The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-28
MR.. FLINT TALKS Of RECIPROCITY.
II Is a Question for Farmers and
Manufacturers to Decide.
Reasons Why Brazil Is Anxious for
the United States Trade.
We Should Take Care Not to Pay an
Export Duty.

New YORK, July 27.-Oharles r. Flint, a
member of the late Pan-American confer
ence, whose 20 years experience in South
American trade, financial and mercantile,
gives weight to his views spoke today
upon the subject OF inter American reeiproe-
ity. On the question of a commercial treaty
with Brazil, he says the question now
before Congress is whether we can afford to
admit sugar free for Is years, the term pro-
proposed In the treaty, and thus lose the
import duties amounting to over S900, ,OOO, 900.
and perhaps have to pay Brazil an export
duty on sugar. as was the case with coffee.
on which commodity Brazil has collected
ov rt tax since we admit
ted 1t duty free. Brazil has at Washington
special envoy duly authorized to
offer in exchange for our admitting sugar
free q market for the product OF our farms,
forests and factories. 1t would be the veriest
folly, he thinks, for Congress to thus throw
away this opportunity.
Ferther he says unfortunately the simple
business proposition has become complicated
with other interests not readily bearing on
1t, envolyed with partisan politics and per
sonal ambitions. Ii the farmers, merchants
and manufacturers would call meetings OF
their trades associations and discuss this
question, 1t would be treated as it should be,
on purely practical basis. The farmer who
comes into town to buy coffee, sugar and
other supplies prefers to pay for them in
what he raises rather than draw gold from
his bank. The manufacturer, who needs
South American products to run his factory,
prefers to send in exchange cotton
and wooden goods, machinery, hardware
implements, wooden ware and leather goods,
rather than TO pay for the raw material
as at present. principally In geld. Their
practical views on these matters should be
transmitted to their Representatives in Con-
gress. Under our constitution we cannot, II
we would, put an export tax on what we
raise, and we want TO provide against their
putting an export tax on what they send US.
Before throwing our sugar market open to
Spain, while she is putting prohibitory du-
ty on our flour, let us fix basis for fair
of us, sugar, coffee and rubber to an amount
over $500, 100000. Largely owing to the
fact Of our neglecting to negotiate
treaties Of reciprocity in the past,
we sell them less than $50 ,O00, 900,
leaving. difference Of S120, 900 and fore
endangers the industrial interests Of this
country and forces high rates of interest
against our farmers and manufacturers.
Farmers and merchants would not spend
time discussing whether reciprocity is a step
in the direction Of free trade or whether 1t
Is field Of protection. They would look at
it from a purely business standpoint and
would recommend position being taken
against putting 1t In the power OF the sugar
producing countries to put on between the
sugar plantations and the consumer in the
United States an export tax to take the place
Of the tax we remove. They would protest
against giving away the duty on
sugar while the government OF Brazil stands
ready. through its representative at
Washington, to open the markets Of the
great republic Of South America to our pro-
ducts In exchange for the free admission Of
Brazilian. Other republics have shown a
desire to enter into treaties Of reciprocity
with us. The time is most favorable for ne
gotlating such treaty with Brazil. Not only
Is there feeling against England. owing to
her high handed course with the Portuguese,
from whom the Brazllians descend; not only
is it owing to sympathy that exists on the
part of the new republic of South America
for ours, after which she. has modelled her
constitution and forms Of government; but
the only serious internal political question
that threatens the new republic would be
solved through reciprocity treaty with the
United States by giving new impetus to
the sugar trade in the northern provinces.