Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-12
ARTHUR A FREE-TRADER.
Free Trade Treaties that Inure Wholly
to the Benefit Of the North
ern Monopolists.
A Tariff System that Brings no Relief
and smacks Of Discrimination
Against the South.

dent as n Free-Trader," may IL not De
we'll TO pause little before growing
enthusiastic over President Arthur as
champion of free trade, or even Of
genuine revenue reform2
Let us inquire little as to the effect
of the presidents fTee-trade treaties.
Within few days the press has
called public attention to the negotia-
ton of a reciprocal treaty between the
United States and SpSin, under the
operation Of which, If ratified, the ques-
ton of reducing the revenue viii be
pretty well settled for come time to
come BY the provisions OF this treaty
tobacco Is admitted at reduction
OF 80 per cent. of the
duty, subject to our internal
revenue laws. This will be some re-
lief to those who are able TO afford the
luxury OF imported cigars-a luxury
for which such persons are supposed
to be able TO pay, 1t will not, how
ever, apprecinbly cheaper the solacing
pipe of the laboring man.
The item that chiefly affects the
revenue is sugar. All sugar not above
No. l6, Dutch standard, Is to be ad-
mitted free of duty from Cuba and
Porto Rico. Two thirds of the sugar
Imported by this country comes from
those islands, and very little sugar
above the standard named is imported
at ALL Nearly all sugar imported by
us ia below the above standard and
does not go directly to the consumer
but must frat pass through the.hands Of
the reiiner.
What is the result? Our revenue Is
decreased SIS, 900 600; the refner gets
his raw material little cheaper, aud
after refining and adulterating the ar
ticle adds to 81 cents per pound un-
der the tariff regulation, which
virtually prohibits the importation of
refined sugars The government loses
SIS 600 600, but the refiuers continue
IN collect their revenue of over $780,
600 600 ON this very same sugar that Is
admitted free of duty at our custom
! houses, Our tariff prohibits the inn
| pDrtatlon OF refined sugars, and there
/ fore our reiiners, who may be counted
upon your fingers, enjoy the monopoly
| of furnishing all the sugar that enters
| into our domestic uses.
BY this treaty the refiuer enjoys
| still another advantage, which per-
| haps renders the above estimate Of his
net revenue too small There are
other sugar producing countries beside
! Cuba and Porto RicO and Hawaii (of
the latter Mr. Claus Spreckels enjoys
the monopoly undivided, under a
special treaty negotiated for his bene-
ny, and of course their product would
be subject to the duty now imposed
upon Cuban and Porto Rico sugars
The retiner will not fail to take adj
vantage of this unrepealed tax and add
1t TO the cost OF his product, while ac-
tually the government may not derive
a dollar Of revenue. We see thus far
little or no relief 10 the people, while
one OF the most oppressive and In.
furious monopolies Is not deprived of a
nickel. say injurious for the reason
that we are furnished with unwhole.
some, poisonous sugar and prohibited
from buying "A pure article In foreign
markets. So much for the benefit of
the tobacco and sugar producers OF
Cuba and Porto Rico and the sugar re-
tineries OF the United States.
The treaty provides that certain
products OF the United States are TO be
admitted into Cuba aud Porto Rico
I free OF duty, etc So far as this relates
10 wool and cotton only in the raw
state IL does not materially affect us.
But our manufactures of steel and iron
castings, tools, machinery and wooden
wares and furniture are benefited for
IL opens TO them n market for their
surplus product, which they can sell
cheaper to their foreign customers thar
To the home trade, and To the extent
{ that they are able to work off this sur
plus may maintain prices at home,
In other worde, they are protected IA
home from foreign competition by one
tariff and are admitted 10 these new
markets upon footing equal to III,
most favored nations.
President Arthur proposes q com
mercial union OF all the American
states by means OF similar treaties
and then the system should be en-
larged 40 as to embrace Europe, Asst
aud Africa, admitting free of duty Tia,
products of these countries that ar,
not also products of the American
, states. This is free trade with ven
Reance! He does not propose re
ciptocal treaty with England, Franc,
, or Germany, by which hats, boots
shoes, blankets, clothing, furniture
| cutlery, tools or refined sugar and mum
beers OF articles entering into our dali,
Necessities, may be admitted free o
hhA9l vi ny winch We NAV ODtNtr
: these articles any cheaper. III
q would, however, open new outlet
for these articles manufactured a
home 20 AS to enable the manu- facture,
? TO enjoy the full measure OF benefits l,
. be derived from our tariff.
a Now that We may get an inkling o
the burden imposed upon the peopl,
by protective duties, single item o
4 the presidents synopsis Of our import
! will suffice. he gays that the value o
our imports OF wool sud wooden manu-
iactures for the last fiscal Yea
$ amounted to S58 $40, 900. This is lea
: than 81 per capita Of our population
[ IL would not pay for our sockal II W,
, import lees than 81 per capita of GU
WOODEN goods, where do the eighteen
or twenty or more dollan' worth com
iromg Evidently from our hom,
, factories; and 10 these We pa,
tax that will no
average less than 40 per cent. LIE
every man figure II for himself.
e BY singular coincidence, two i'm