The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-20
BLAINE'S FREE TRADE.
II Would Give Us ! Market in
Spanish America
An EXCHANGE or COMMODITIES.


WAsHrssros cfTY. June ia-The presi-
dent today transmitted to congress 3 letter
from Secretary Blaine upon the subject Of
customs union and the Recommendation
In respect thereto BY the Pan-American
conference Blaine suggested an amend
msnt TO the tanf bill aafhofixing the
president TO declare the ports Of the United
States free TO the production Of any Ameri-
can nation upon which no export dues are
charged. g long ~ such nation snail
admit free to its ports the manufactures
and products Of the United Stases
The president in transmitting the COM
municstion says:
Il hiss been % often persistentsy stated that
our tariff laws offered an insurmountable
barrier 70 large exchanges Of products with the
Latin American nastons that deem IL proper
TO call especial attention to the fact tna4 more
than 81 per cent Of the products Of those nations
sent 70 our pbFts are now admitted free. II
sugar is placed on the free list practically every
important article exported nom those states
viii b given uutaxed access 20 our markets, ex-
cept wool The real di1acuIty IN the way of ne
gotiatins profitable reciprocity treaties 10 that
We have Eiven freely % much that wouid have
had value In the mutual concessions which such
treaties Imply. can not doubt. however.
that the present advantages which the products
Of fhese and other friendly states enjoy in our
markets. though they arc not by law exclusive,
win with othsr considerations fsvorabiy dis
pose them 70 adopt such measures. by
treaty or otherwise, - win tend
to equaiixe and greatly enlarge our
mutual exchanges. Il will certainly be time
enough for rs to consider whether We must
cheaper the cost Of production by cheapening
labor In order to gain secem to South American
markets when We have already trisd the effect
al -
ton end convenient methods Of money ex-
sha3acs.
There 0An be no doubt. think, that, with
these facilities established AMI with rebates of
duties upon imported raw materials used In the
manufacture OF goods for export, our merchants
viii Be able 70 compete in the ports Of the Latin
nations with those of any other country. IL alter
ccDGress shall have acted upon the pending
tariff legisiation, Il shall appear that under the
general treaty making power or under any
special powers given BY law, our trade with the
states represented in the conference can be
ENLARGED upon the basis Of ma erial advantage,
Is will be done
Secretary Blaine has received telegram
from the chairman of the National Miliers'
convention at Minneapolis. saying that the
millers are greatly agitated over the addi-
tional duty OF 50 cents per barrel to be i'm
PoSCA "a Sooes thuS piouio1b4uS AAuoIlCau
-four trade, and asking information.
The secretary replied that he had no
Official advice, but If correct, the advance
would make the duty S. 81 per barrel. evil
IDENTIFY intended BY Spain to be prohibitory.
He added:
II has been constantly stated here for the last
six months that the Western farmers demand
the unconditional repeal OF the sugar duFy. II
II In the power OF the Western farmer. by en-
coursgiug the system OF reciprocity, 70 secure in
exchange for the repeal Of this duty the free id
mission OF their breadssuffs and provisions into
the markets OF "a. 100000 people. including Cuba
In my opinion this ID profitable policy for the
Western farmer