The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-26

WASHINGTON, DeC' G0s-luteIestIuR
developments are expected at an early
day "a result OF the strained relations
between the United States and Spain
over the tariff. Spain has already
placed the United States in the first COL
umn and Secretary Gresham has re-
Joined BY directing Minister Taylor at
Madrid to notify the Spanish govern
msnt that If the United States is not
removed from the first column" this
country will retaliate.
In official circles it is not believed
that Spain will yield to the protest OF
Secretary Gresham. In that event, II
the secretary carries out his threat OF
retaliation President Cleveland will
is,ue a proclamation closing American
ports to the products of Spain. The
first effect OF this will be to shut out the
enormous shipments OF raw sugar which
Cuba makes TO this country. In official
circles It is said that Cuba furnishes
seyen.eighths OF ali the raw sugar used
in American refneries. The other eighth
comes from Louisiana and Hawaii, but
II ia said that it would be impossible to
make up this seyen-eighths now drawn
from Cuba. 1t 10 asserted. therefore,
by those in no way identified with or
partial to the sugar refneries. that the
retaliation would cut them of from
their supplies and close them up,
throwing 10000 employees out OF work.
The statement was made by high
official who has had much to do with
the negotiation and who is very appre-
hensive of its results. He added that
the ultimate effect Of the warfare would
be to advance the price from three
centa to six cents per pound, thus max
ing the public bear the burden.
In levying duties Spain arranges
countries in two columns. The first
column includes those who have not en-
tered into satisfactory treaty arrange
ments with Spain. Until recently
Brazil was the only country on the globe
which Spain had put in this column. all
other countries being in the second
column" which includes those having
satisfactory treaties. The United States
now Joins Brazil in Spain's first
column and thus stands apart from all
other countries in the commercial
benefits Spain grants.
The immediate effect OF Spain's action
has already proved disastrous to the
American trade in -four, and this trade
has passed almost exclusively into the
hands OF Canada. Under the old reci-
procity arrangement with Spain, Amer
lean 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 first
column" duty on -four is 81 70, while
the second column" is 81. As Canada
is in the second column" she enjoys
an advantage Of 70 cents a barrel on
-four, and this has proved ample to
allow Canada to wrest the Cuban -four
trade away from the United States.
It is Understood from authoritative
source that question has been raised
as to the right OF the President to issue
a retaIiatorv proclamation against
japan, auch as Secretary Gresham has
threatened This proclamation, il
made, would be under a law OF 1890
hlICu uuIllbIIbOo aHhAhob
countries making unjust discrimina-
tions against the United States. But
Spain claims sho is making no unjust
determinations; she arranSes her tariff
in two columns, according to whether
countries are friendly or unfriendly to
her, and leaves the countries to choose
their own place. The recent American
tariff putting sugar on the dutiable list
had the effect Of placing this country
in Spain's first column, without any in
territorial discrimination on her part.
Under these circumstances 1t is urged
that Secretary Gresham has no author.
ity to invoke the retaliatory law OF 1890.
The contending views are now being
urged between Minister Taylor and
members OF the Spanish cabinet and
definite results are expected this week.