Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1894-12-29
Losing VALUABLE TRADE OF sPAi
Democratic Misruie IS Costing s hun'
drei. Of IhonsanIs of nOllars.

Washington. Dec 25.-Interesting de-
velopments are expected as a result
Of the strained relations between Spain
ana the United States Secretary
Gresham has directed Minister Taylor
Of Madrid to notify the Spanish gov
crnment that if the United States is
not removed from the first column Of
the list of countries not having salts
factory treaties, this country viii
retaliate. Unless Spain yields
President Cleveland probably viii
issue a proclama ton closing
American ports to the products of
Spain. The first effect Of this would be
% shut out raw sugar. 1t is asserted
by those in no way identified with OF
partial to sugar refineries that this ac-
ton would cut them of from their sup
plies and close them up, throwing 10000
employees out of work.
This statement was made by high
official who had much to do with the
negotiations and who is very appre-
henSive Of its results He added that
the ultimate effect of the war would
be to advance the price Of sugar from
three to six per cent per pound, thus
making the public bear the burden. In
leyying the duties Spain arranges the
countries in TWO columns. The first
column includes those who have not
entered into a satisfactory treaty ar
ran2ement with Spain. Until recently
Brazil was the only country on the
globe which Spain had put in this col
umn, all the other countries being in
the second column which Includes
those having satisfactory treaties. The
United States now joins Brazil in the
first column and thus stands apart from
all other countries in the common ben
atits Spain grants
The immediate effect Of Spains action
has already proved disastrous to the
trade in flour and this has passed al
most exclusively into the hands Of Can
ada Under the other reciprocity ar
ran@e1nent with Spain, American flour
was shipped to Cuba in great quanti-
ties. But when the United States tariff
raised the duty on Cuban sugar, Spain
responded by raising the duty on Amer
lean -four. The duty on flour is 81 10
III tit' tli'St tbiiffllI, NIllle III lflt second
column it is $4. Is Canada is in the
second column she enjoys the adyan-
tage Of IS cents a barrel on flour and
his has proved ample to Canada to
wrest the Cuban -four trade away from
tho United States.
1T il understood from an authoiita-
tive source that the question has been
raised as to the right Of the president
to issue retaliatOry proclamation
against Spain, snch as Secretary Gres-
ham has threatened. This procianla
tihn. il made. would be under the law
of 1890, which authorizes retaliation
AGAINST countries making unjust dis
examinations against the United States.
But Spain claims that she is making no
unjust DETERMINATIONS if she arranges
her tariff in two columns, according -
whether the countries are friendly On
not to her, and leaves the countries to
choose their own place. The Gecent
American tariff putting sugar on the
dutiable list had the effect Of placing
th.R country il Spains first colunn
without any Intentional discrimination
on her part. Under these curcumstan-
ces it is urged that Secretary Gresham
Las no authority to invoke the rrtalia-
tory law Or 1890