The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-28
Negotiations at Madrid for the ces-fon
10 Cuba Of the Privilege of MAX
ing Her own Tariff Laws.
WHAT DEMOCRACY HAS COST
MILLIONS LOST ny THE ABRocATioN
OF RECIPROCITY TREATIES.
Figures showing the Extent of the
Discrimination Against This Coun-
try-Bonds Down In Price.

avert the threatened tariff warfare be-
tween Cuba and the United States, has
under serious and favorable consideration
the cession to Cuba OF the privilege OF ar
ranging her own revenue budget, including
tariffs with the United States. This Cuban
budget is to be subject 70 the approval OF
Spain. The negotiations now progressing
at Madrid are partly these lines. but the
State Department authorities are proceed
ing nevertheless, with their retaliasory
plans, as they do not believe Spain's con-
cessions to Cuba can be carried out and
made beneficial to US for some months TO
come. The significance of the matter In us
commercial and political aspects Is fully
realized 1t is said that Spain will be
careful not TO relnquish her sovereignty
over the island. TO permit this TO be-
come the first step toward Cuban inde-
pendence. For that reason the contem-
plated privilege will not include fun
home rule" There will be no Cuban
Parliament. with independent authority TO
make laws, similar to Canada's colonial
system under Great Britain. On the con-
trary. the general purpose is to give Cuba
advisory powers. Her local officials would
take up the economic necessities Of the
island, estimate the needed revenue from
tariff duties and advise the Spanish gov
ernment of duties that should be levied
and Of other measures which ought TO be
done in order to secure the best results
for the island.
While Spain would thus retain complete
sovereignty over Cuba, both commercial
and political. IL is suggested that the home
government would, rule. approve
Cuba's revenue budget with the United
States. In the present tension between
Spain and the United States the Cubans
are solicitious of retaining their American
markets on sugar, and IL Is urged that
for this reason the local officials undoubt-
edly would advise a lowering of tarid du-
ties against the United States. and 1t Is
believed Spain's approval would follow al
most certainly. her approval in reality be-
ing largely formalty designed TO show
her purpose of retaining sovereignty over
the island. While IL is recognized in OFF,
ciaI circles here that this change doubtless
would be beneficial 10 the United States.
it is feared that such extensive changes
i'm the relations between Spain and Cuba
cannot be made within reasonable time,
and that before the United States can
thus secure a reduction of tariffs our trade
with Cuba and Porto Rico viii be ire
parably injured.
The great importing houses OF the At
lantic cities are clamoring at the doors OK
the State Department. and threaten TO ap-
peal to Congress for some speedy action
to protect their business. They represent.
that at present the United States is losing
a trade Of 100000 barrels of -four per an
mum. all of our commerce in machinery,
formerly purchased by the Cubans ex-
clusiyely i'm the United States. all hard
ware and a large proportion OF the potato
H. .nrfn rrf M ri ~
ports TO the West Indies The total re-
duction in our exports to Cuba for the
year since the lapse of the reciprocity
agreement, will amount 10 not less than 30
per cent. A detailed statement OF the ex-
ports to Cuba during the months OF sep
tember October and November last year,
as compared with the same months In this
year, makes the shrinkage very plain
Taking the month OF October in each year
rels to 4.6sl; of corn. from 6z36 bushels 20
l.072; of lard. from .2ls pounds TO Ee,-
421; of hams, from 477.2el pounds 70 SH. .z3z.
of bacon. from 54o.72o pounds to 2ss.4sz
pounds
The tables prepared by the exporters.
against United States products under the
minimum tariff recently imposed by Spain
have satisfied the State Department that
trade unless these charges are abated-
Some of these charges are stated as fol-
posed on United states products and the
second those placed on similar article
p0f.eh into Cuba 'ru snd Porto % % Rico Aes and por-
ter, in bottles, cents per litre. 10 cents;
bacon, $40 per 100 kilos. 50: beans. 81 per
SOC oats. $s.s5 per 100 kilos. ss.l5; bran
die liquors. in wood. $50 per litre-
ss s sopasc0 Ssr io i tpios Pss i o f''os coasb
81 100 kilos, $50; cheese: q cents per
klo, 20 cents; corn. ss;s5 per 100 kp2s. x.ls;
peqr per oo koI pes 50 @ eents s'1s sred bss per
100 kiIos. $3.50; hams. $50 per lee kiios.
80 lumber So per oIs 100 t feet q Ia stsSes s,,es
toes, $50 per 100 kilos. a.50; rice. 50 per
80 go kSs pes ,os iii ios wssPBns s maps pnRsr s. 81
All the arguments OF the Spanish Eov-
| 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 She reciproei-
ty agreement by our tariff act and that the
| effect OF fnis was to exclude the Cnfted
| States from the benefits Of the minimum
| tariff. no matter what the disposition OF
in fact. that Il was the result of our own
| act But at the Department OF State L Is
nothing E to do with the case seven years
before the signature OF that agreement
| the United States suspended the discrimi-
on proof that the Spanish government had
done the same for our ce:srsnrrce, and
| while our government was perfectly Mi
| that existed Immediately before the con-
summation OF the reciprocity agreement
| under the Mckinley act. 10 was entirely
unwilling TO recur 10 the state OF Affairs
that prevailed seven years before that
| time or at least. II Spain insisted upon
doing so. then the United States would be
Obliged TO restore the equilibrium by reim-
| posing the discriminating flag duties. In
Iced. H. is said that the President has no
| discretion under the law but must reimp0se
these duties soon az he Is satisfied that
| the Spanish government Is discriminating
/ against our commerce,
Embargo Taken on Canned Beef.
/ WASHINGTON. Dec. 27.-Information
reached the Department OF Agriculture.
through dispatch dated Dec. q from En-
bassador Runyon. at Berlin. that the loca.
authorities OF HeIlbrenn. Wurtemburg.
! Germany. have removed the prohibition
| placed on the sale OF American canned
beef. The original understanding OF the
authorities here when the German gov
| ernment issued the proclamation prohibit
| ing the importation OF American meats
into Germany. was that IA applied TO cat
tie and fresh meats. but the packlng-hovse
| proprietors were of opinion that IL applied
Also TO canned meats IL is understood
I, that the prohibition OF the sale OF canncSs
meats By the authorities OF Heilbrcnn WAS
not included by the German government
| at the time the general prohibltory order
was Issued consequently Its sanction Xes