Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-13

The gpauish commercial treaty Is JUST
now receiving a good deal OF attention.
not only from Congress, but from me
country generally. The preValnns u
preston is that it Is one-sldeo 80,
and that the advantages are no- u -
side Of this country.
The answer 70 the question, WnaI are
We 70 gain for what We give upf does lo'
snnaar n he AZ ali satisfactory Inc puI-
chasing uower Of Cuba Is not no" as
great A. il was a couple Of years ago. IN !
Isss Cuba purchased from Us articles 70
the amount Of xl4. 90. 900. in 1884 her pur-
ebases only amounted 10 S10,910- 15S. The
falling on was not due 70 withdrawal o.
trade. but 70 a lack OF money 70 boy. Inc
falling Of in the trade with Great Britain,
spain and other European countries was
about the same Per cent as the falling Oh
with this country.
The IMPORTS Of Cuba and Porto Klco
amount 10 about So. O., 000 annually. oI
this amount, prior 70 last year, this couh-
t-v furnished about 100000, Great
Britain about SI1.O00,Oo0, spain about
0.O0o 90. and all other countries ABOUT
10000.
Ifour exports u Cuba and Porto Rico
are 70 Be increased by the treaty either
the consuming capacity Of those Islands
must increase OF We must draw away
from. other countries a part Of their trade.
spain. Of course. has taken care that We
shall not draw from her and she has taken
care that We shall not draw from ing
land. In the treaty the duty Is not re-
duced on any Of the important articles
with which England supplies the islands;
besides. England has an arrangement
with Spain which provides that we shall
not be favored al her expense.
II we cannot draw q portion Of the
trade Of England and spain away from
them our only chance viii be 70 get
| share Of the $1,000 Coo enjoyed BIZ other
| nations. II we could get all Of it our ex-
ports 70 Cuba and Porto Rico would still
Be less than S35.O00, 900. But, OF course,
we could not reasonably expect 10 get
more than half Of the 100000, and If we
got that much Of il the profit on it wouldn't
be q very large sum.
What would we have 70 give up for
/ this profit, Those who have
| made carefC, estimates say that
! We would lose in revenue about S3j,OOe.-
! 90. According 70 this showing 10 gain
| share OF 100000 worth Of trade, the
| proft o., which would not be probably
more than S1.501.60G, we propose 10 give
I'D s.. 900. 900 Of revenue.
| II viii be claimed. OF course. that the
| whole country viii be benefited by cheap
er sugar. but would 1t not be better 70
/ chea,.ea other things as well as sugar:
| The tarin On sugar brings an I'M
| merse revenue into the treasury, while the
| the tariff on iron and many other articles.
| which take vast sums out Of the pockets
| Of the SeOple. pay little into The Treasury.
II the tarin on sugar were taken on the
prospect FOR a general REDUCTION Of the
| tariff would be far from promising. But
would the ratification Of this Spanish
| treaty give consumers cheaper sugar!
| There are two reasons why IL would not
Iorer the price Of sugar much, If any
Marty half Of our sugar supply would
still come from countries with which We
have no commercial treaties, and would
have 10 pay the present duty. Would not
| the 6utv-paving sugar be made az ex-
cuse for keeping up the price Of all sugar.
The duty-paying sugar would regulate
the price Of the article.
seven years ago commercial treaty
was negotiated by which sugar and rice
were admitted into this country from the
| Sandwich Islands free from duty. This
| treaty has been renewed and now awaits
ratification. Since it first went into
| effect the duties On sugar and rice import
ed under the treaty, if they mad oeen in
posed. would have amounted to nearly
100000. TIE entire value Of our i'm
! ports 10 these islands since the treaty
went into operation has amounted only
10 about Sl3,00O.O0O. It cannot be said,
therefore. that Nc have been benefited by
this treaty. The price Of sugar, even Oh
the Pacific coast, has not been reduced
by the treaty a fraction Of cent.
The debate on this Spanish treaty, II 1t
is considered in open Senate, Will be fol-
lowed BIZ the whole country with deep
interest. II II is ratified it viii mark the
beginning Of a new policy on the part Of
the government