The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-24
MEXICO AND FREE TRADE
A RECIPROCITY ARRANGEMENT
COMING SOON.

It Win Be Upon Much Broader Lines
Mckinley Act-A9riculture the Most
Promising Field for Profit In the
Sister Republic.
WASHINGTON, March 2S-Reciprocity
with Mexico is likely 30 be arranged in the
near future upon much broader lines than
those OF the reciprocity section OF the Me-
Kinley act. The Mexican governments, In
response to propositions from the United
States, offered concessions in return for the
trifiing favors granted in the Mckinley act
which were very favorably regarded at the
state department. Secretary Blaine, how
ever, hung up the whole matter because he
thought 1t better to await an opportunity for
reciprocity upon broad lines than to take 10
in It'd bitS x This is the existing situation in
regard TO the matter. The Mexican gov
ernment is not taking the initiative, because
1t does not care 10 be again treated as It was
when the Grant-Romero treaty was nego-
tiated. The progressive party In Mexico,
however. is warmly in favor Of the broadcast
reciprocal relations with this country. and
any proposition for a conference will be
promptly accepted.
FAVORED BY DIAz.
President Diaz and the conservative
party are declared by business men, who
keep informed on economic discussions in
the Mexican cabinet. to be nearly ready to
declare themselves for absolute free trade
across the Rio Grande. The thoughtful
leaders have been studying the effects OF
such system for some time. They realize
that the abolition of custom houses would
mean a serious loss of revenue, which
Mexico would have TO meet by imposing q,
tax in a different direction. They are pre-
pared for this, and are working upon a plan
which, in their opinion, will at onoe afford
the necessary revenue and give new develop
ment TO the agricultural resources of
the country. Tho proposition is being
seriously discussed TO levy heavy tax upon
all uncultivated land, upon mines and upon
city lots. This policy will leave axempt
from taxarion LAND under cultivation and
will offer direct premium to increasing
the quantity OF suoh land. Mexican states
men who have studied closely the indus
trial possibilities OF their country believe
that her greatest future development lies
along the line OF agriculture rather than OF
mining or raising stock. The mining they
regard as largely q speculative enterprise
and the raising Of stock az subject to limi-
tations.
VAST AREAS UNCULTIvATED.
Vast areas of fertile land lie uncultivated
all over the republic and IL brought under
the plow would make Mexico one of the
greatest farming countries of the world.
The progressive leaders believe that in this
feld, along with a reasonable developments
OF necessary manufactures, lies the future
prosperity Of Mexico. Such a system Of
taxation would accomplish a political OBJ
Ject as well as an industrial one. 1t would
drive the absentee landlords who revei In
luxury In Paris or Madrid, from the
ample proceeds of the cultivated fractions
Of their great estates, to either increase the
area OF cultivation or throw their lands
upon the market This evil of absentee
landlords is a serious one in Mexico, and the
absent landlords are in nearly all cases men,
bers OF the reactionary party, which well
comed the empires Of Iturbide and Maxi
milan and the French pfotectorate and re-
fuse to live at home under the government
Of the republic.