The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-28
France and Austria to Follow
Germany and Spain
AND EXCLUDE OUR PRODUCTS.
all Because the Hayemeyer Law
Projects the Sugar Trust.
The United states Having Established
UnJaat Tarir Restrictions. ths Ma
tfsns Which Used to Rny From Us
VIII Stop Ir-Spain Wants TO Com
premise.


ment OF Spain. in an earnest desire 10
esaae the threatened tariff war between
Cuba and the United States. has under
serious and favorabie consideration the
cesslon 10 CUBA OF the privilege Of arsang-
Ing her own revenue budget. including
tariffs with the United States. this Cuban
budget 10 be subject TO the approval Of
Spain. The negotiations now progressing
at Madrid ere partly on these lines. but
the state department authorities are pro-
ceeding. nevertheless. with their retalia-
tory plans. as they do not believe Sraln's
concessions 10 Cuba can be carried On and
made beneficial Tor some months to come.
The significance of the matter in its COM
nlerelal and political aspects is fully real
lied. It is said Spain would be careful
not TO relinqulsh her Sovereignty over the
Island nor permit this to become the first
step towards Cuban independence. For
that reason the contemplated privilege
VIII not include full home rule.
The general purpose IS to give Cuba aG-
yisory powers. Her local officials wilt
take Up the economic necessities of the
Island. estimate the needed revenue from
tariff duties. and advise the Spanish gov
ernnaent of the duties that should be lev
led. and OF other measures which ought
to be taken in order 10 secure the best re-
suits for the island. Wife Spain would
thus retain complete sovereignty over
Cuba it is suggested that the home gov
ernment would as rule approve Cuba's
revenue budget with the United States.
In the present contention between Spain
and the United States the Cubans are So
licitous of retaining their American mar
ket for sugar. and 1t is urged that for this
reason the local officials would undoubted-
iy advise a lowering of tariff duties with
the United States. Spain's approval would
follow almost certainly, her approval In
reality being largely formality in IA de-
sire to show her purpose OF retaining
sovereignty over the island While it Is
recognized in official circles here that
these changes would be beneficial TO the
United States. 1t is feared tnat such ex-
tensive changes In the relations between
Spain and Cuba cannot be made within a
reasonable time. and that. before the
United States can thus secure reduction
Of tariffs. our trade with Cuba and Porto
Rico will be irreparabIy injured.
The great importing houses of the At
lantzc cities are ciarnor;n- at the doors
OF the state department. and have made
recent appeal to congress for some
speedy action 10 protect their business.
They represent that at present the United
Safes is losing trade of rocco barrels OF
-four per annum. all cur commerce in
machinery formerly purchased by the
Cubans exclusively IN the United States,
all of the hardware and Il large propor-
ton of the potato trade. a very import
ant part of our exports 10 the West
Indies. The total reduction In our exports
10 Cuba for the year. since the lapse of
tho reciprocity agreement. will amount
to not less than 80 rer cent. The tables
prepared by the exporters showing the
extent OF the discrimination against tho
United States products under the mini
mum tariff recently imposed by Spain,
have satisfied the state department that
there Is no opportunity for Americans un-
less he tariffs are abated.
All the arguments of Spain in extenua.
tfon OF her action in increasing the
duties have been based on the conten-
tion that 1t was an inevitable consequence
of the repeal of the reciprocity agree
ment by our tariff act, ana that this was
TO exclude the United States from The
benefits of the minimum tariff. no matter
what the disposition Of the Spanish gov
ernment may have been: in fact, that il
was the result of our own act. Eut at
tho state department It is held that the
reciprocity agreement has nothing 10 do
with tee case. and that the president has
no discretion under the law. hat must
relmpose the discriminating flag duties
as soon as he IS satisfied that the Span
ish government Is discriminating against
our commerce.
The state department Is not yet al an
end OF it's troubles growing ont OF the re-
peal OF the reciprocity agreements.
France is by no means disposed IN accep.
the situation her trade - placed in by
the sugar duty. and now there are strong
intination that tire new Austria minis
ters are charged tc begin an attack upon
this same sugar duty almost Immediately.
end If concessions sanuot be secured ii is
expected that .Austria-Hun5ary VIII re-