New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-23
RECIPROCITY AND SUGAR.
AN ANOMALOUS ECONOMIC SITUATION.
SPANS FIRST RESPONSE TO THE FREE MARKET
FOR sUGAR-TwENTY PER CENT ADDED TO
THE IMPORTs-THE FUTURE OF THE
ISLAND MENACED WITH REvO-
IRON A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrsUxE.l

STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBUNE.J
Cienfuegos Jan. 12.-The latest dispatches from
Madrid indicate that the Spanish Government Is
making brave show of resisting the Cuban de-
mands for the negotiation of a reciprocity treaty.
The commissioners sent out from the island have
been Hospitality entertained and received WIN
marked distinction by the Queen Regent, nut 10
disposition has been shown 10 comply with 'heH
solicitations for commercial concessions TO the
United States. The commissioners represent All
the important productive and industrial interests
of the island. They have appealed to the crown
10 avert the impending ruin of the sugar planta-
tons and the general prostration of mercantile
business by timely concessions to the United States
nv which the benefits of free market Will ne
permanently secured. The Government is I'M
willing to sacrifice the interests of the agricultural
commercial and maritime classes OF SPAIN lh0
commissioners will be bowed out of Madrld 'hls
month with smiles and compliments, ana ''e
garrison in Cuba will he strengthened. Ihere
will be no immediate change of policy. Inc
Spanish West Indies have always been consldereo
fat COWS to he MIXED for the home dairy. They
are now lean and ill-favored kline. but the milk
ing goes on.
As soon as it became known in Spain yea,
ago that the United States. tarlii system "'r'0
no modified with view to the cheapening oil 'he
sugar supply measures were taken 10 oou"',
Tho effects by more rigorous diferentia tarin
on imports received in the island. oh JUN
four was taxed 81 50 ID in entering tins marhe'
troro tho United States. but from Spain 1t came
in without restriction On July the uu'fS
wore increased to S. SO ID, while spanish "oui
remained free At the same time about " per
cept was added to all classes of imports oil loIeiSn
manufacture. while Spanish producers co"'i'"'u
ss before to enjoy the advantages oil diiielel'l'
.nb.dulos This was the first response IRON
Madrid TO the offer of a free market III oiie iio"
States for the chief staple OF Cuba' hlehei
antics were imposed upon every article of recipro-
.al exchange which would be brought INTO the
island in payment for sugar. This was done III
authorization of the passage of the Mckinney farm
Act Six months have elapsed and the increased
duties are still in force The Spanish Govern
mont is now reported TO he considering the en-
pedency of imposing a direct export tax on sugar
atte, the 1st of April. when the average duty
of two cents per pound will be removed III the
United States There is direct export tax
now. although indirectly cargo of sugar Is SUD-
looted TO one. since tonnage fee of 81, known
nc tbo loading duty is collected from the shipper.
nrecselv as another tonnage fee of the same
amount is levied dscharging duty on all
imports received What is now under contempa-
ton is the replacing of the import duty taken oil
in the United States by an export duty in Cuba
That will he most defiant challenge to the
United States.
How is this thing 70 end? The Cuban com
missioners will return without obtaining con-
ressions from the mother State The increase OF
the duties on flour and all other imports and
tie levying of an export duty on sugar VIII IN
evitably operate next Iear 10 close the free market
for s,icar The President will have no al
do l. 10
act decisiveN if reciprocity he not arranged on
equitable tern this year lie VIII be compete"
by the reciprocity requirements OF the Iarl1 law
,n discriminate AGAINST Cuba and In favor of
o,ber sucar-produ. ing countries which are Wllilhg
IN make reasonable concessions 10 the thl'ei
States Brazil will he one Of the 'rst coun-
tries 10 take advantage of the opportunity. Inc
meditation of a treaty with Rio VIII prou"r'
a profound iml resson i'll Havana. lhcrc WIN
bc need of a stronger garrison then, croWocu ~
the capital already is with Spanish troops lhcrc
will lie a collapse OF the productive interests III
th, island The sugar Planters VIII he ruined
Cuba will he ript for revolution. That Is IN" VIE"
which has been expressed - me by every lh''hi-
gent observer without exception whom nave
met the island.
Pecinrocitv. so far as Cuba is concerned, i
essentially sugar question. ia order that II
NAV he intellieently treated. the development "i
tho bect-sugar industry must be kept clcseN ~
view Before. the Civil War the tnlied STATES
market was largely supplied hom Louisiana ana
+be british West Indies. Very little sugar came
from Cuba. since Europe was consuming 'Ie P"'N
OF that product During and imm"m''cN a''''
The war a vacuum was clcatcN nN the c''INiN
~ the Louisiana industry. Cuban sugar "''''
the vacuum shorter lines of transportation
carried il 10 the nearest and largest market. an"
diverted il from Europe. Then followed mary
lang devclopmeut Of the bce-sugai lndnS'rN uI"c'
,bc protection Of bountics paid by "rF"n'n|
France Austria-Hungary and Belgium NJ '','
crop of Europe estimated " N'' H'.'' w.
statistician. was 3.G00,O00 tons during me N'"
ending midway in 1890. That make" an III
crease Of 100000 tons over the previous
- on amount exceeding by 100000 tons the
,o+a, nroductiOn of cane sr2ar IN CuH' aN"il"""
Cor ornor,ation. The technical schools in Europe
l.o,,o ,,,rorobt this work They have educated the
.,,ricul,ural classes, improved the chemical mn
.ooba,icaI processes and after driving cane-snGaI
mt Of Europe. are now Threatening 10 oi'P'"o
:. - .r.rica That is the last and Only great
,o, (which i lef, for the chief staple OF 'up''
~ lot the argument be carried announcer H'aS''
To, i Inc assumed that Spain, III ordcr 10 pIo''''
clio interests of its merchants ana mahul"c''''.'
refuses 10 negotiate a reciprocity treaty VIII" '''
r,itcd States. The free market Will bc cios'u IN
President Harrison and duties remposed. no"
will those duties operate? In three ways niH''
70 discriminate in favor of sugar countries IKE
pro.u Sonto Domingo and Mexico, which may
accen, reciprocity; secondly, 10 promote the eA-
narration of European bcet-sugar on large
scale 70 America and thirdly, to stimulate pow
erfnlv the development of the bee'-su9ar INDUSTRY
in the Tinted States The most important OF 'hrNe
effects will he the last and 1t Will DC ia'al 10 o'
cane-sugar production OF ou0a '"'ie ",o ynS
.''''' S1. e. no assigned for the slow develop
...,,, 90 ,ho, industry in the United States. One
- IaoI, IF technical knowledge and the other IS
" -. .La Euroneon system of Govern