Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-12-28
SPANS FIRST COLUMN.
The United States Objects to Being
Placed There and Will Retail
late at Once
UNLESS THE BAN is REMOVED
The Result Would Be to Shut Out
Raw Sugar From Cuba, Send
ing Up the Price.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-Interesting
developments are expected at an early
day as a result of the strained relations
between the United States and Spain,
over the tariff. Spain has already
placed the United States Gin the first
column" and Secretary Gresham has
rejoined by directing Minister Taylor
at Madrid to notify the Spanish gov.
eminent that if the United States is
not removed from 'tthe first column"
this country will retaliate.
In official circles it is not believed
Spain will yield to the protest of Sec.
rotary Gresham. In that event, if the
secretary carries his threat out of re-
taliation, President Cleveland will is.
sue a proclamation closing American
ports to the products of Spain.
What the Effect Would Be.
The first effect of this will be to
shus out the enormous shipments of
raw sugar, which Cuba sends to this
country. In official circles it is said
Cuba furnishes seven-eights of all the
raw sugar used in American retineries.
the other eighth comes from Louisiana
and Hawaii, but it is said that it would
be impossible to make up this seven
eighths now drawn from Cuba. It is as
serted, therefore, by those in no way
identified with, or partial to the sugar
refneries, that the retaliation would
cut them off from their supplies and
close them up, throwing 80, 700 en-
ployes out of work. The statement
was made by a high official, who has
had much to do with the negotiations,
and who is very ap~prehensive of its
result. He added that the ultimate
effect of the warfare would be to
Advance the Price of Sugar
from 8 to 6 cents per pound, thus max
ing the public bear the burden. In
levying duties, Spain arranges coun-
tries in two columns. The first in
cludes countries who have not entered
into satisfactory treaty arrangements
with Spain. Until recently Brazil was
the only country Oh the globe which
Spain had put in this column, all other
countries being put in the second col
umn, which includes all countries hav-
ing satisfactory treaties. The United
States now joins Brazil in Spain's ssflrst
column" and thus stands apart from
all other countries in the commercial
benefits which Spain grants. The i'm
mediate effect Of Spain's action has al
ready been proven disastrous to- the
American trade in flour and this trade
has passed almost exclusively into the
hands of Canada. Under the old re-
ciprocity arrangement with Spain
American flour was shipped to Cuba in
great quantities. But when the United
States tariff raised the duty on Cuban
sugar, Spain responded by raising the
duty on American flour. The ''frst
column" duty on flour is $4.75, while
the second column is $$4.00. It is
understood from authoritative sources
that a question has been raised as tc
the right of the president to issue a re-
taliatory proclamation against Spain,
such as Secretary Gresham has theat-
ened. This proclamation, if made,
would be under a law Of 1890, which
Authorizes Retaliation
against countries making unjust dis.
examinations against the United States.
But Spain claims she if making no un
just discrimination; she arranges he,
tariff in two columns, according tc
whether countries are friendly or un.
friendly to her, and leaves the coun.
tries to choose their own place. The
recent American tariff putting suga,
on the dutiable list, had the effect Of
placing this country in Spain's frs,
column, without any intentional dis.
elimination on her part. The contend.
ing views are now being urged between
Minister Taylor and members of the
Spanish cabinet, and definite results
= expected this week.
Will Arraipn TJtah's Govornor