St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-12-28
SPAIN'S WAY OUT.
Talk Of Giving Cuba the Right
to Arrange Her Own
Tariff
TO AVERT RETALIATION.
The Idea Comes Too Late,
However, to Prevent Seri-
Gus Complications.
TO AVERT RETALIATION.
MR.. GRESHAM ISN'T IDLE.
Discrimination Will Go Into
Effect il Concessions Are
Not Soon Made.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-The govern
ment of Spain, In an earnest desire to
avert the threatened tariff warfare be-
tween Cuba and the United States, has
under serious and favorable conSidera-
ton the cession to Cuba of the privilege
Of arranging her own revenue budget,
including tariffs with the United States.
This Cuban budget is to be subject to
the approval of Spain. The negotia-
tiOns now progressing at Madrid are
partly on these lines, but the state de-
partment authorities are proceeding.
nevertheless, with their retaliatory
plans. as they do not believe Spain's
concessions. to Cuba can be carried out
and made beneficial to US for some
months to come. The significance of
the matter in its commercial and politi-
cal aspects IS fully realized.
1t is said that Spain will be careful
not to relinqulsh her sovereignty over
the island. nor to permit this to become
the first step toward Cuban inde-
pendence. For that reason the con-
templated privilege will not include
full 'home rule" There will be no
Cuban parliament with independent
authority to make laws. similar to the
colonization system under Great Brit
ain. On the contrary. it Is her pur-
pose to
Give Cuba Advisory Powers.
Her local officials would take up the
economic necessities of the island, esti-
mate the needed revenue from tariff
duties. and advise the Spani sh govern
ment of duties that should be levied,
and of other measures which ought to
be done in order to secure the best re-
suits for the island. While Spain would
thus retain complete sovereignty over
Cuba, both commercial and political. it
is suggested that the home government
would. as rule, approve Chba's reve-
nue. budget with the United States. In
the present tension between Spain and
the United States the Cubans are
solicitous Of retaining their American
market for sugar, and it is urged for
this reason the local officials undoubt.
edly would advise lowering of tariff
duties against the United States, and it
is believed Spain'S approval would fol-
low almost certainly, her approval in
reality being largely formality de-
signed to show her purpose of retaining
sovereignty over the island.
While it is recognized in official cir
cles here that this change doubtless
would be beneficial to the United
States, 1t is feared that such extensive
changes in the relations between Spain
and Cuba cannot be made within a rea-
sonabIe time, and that before the
United States can thus secure a reduc-
ton OF tariffs our trade with Cuba and
Porto Rico will be irreparably injured.
The great importing houses of the At
lantic cities are clamOring at the doors
of the state department., and threaten
to appeal to congress for some speedy
action to protect their business. They
represent that at present the United
States is losing trade Of 100000 bar
reS OF -four per annum. all our COM
merce i'll machinery. formerly pur-
chased by the Cubans exclusively In
the United States, all Of the hardware
and large proportion Of the potato
trade, very important part of our ex-
ports TO the West Indies. The total re-
ductlon in our exports to Cuba for the
year since the lapse of the reciprocity
agreement will amount to not less than
50 per cent. A detailed statement Of
the
Exports to Cuba
during the months of September. Octo-
ber and November last year, as COM
pared with the same months in this
year, makes the Shrinkage very plain.
Taking the month of October in each
year, the exports of flour shrunk from
2S, 737 barrels to 4.63l Of corn from 1850
bushels to 1.072; of lard from S,031,2l9
pounds to 799, ,42l; of hams from AIT, ,261
pounds to 344, 232; Of bacon from 540,-
72O to 269, 462 pounds.
The tables prepared by the exporters
showing the extent of the discrimina-
ton against the U nited States products
under the minim um tariff recently inn
posed by Spain have satisfied the state
department that there is no opportunity
for American products unless the tar
ifs are aDated. Some of the changes
are stated as follows:
The first figure being the tariff i'm
posed upon United States products and
the second those placed upon a similar
article imported from any other foreign
country into Cuba and Porto Rico:
AleS and porter in bottles. s cents
per liter, 7$4c; bacon, $40 per 100 kilOS,
50; beans, S.. .25; per 100 kilOS, So: bran,
80 cents per 100 kilOs, 50 cents; oats,
1896; per 100 kilos, So. Is; brandies and
liquors In wood, 81 per liet, 80; chew-
ing tobacco S11; per 100, kilOs $3.50;
coal il,$1.20 per 100 kilos, 81. 10; Goldfish,
% pei IUV kllOS, Sl.OUs cHeeSe, 20 cents
per kilo, 20 cents; corn, 1896 per 100
kios, IS. Is; flour, $4.75 per 100 kilos, "a
hay, 80 cents per 100 kios, so cents;
jerked beef, 81. 40 per 100 kilos, $3.50;
hams, $3.50 per 100 kiloS, $3.50; lumber,
$1.25 per 100 kilos. 81; slaves, $3.50 per
meter, 81. so; lard, $40 per 100 kilos, 50;
onions, $l.S0 per 100 klos, S1.50; pota-
toes, S1.S0 per 100 kilos, 81 so; rice. So
per 100 kiloS, 81. rs; wrapping paper,
$3.50 per 100 kilos, So 20.
All the arguments Of the Spanish gov
ernment In extenuation of its action in
thus increasing the duties have been
based on the contention that 1t was an
Inevitable Consequence
of the repeal Of the reciprocity agree
ment by our tariff act, ana that the eff
feet of this was to exclude the United
States from the benefits of the minimum
tariff, no matter what the disposition Of
the Spanish government may have
been; I'm fact. that 1t was the result of
our own act. But at the department of
state il is held that the reciprocity
agreement had nothing to do with the
case. Seven years before the signature
Of that agreement the United States
suspended the discriminating flag du-
ties upon Spanish commerce on condi-
ton that the Spanish government do
ssma tor onr commerce. aud while our