The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-31
CUBA ASKS RECIPROCITY.
ruE HOME GOVERNMENT URGED
TO NEGOTIATE A TREATY.

.pe+ition TO That Effect Forwarded
bvt the Tobacco Growers and Cigar
makers Unior-The Tobacco Indus
.~v of the Island Threatened With
p,,,n If Action is Not Taken at Once
nv the Authorities at Madrid.
WASHINGTON. Oct. S0.-The department
81 state has received a copy of a petition
forwarded by the Tobacco Growers and
Cioar Manufacturers Union of Cuba, TO
+hs Spauish government. urging the nego-
t;a+ion of a reciprocity treaty between the
island of Cuba and the United States. The
netitioners assert that they are confronted
rr;+b simple problem: ION one side ruin,
stagnation, misery and vague hopes; and
on the other side abundance, wealth and
promising future.
DEADLY BLOW.
The Spanish law protecting Spanish pro-
ducts the petition says, deals Cuba deadly
bow. while at the same time the produc-
.ion of Spain receives no benefit from it.
The greater part of the Spanish goods inn
norted. il is asserted, do not need the pro-
lection given them. The petition. after
ter urging the repeal of the la " of 1882 as
necessary preliminary to the negotiation
Of a reciprocity treaty, says: "The United
States buy from us tobacco and
sugar to the extent of $5l ,000,0 900,
and it is not strange that the American
government should make itself strong on
tbe absolute necessity we have of that mar
ket so as to de and reciprocal concessions,
or. which is the same thing, exemption for
their -four lard, machinery. hardware and
ether articles in our tariff, SO as to increase
their exports to this island.
WHAT BLAINE WANTS.
"In one word, they want to pay us for the
obacco and sugar they consume with goods
thai they produce. To-day they only sell
tous Sl0,000,000 or $l2,O00, 900, and they
/ desire to increase this amount to the $751;
O0,000 they buy from us. This is what the
Mckinley bill amounts to. For sugar it
will be effective on July l, prox., but in re-
gard 10 tobacco the reform is to be applied
| Immediately and so terrible, so radical it
is, that it is equivalent to the closing of
that market to us.
AMERICAS CONSUMPTION.
"We will lose a market that consumes
l00000,000 to 10000, 900 cigars annually,
with value of S., ,000, 900 to IS, 500, 900, and
over 100000 bales of tobacco; just exactly
hall Of our commerce in tnis line. And we
will lose great deal more, because IL cer-
tain grades of cigars of special quality and
color, particularly adapted to that market,
are not consumed there, we will not be able
to supply other consumers of other markets
with the grades they require without i'm
mense prejudice.
THE DAMAGE INEsTIMABLE.
1.-THE damage we shall suffer can't be
overestimated; the cultivation of rich leaf
viii diminish to one-half; the greater num-
Der Of our factories will disappear and those
thatremain will have to greatly reduce their
operations; thousands Of souls dependent
Tor livelihood on the factories will be left
u complete want, and prosperous and
lounshlng industry Will come to ruin and
Bankruptcy
MUST BE WARDED OFF.
ut is necessary avoid so much harm and
ward oil such calamities, and we find no
other way but commercial treaty with
ihe United States, accepting the reciprocity
mat our nelghbor proposes. There is no
lme to be lost in making this treaty. The
uSlne crisis that threatens us is terribly
imminent, and its consequences embrace
fery serious dangers"
THE CLOSING REQUESTS.
| Inc cigar manufacturers conclude by in
cFslng the action Of the Havana Chamber
commerce, heretofore published, and
T. h4As VI Ohe government.
l. Immediate abrogation of the law of
llmerclal relations of 1892
Tie imposition of a precautionary
nty on Spanish products, which should be
e relation to the necessities Of the treasury
IA uuls island SO as not TO render difficult
negotiations of commercial treaties with
pregn countries. VIZ"
&. That without losing time. negotiations
opened with the United States for a
nmercial an ne treaty on the basis of free
ear ana reduction on the duties on
bacco within the limits ALREADY nra.
Uribed. 'A eo'cy pre-
That the chamber of conmercs and
porVant corporations of this island al
wbios hi Cnelr proposed new tariff the articles
"Tlch men export duties should be abolished
mat negotiations be entered into with
i9 ~ oIner countries so as to insure facilities
'ne ne export of Cuban products.
raia anat providing corresponding duties
In p1'N' 1lee sale OF tobacco be allowed in