Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-12
4HF FREE ZONE.
Correspondence Sent to the Ssna
Washington Conserving this Pc
culiar institution Of Mexico.
Its Origin and Purpose Clearly Get
Forth by Ar. Romere, the Mex.
fcan Minister.
His Bni-RepreseutRtivs SCOTS
Glowing Peroratton.
THE FREE zoNR.

THE FREE Z0NR.
Special TO the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE CORE
spondsnce regarding the free zone OF
Mexico has been sent to the Senate oy
resolution Of that body, and contains
much interesting and hitherto unpub-
lished information. The correspondence,
and especially the historical summary Of
the SUI ject By Mr.. Romero, the Mexican
Minister, gives clear account Of the
origin ard purpose Of this curious and
exceptional regulation regarding the free
zone. There was time before the war
when our tariff was very nigh. This
condition Of affairs was far from being
Advantageous to the Mexicans, who
were In the full enjoyment Of
tarif as high as ours. 1t
was found by them to be extremely iDju-
rious. While the towns Of Texas nesr
the Mexican border grew and prospered,
the towns opposite in Mexico lost wealth
and population, and tAen began move
ment across the border into Texas to get
away from the blessings Of their high
tariffs.
Mr.. Romero writes: "Wbile in Browns
vile and other towns on the left bank of
the Rio Grande, domestic articles OF daily
use, such as provisions, clothing, ETC.,
were sold st comparatively low price,
in the Mexican towns on the right bank
they cost twice as much and even four
times rs much, and foreign goods also
rrrh nhna hn
the other side OF the river. This differ
ence Of circumstances necessarily brought
abou. one of these Two results: II either
caused the inhabitants OF the Mexican
towns to emigrste to those of the United
State in order to epjoy the advantages
which were to be had IN that country, or
it induced them to purchase the goods
which they used in the Unlted States ana
then to smuggle them over to the Me1t-
can side.o
Its asserted here that under this ar
rangement, smuggling is encouraged and
not only does Mexico lose good deal of
revenue, but there is systematic SNUG
CLING through the free zone into the
United States to the jury ofour revenue.
Minister Romero does not deny this, but
he remarn that the loss to tue Mexican
revenue is In the nature Of things very
much greater than that Of the United
States, and he further says: I'll tee free
zone in Mexico has Inconvenience for
this country much less serious than those
which 1t has for Mexico, it has In my
judgment one advantage which has hither-
60 remained is, that goods
from the United States may be imported
into Mexican territory free Of duty and
be warehoused in the region Of the zone
for an unlimited time. No greater privi-
ilege to the commerce of nation can be
ssked for. II these privileges which are
confined to limited zone were extended
to the whole country, I do not think
that the United States would consider the
free admission Of their productions into
Mexico as being pref JUDICIAL to their inter-
ests."
TALK ABOUT TARIFR.
Special 70 the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-The friends OF
the Mills bill take most hopeful view Of
tarih situation since the caucus,
and there is 9 strong feeding in favor OF
voting as q unit on the bill even il certain
amendments are not adopted. Mr.. Mills
in conversing on the subject said to day
that he did not ask any man to wslk up
and swallow the committee bill biindly but
what he does ask and expect is that every
Democrat In the House will sink for the
time being his mere personal inter.
ests and stand squsrely in line
with his party on the tariff
question. So fsr as the present bill is
concerned Mr.. Mills says the bill is not
what he would like to have 1t, and he has
yielded many points with q view Of Sc
curing united support. There is no ne
.cessity for any gentleman to turn his
back on his party snd fly into the arms OF
the Republican party for protection, and
it would be more manly and patriotic for
oil Democrats, whether the bill meets
their particular views or not, to come
into the fsmi circle and there talk the
matter over, instead Of standing
criticlsing. There Is nothing unreason-
party loyalty demands that an agreement
fees have to be inside.
Mr.. Mills is exceedingly ANXIOUS that
there should be regular attendance OF
Democratic members during the remain
der of the time to be devoted 10 the COLI
SlueIhtlOu VI tuc t1fiu QuS5tiUuS 'iOIt
he saws, "every tune we are cutvoted in
any question, no matter how trifliDg it
may be, our political opponents attempt
to rldicule US. They are more regular
and cons Sent In their at!e1ta1ce al d un
less we all are constantly on hand while
the question is pending serious compli-
cations may arise.
He regrets that the Democratic mem
bers are inclined to absent themselves
from the House without taking the pre-
caution to pair and he has requessed all
of the friends of the bill to remain within
call. He Is very much encouraged .. the
outlook, and while not rejoicing over me
failure of Mr.. Beriah Wilkins IT OHIO to
receive 3 denomination for Congress be-
cause of opposition. to free wool, Mr..
Mills says 1t only goes to prove that the
country Is fully aroused on this question
and It will not do for Congress to close
Its eyes to the real state Of affairs.
N BLArTERING AUDIENCE.
Special to the Gazette.
WAsHNaTcN, May :11-Congreasmsn
o. H. ~ - u,hf 49,