana, its
average annual production in the last ten
years has only reached "a per cent, or a little
over one-half of the production of Louisiana
before the war, whenit enjoyed much lower
protective duty"
'Will this treaty bring about free sugar
within very short period OF timer"
81 think it will. The significance of this
u
and Porto RicO but it involves a system that
will lead to similar treaties with other sugar
producing countries. They VIII be compelled
to seek treaties with us in order to obtain the
same market in the United States that Cuba
and Porto Rico will have for their products
or their commerce VIII be killed. 1t viii lead
to treaties with all of them. 1t means free
sugar and the opening up OF market for our
products and manufactures"
A CHANCE FOR FLOUR.
''What about fiour?'
"FlOur is reduced from IS 50 q barrel to 81 so
the first year and after the third year and for
the remainder of the time covered by the
treaty to 81 65. This virtually gives us the
monopoly of the -four trade of the island. 1t
would have been desirable to have secured the
free admission of flour, but the Spanish Gov
ernment did not regard tins as possible Iii
view of its obligations.
SIS flour from Spain admitted to Cuba on
the same basis as ours?''
''They discriminate a little in favor of
Spanish flour. The Spanish Government de-
sires to include the Philippine Islands in a
treaty with us, and such treaty would be
made if it were thought that it would receive
the approval OF Congress. The question is
whether it is necessary to extend our trade
with these countries. If it is they have little
TO oner US, but sugar and tobacco, and we
must make sugar free. If the -four duty is
reduced from s. 80 TO 81 65 at last, will not
that help the flour trade?"
How about cotton goodsp'
cotton goods are reduced from 90 to 20 per
cent. as compared with the former duties on
American goods, and the same reduction is
made on linen goods and nearly the same on
woolens. This / regard sufficient to give
the control of the dry goods trade to American
manufacturers.
WHAT SHALL WE GAIN?
"What, in your opinion. will be the increase
of our trade under this treaty?"
"With the present high duties, and with all
the distractions which have hindered free
intercourse with Cuba and Porto Rico, our
trade has averaged about S15,0O0000 q year.
With the dutiss removed on our agricultural
products and such long free list of manu-
factured articles and so large a reduction on
the remaining American exports. there is no
question but what our trade will be largely
increased. It is reasonable to suppose that
we will control almost the entire market.
This being the case, there is no reason why we
may not expect an increase to at least $780,
100000, especially with the revival of the in
dustries and general prosperity of the island''
RAILROAD NEWS.