Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-28

other articles of large import, he said, hat
mad been thrown away in a similar manner
when the countries from which they cam,
would have willingly removed the duties
they imposed upon our breadstuffs and pro
vision, had they been asked to do so; anc
now, when he was endeavoring to secure
such concessions by diplomatic negotiations,
the House of Representatives has passed 9
bill making it impossible.
The Secretary Crushes His Hat.
Mr.. Blaine spoke at length and with great
feeling, and in the impetuosity of his gest,
ures brought his silk hat down upon the
table with such force as to smash it into the
semblance of an accordion. One of the gen.
tlemen present observed that he would like
to hear the Secretary repeat his views in
the Senate.
81 would give two years of my life for
two hours on the floor of the Senate when
that bill is under discussion, was the reply.
Mr.. Blaine drove from the Capitol to the
White House, and within two hours the
| message of the President and the letter of
the Secretary of State on reciprocity were
sent to Congress.
Several amendments to the tariff bill en-
bodying propositions similar to that sug-
gested BY Mr.. Blaine were introduced in
the Senate and received serious consldera-
tion in the Committee on Finance. One
proposed by Mr.. Pierce, of North Dakota,
which the newspapers reported to have
been prepared, or at least inspired by the
President, was the reverse of that previously
submitted by Mr.. Hale. Instead of author
izing the President to remove the duties on
sugar and other products of Latin America
In case reciprocal concessions were made in
favor of the products of the United States,
1t authorized him to restore them if such
concessions were not made.
While this subject was under discussion
on the floor of Congress and in the press
the now famous correspondence between Mr..
Blaine and Senator Frye was published,
including the letter in which the Secretary
declared that there was nothing in the pend
ing tariff bill 'that will open market for
another bushel of wheat or another barrel
of pork. If sugar is now placed on the free
list" he added, without exacting i'm
portant trade concessions in return, we shall
close the door forever to a profitable re-
ciproclty for ourselves"
Too Limited to Suit Blaine.
With the so-called reciprocity section of
the Mckinley bill he afterward publicly
signihed his satisfaction, although he has
expressed regret that it is so limited in its
scope. This section, prepared by Senator
Aldrich, of Rhode Island, was the result of
q compromise between those who favored
the absolute and unconditional repeal of the
sugar tariff, and those who desired to confer
upon the Executive discretionary power
to use that duty in negotiating for new and
wider markets for our products.
Immediately upon the passage of the
measure diplomatic negotiations that had
been interrupted by the tariff agitation in
Congress were resumed 1t may be said
that such negotiations, with special pleni-
potentiaries from the Emperor of Brazil
had been commenced as early as August,
1889. and that upon the establishment of
the republic they were Immediately re-
newed. 1t was not long, therefore, before
an arrangement was concluded under which
the Brazilian Government authorized the
admission into its ports free of all duties the |
products of the farms and mines of the |
United States, all forms of machinery and |
railway supplies, agricultural implements,
labor-saving machinery and considerable |
number of other articles, and the admission |
OF long list Of other manufactured articles, |
including wearing apparel, hardware, pre- |
served meats, fruits and vegetables, lard, |
dairy products, lumber, furniture, wagons |
and carriages at rate of duty 25 per cent |
imported from other countries.
With Spain and Germany.
A similar arrangements was shortly after |
made by John w. Foster, representing the |
Secretary of State, with the Government of
Spain acting for her American colonies.
Cuba and Pueto Rico, and also the Republics
# Santo Domingo, Guatemala, Salvador,
Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and with Com
nissioners from the British colonies of Ja-
nalca, Trinidad, Barbados. Guiana, the
Leeward Islands and the Windward Isl
,nds
A treaty was also made with Germany un-
Ter which, in consideration for the free ad-
mission Of her beet sugar into the United
states, the agricultural products from this
country are to be admitted into German
ports, at largely reduced rates of duty. The
discrimination in favor of the products of
ne United States amounts to 36 per cent on
wheat, rye, hops, -four and all other mill
products; 37k per cent on oats: 33l< ner
'ent on game; 20 per cont on corn and lum-
Der; 70 per cent on pulse, timber and fresh
neat; 10 per cent on pork and butter, and
corresponding rates upon other articles.
Arrangements of the same character are
n progress and will soon be concluded with |
'ther OF the American republics and colo
hes, affording the manufacturers and farm
RS of the United States an opportunity to
Introduce their products into the markets of
he Southern zones under advantages that
re not enjoyed and cannot be obtained by
heir rivals in Europe.
May Affect Venezuela Coffee.
Early in the new year the President gave
fhelal notice to the countries which have
ot negotiated treaties that unless euuiva-
: mt concessions were made by them in favor ,
1 duties upon merchandise from this coun-
~, on the 10th OF March he should invoke
ne 1s, authority given him by the Mckinley
III and restore the duty upon coffee. hides
nd other.articles of import from them that
re now on our free list This act of retail
tlon will chiefly affect Venezuela coffee.
,nlcn we imported to the value of about SlO.- ,
last year. The Minister of Vene-
leia at Washington made treaty with the ,
Inlted States nearly year ago. acting
nder instructions from his Government
ut it has not been accepted or ratified
lthough the United States Minister at
aracas has been instructed to accept Ger. !
I'm modification thes authorities of that Re- ,
ubllc have for reasons not given taken no !
lrther action.
1t cannot be expected that the full effect :
these arrangements will be Immediately
1T or their Importance Immediately re-. :
ized; but there has already been a notice.
Die increase in the exports from the :
nited States to the countries with which
ley have been negotiated. The treaty ;
lth Brazil went into force on the 1st of Z
pril, 1891, and during the nine months :
ldlng December 31-the latest date for
hich the statistics have been furnished n
le exports of domestic merchandise to that s
'untry were valued at S11, ,555, AT, an in. =
ease OF 81, 49,, ,576, or about 13 per cent I
'ove those for the corresponding period of
ie previous year, and it was participated
by nearly every agricultural and manu.
ctured product of this country.