The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-03
TO ABANDON RECIPROCITY
Grounds on Which the Administration
Will Abrogate Commercial Treaties.
Spanish officials in Cuba Alleged to Be I.evying
an Excise Tex That Amounts TO an Export
Duty-Brazilians Dissatisfied.
PAVING THE wAY.

Cleveland's Administration Finds Reasons
for AboIishinT Reciprocity Treaties
WASHINGTON, May 2-An evening paper
has this: Abundant reason for the aban-
donment of she policy of reciprocity under
the Mckinley bill exists in the complaints
received by the State Department regard
ing the evesions of the treaty by Spanish
officials in Cuba. The Spanish govern
ment was forced into the treaty BY the
diplomacy of Mr.. Blaine. because of the
fear that if the Cuban sugar growers were
deprived of their market in the United
States. through reciprocity arrangements
with other sugar growing countries. they
would rise In revolt against Spain. The
government apparently intends to make
the treaty so unpopular that it will fall to
the ground of It's own weight. and has i'm
posed an excise tax nearly equal to she
duties RENTED by the Mckinley bill.
The Spanish Minister gave the sssur-
ance. when the negotiations were in prog
ress. that no export or port duty. national
or provincial. should be imposed on exports
which the United States admitted free OF
duty. but the new excise tax. although
levied on sugar for domestic consum ption,
practically accomplishes the purpose OF an
export duty. Our government will either
protest strongly against TINS tax or wipe
out the whole treaty, and leave the Cuban
growers to face possible import duty IN
der our new tariff. The Spanish govern
ment has also shown its inclination to
make trouble by it's action regarding the
schedules of articles on which duties were
reduced by the treaty. such schedules
were to have been prepared at Washington
as the result of consultation between the
Spanish minister and the State Depart
ment, but Spain has twice prepared sched-
ules of her own. and Secretary Foster sent
a strong protest last summer to Madrid
against this violation OF tho treaty.
1.-The Brazilian government Is also max
ing trouble or the treaty with that coun-
try, but is not apparently violating the
treaty so fagrantly as the government OF
Spain. 1t was understood when the sched-
ules OF discri limitations In favor OF the
United States were made that the general
scale of Brazilian import duties might be
raised. The determinations in favor OF
this country were based upon reductions Of
% per cent on the duties levied on Imports
from other countries, whatever those might
be. Brazil took advantage OF this arrange.
ment to raise her dutiable schedules soon
after the reciprocity arrangement was
made. and she was obliged to do so in order
to obtain sufficient revenue for carrying on
the federal government The result has
been q very small net gain to American
merchants. while the people of Brazil
are conn planning of the increased schedules
against other countries, and the comphca-
tlons arising from the determinations in
favor of the United States The reciproc-
ity arrangements with both Spain and
Brazil would probably be wiped oct at
once but for the desire of the adminlstrs-
tion to proceed with deliberation. and to
tries dependent upon revision OF our en-.
tire fiscal SYSTEM"