The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1893-10-17
WASHINGTON NEWS
New Chief Of Bureau Ct Statlctlcs
Against Reciprocity.
Our Flour Trade with Cuba Has Been
Quite Satisfactory.
POLICY CLAIMED TO BE BENEFICIAL
Our Correspondent Thinks 1t Possible
That Reciprocity May Remain
in Force.

in Force.
WAsHINGToN, Oct. 17.-[Specia The
new Chief CT the bureau Of statistics OF
the treasury department is in full sym.
pathy with the opponents Of reciprocity,
and it would seem has been giving most
of the time since he came into Office to
working up arguments against that
policy. Everybody, it has been supposed,
understood that the purpose in coupling
a reciprocity clause with the new tariff
law was to increase our exports 10 other
countries with which we might enter into
such an agreement by securing disc1imi-
mating concessions, we in return specially
favoIing the products Of those countries.
If Cuban sugar were to come into the
American market free Of duty we asked
that the tariff there be so reduced as to
certain Of cur products that we should
enjoy an advantage in competition with
other countries. But the chief of the
bureau of statistics has discovered that
the object of this legislation was further
to discourage imports, in the supposition
that some nations would refuse to avail
themselves Of its privileges. The alb
surdity Of this view is so obvious that it
does not merit consideration. Equally
ridiculous is the idea of Mr.. Ford that
there was any force connected with this
policy. The invitation to enter into
closer commercial relations with the
United States was extended to all Ameri-
can countries and a very earnest effort
was made to induce them to do so. True
the president was authorized, after a GER
tain time and in his discretion, to disal-
low to countries not accepting reciprocity
the advantages enjoyed by countries
which did accept our invitation, and
under this authority Colombia, Venezuela
and IIayti were excluded from the special
benefits conferred by reciprocity. By
this action the imports from those coun-
tries was somewhat reduced, but such a
course was clearly necessary in Justice to
the countries which made reciprocity
agreements with US. The countries that
gave us special advantage in their markets |
for equally desirable benefits in ours we
were bound to protect, and we probably |
could not have made a single agreement
without this provision, but manifestly |
there is nothing in the nature of force
abont it. The whole policy is based on
sound business principles, and this seems
to have been recognized by the govern |
ments Of the countries excluded from
special privileges, since none of them, so
far as we are aware, has ever complained
of the course of this government.
The chief of the bureau of statistics
says that breadstGfs and some other
articles Of American production held a
natural monopoly in the countries with
which We have reciprocity agreements.
The statistics disprove this. In the case
of Cuba our exports Of flour have in
creased five fold under reciprocity, and
whereas formerly the millers of Spain
controlled the Cuban markets nearly all
the iour that goes there now is of Ameri.
can make. Our exports of other articles
to that island have also materially in
creased. The results from our recipro
city treaty with Brazil, the initial ar
rangement, and with other countries
have not been so satisfactory as was
hoped for, tut this is due. to circum
stances easily explained and does not in
the Least degree detract from the wisdom
or the s~0nndness of the reciprocity prin-
ciple. Taking the aggregate resul $ the
policy has been largely beneficial 10 the
country, and particularly so to the agri-
interest, which it was expected
and intended chiefly 10 benefit. Solicit
tude regarding the operation OF this
policy las been manifested in about
equal measure by European governments
feared the effect upon The trade of
their countries with South and Central
and American free traders who
see in i. 4 menance to their economic
policy. Il is undoubtedly the democratic
TO abandon il, but il is at least
possible tEatthis design cannot be carried
ut.
When Nature
y 1nl ~ $3.50