New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-08
FOR THE CONGRESS-
SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED BY THE
AMERICAS
THE QUESTION OF STEAMSHIP LINES AN I'M
PoRTANT oNE-CUsToMs LAWS AND
RECIPROCITY


gress which is TO be held in Washington next october
is not POLITICAL but purely commercial, and every
body engaged in the South American trade feels that
its sessions Will be productive Of great good Al
though some journals in Europe and South America
are endeavoring to prejudice tho masses OF Lauh-
Americans against Il. the able and Influential
Spanish publications In this city, which have large
Calculations in South America, as La Revista Illus
trada" and FL Avisador,' as we'll the leading pa
pers in each OF the different countries Interested arc
strongly supporting the movement. The delegaes
from Brazil and the South American States have been
chosen because OF their wide experience and learning
The question of trade extension Is not one that III
terests the merchants of the seaboard alone, Dut IL
reaches every agricultural village, to every MN
and every mine in this land and It is especially I'M
portant 20 the New South and It's infant Industries
the cotton, wooIlen and Touring mills the rolling mills
the oil rehnerles and all the other manufacturing IN
teress in that section, which, Of course. having
geographical advantage ought TO reach their markets
more readily
The German Government, also feeling the necessity
Of extending its trade, is preparing hoatlng expo
sl.ion An association organized under the auspices
of the Government, has in view the building OF
great steamship, which win contain an exhibit OF
manufactures and products. This vessel VIII visit
eighty of .he great scapors Of the world, beginning
with the West Indies and South America But IL IS
doubtful If such scheme will succeed Ihe SUI
perorfty OF American goods over European Is so
readily and universally recognized throughout che en-
tlre continent that the English manufacturers nave
been compelled 20 forge American trademarks and
violate patent treaties II the floating exposition
people of Germany want to sell their goods they Will
have TO resort TO the same methods the English
manufacturers.
There is no doubt that the approaching congress
will be able clear away OF the present Obstacles
to the extension Of American commerce. and the seVerai
topics announced for discussion were selected with mat
object I'm view The first topic for discussion relates to
the formation of American customs union ana Is
of the most difficult with which the congress VIII
have TO deal While It would doubtless be a great
advantage for the United States to have free trade in
American waters. such thing IS impossible because
all the nations OF Central and South America depend
entirely upon their customs revenue Tor support On
the other hand the United states. rich and powerful
taxes nothing which It imports from these countries
In any quantity but sugar and carpet wools More
over many OF these countries have the Favored
nation clause I'm their treaties which would prohibit
them from discriminating I'm favor of tho United
states upon articles of general trade; but IL Is still
possible for the Government to negotiate reciprocity
treaties with the sugar growing nations OF South
America under which tho duties on sugar might he
reduced or removed in exchange for corresponding
reduction or removal of the duties on Manufactured
goods and products from the United States.
Sugar IS produced by every nation from the Rio
Grande TO the valley of the Rio de la Plata None
IS made I'm Uruguay, Chill the Argentine Republic
although in the northern provinces Of the latter
country cane-gDwing Is becoming something OF an
Industry The south american Commission sent ont
undor President Arthur found that every ono OF
these producing countries was willing to reduce
or remove the duty certain products, provided the
United States would reduce remove to correspond
ing degree the duty on sugar. The countries which
send carpet woods here would be glad to make con
ccssions looking toward a compromise. But the dlh
Guilty Of carrying out such an engagement would lie
IN legislation. The woolgrowers of this country are
opposed 10 any change affecting the wool schedule OF
the tariff. They argue that tho free admission OF
carpet woods would njure the market for fner grades
because the manufacturers would find means OF
using them in woollens, worsteds and other cloths
There are a thousand and articles which can he
produced and sold more chcaply here than elsewhere
In the world, and which of a superior quality.
at is frequently declared said man engaged in
the South American trade, that trade with south
America small because cannot sell where We do
not buy. This Is without foundation. The balance of
trade against the United States in our longitudinal
commerce is and has been for years. very large. We
pay annually I'm gold more than Sl2OOOO,OOo 10 cover
the balance against us. We take all the products
of the south Americans and they buy their manufact-
ured articles IN Europe with the money we pay them
This is due to the fact that the transportation facili
Ties are controlled by the foreign merchants who send
their shlus TO Central and south America laden with
manufac tured merchandise. When their carsoes are
disposed Of they bring raw materials here when
these are discharged wheat, provisions ard cotton are
taken aboard for the European market, and the Eu-
opean merchants pay for the good, they get from us
with the profits Of their trade In Central ana South
America Another reason IS that the manufacturers
nj the United STATES do not study the markets I'm Cen
trail and south America, and do not produce the goods
that are required there. If our mills would enter
into competition with those Of England in producing
material suited the requirements they would greatly
increase their trade
But the second topic TO be discussed at the ap-
rroacbng congress is the most important Of all, and
upon 1t the depend. 1t is agreed by all the mer-
chants engaged in South American trade that there IS
no use trying extend commerce in that direction
without first providing fac llte for transportation, ana
II is impossible compete with the lines from Europe
unless they enjoy the Advantages that are given
those lines by the governments under whose hagS they
sail The multitude Of business men who have trans
actions with south American cities are much moro
anxious have their mails aud freight carried prompt
ly frequently and rapidly than they are TO listen 10
discussion of the constitutional power of Congress to
Grant subs dies or the differences between subsidies
and Legitimate compensation for carrying mails
When the railroad companies received
bonus for ouickenng their speed between New-Iork
and the West. . improve the time in mail service
no one stopped to ask II it constitutional; no.
body called It subsidy, and there was not tax
payer who sought TO postpone the enterprise uhth
the letters could be counted 10 II the postage
paid cquallcd the of the service. IT Is ASSUMED
Lat the Postoiiicc Department wa opa H'd Tor pup
lie convenience and not for The pioht Of the Gov
eminent Even Mr.. Was admitted that it was nee
cs,ary TO sub,diZc steamers I'm inland waters In order
10 secure a mail service, and dele dcd his action
in doing so A: but he moi willing TO extend the
same policy TO the service.
THE annual Appropriation for the postal service
is $4,000 900, and that portion of II pad for the
transportation Of foreign mails Is about S3I1,oOo.
OF this amount American lines receive about S47 900
for carving MAJ, distance OF 3.Oj3 $50 miles. At
the same time the cOa,twisc steam
boat service receives 1868 OO2. twelve