Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-02
C U B AN HO NJ E r u L e
Powers to Be Granted as Regards Customs
Relations With the United States.
Also n General Tariff Bill Being Con-
sidered-A Retaliation PrOclama-
tiOn May Soon BE Made.

From authoritative sources here addi-
tional details have been secured respect
ing the decree signed yesterday at Madrid
by the queen regent of Spain appointing
a commission to revise the Cuban and Por-
to Rican tariffs. The information fully
confirms all that was said in the announce
ment that Spain intended to- grant Cuba
certain internal powers, especially as re-
CARDS customs relations with the United
States, in the hope of averting a tariff
war. The Spanish plan, it is learned, pro-
vides for the creation of an administrative
chamber, with headquarters at Havana. 1t
is to consist of thirty-six or thirty-eight
members. OF these, fifteen are to be elect
ed i'll the various provinces of Cuba, much
after the manner of election of Representa-
tives in the United States. Spain is also
to designate fifteen of her own citizens
who will proceed to Havana and partci-
pate in the local assembly. The other SIX
or eight members will be the governor
general. the intendente, and other high
officials of Cuba, who will serve ex-offlcio
in the chamber. This body is expected to
be actually organized and in operation at
Havana by March l next. But as its ac-
ton is to be advisory and subject to the
approval of the Spanish cortes, the fruits
of it's labors may nat be secured for a
year or more. The Spanish cortes prob
ably Will adjourn about March i, so that
the Havana chamber will have no oppor-
tunity to report untiLthe reassembling OF
the cortes year hence
A General Tariff BiiI.
Besides Spain's action in granting local
chamber to Cuba the home government is
considering also a general tariff bill which
will affect the United States. The bill has
been framed by the Spanish ministry, but
has not been introduced in the, cortes or.
IL nd 4 Nan he NUT n
operation in short time the State Depart
ment may be disposed to withhold the is
suance of q retaliatory proclamation.
though Ii is now thoroughly prepared and
ready to do so. 1t isrknown that the new
Spanish tariff is to be on liberal lines and
will give the United States much better
advantage than 1t now has This new
measure is expected to become a law with
in the next few weeks. 1t Will then be
the basis on which Spain will offer to treat
fer a reimbursement of tariff relations be-
tween Cuba and the United States. AT
the same time the Havana chamber Will
be formulating tariff budget with a spe-
cial view to recolciling Cuban relations
with the United States.
Retaliation May Soon BE Proclaimed.
1t is given out at the Treasury Depart
ment that the officials of the State Depart
ment have about concluded their investiga-
ton into the discriminating duties recently
imposed by Spain upon American goods and
it is not unlikely that the President very
soon will issue his proclamation imposing
flag duties upon Spanish
goods imported in Spanish bottoms. One
question has arisen, however, namely,
whether the new duty levied by Spain in
cludes all American goods )r only such as
are imported in American ships. 1t is pre-
sumed that the new duty embraces all
American goods, but IL it is found that this
Is not the case the procedure of our officials
may take different course. - is well
understood that in any event the action of
Spain very soon will be met BY some vigor-
Gus measure of retaliation. -