The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
WASHINGTON NOTES.
PREPARATIONS FOR RETALIA-
TION GOING ON.
Spanish Government DESTROYS of Avert.
ing the Warfare-Trouble Growing
Out of Reciprocity Features of
the Mckinley Bill-Other
Washington Notes.

Washington, Dec, 2T.-The government
of Spain, in an earnest desire TO avert
the tariff warfare between the United
States and Cuba, have under serious
and favorable consideration the cession
to Cuba of the privileges of arranging
her own revenue budget including tar
ifs with the United States. This bud
get is to be subjected to the approval
OF Spain. The negotiations now progress
sing at Madrid are partly on these lines,
but the state department authorities are
proceeding nevertheless with their re-
taliatory plans, as they do not believe
SPANS concessions to Cuba can be car
ried out and made beneficial to us for
some months to come. 1t is said that
Spain will be careful not to relinouish
her sovereignty over the land, nor to per-
init this to become n first step toward
Cuban independence. For that reason
the contemplated privilege will not in
clude full rule"
There will be no Cuban parliament
with independent authority to make laws
similar to Canada's colonial system under
Great Britain, on the contrary, the gen.
eral purpose is to give Cuba advisory
powers. Her local officials will take up
the economy necessities of the island
and estimate the needed revenue from
the tariff duties and advise the Spanish
government that such duties will be lev
led and of other measures which ought
TO be taken in order to provide the best
results for the island. In the present
tension between Spain and the United
States the Cubans are solicitous of re-
tanning their markets on sugar and it is
urged that for this reason the local of
ticials undoubtedly would advise lower
ing of tariff duties against the United
States and it is believed Spain's approval
would follow almost certainly, her ap-
proyal in reality being formality design
ed to show her purpose of retaining SOW
ereignty over the island. While it is
recognized in official circles here that the
scheme would doubtless be beneficial, it
is feared such extensive changes in the
relations between Spain and Cuba cannot
be made without reasonable time and that
before the United States can secure a
reduction of tariffs our trade with Cuba
and Porto Rico will be irreparably in
jured.
The great exporting houses of the At
lantic cities are clamoring at the doors of
the state department and threaten to
appeal to congress for some speedy ac-
ton to protect their business. They rep
resent that at present the United States
is losing 100000 barrels of -four per an
mum, all of our commerce in machinery
formerly purchased by Cubans exclus-
lively in the United States, all hardware
and large proportion of the potato trade,
a very important part of our exports to
the West Indies. The total reduction
in our exports to Cuba for the year
since the lapse of the reciprocity agree
ment will amount to not less than 80 per
cent. A detailed statement of exports
to Cuba during the months of September
and October last year, as compared
with the same months this year makes
the shrinkage very plain. Taking the
month of October in each year the eX-
ports of corn shrank from 62,000 bushels
to II, 100; of lard, from 3,031 ,319 pounds
to 799, 431; of hams, from AT ,621 pounds
to 340,263; of bacon, from 540,72O to
| 269, 462 pounds.
The tables prepared by the exporters
showing the extent of the discrimination
| against United States products under the
against United States products under the
have satisfied the state department thai
there can be no opportunity for the Amer
| lean trade unles the charges are abated
Some of the charges are stated as follows
| The first figure being the tariff imposed
upon United States products, and the
second those placed on similar article
|
to Cuba and Porto Rico.
Ale and porter in bottles, Sc per litre
$S75.
Bacon, 81 per kilometre, So.
Bran, SOC per 100 kilos, soc
Oats, So 10 per 100 kilos, $105.
Chewing tobacco, $11 per 100 kilos, $40
Coal oil, $1.20 per 100 kilos, S1.10.
Goldfish, 50 per 100 kilos, $50.
Cheese, 25c per kilo;
Corn, $685. per 100 kilos, Coo.
Flour, $3.50 per 100 kilos, $40.
Hams. $3.50 per 100 kilos, $3.50
Lumber, $1.25 per 100 feet, 81.
Slaves. $3.50 per metre, S230.
Lard. $1.01 per 100 kilos, 90c.
Onions, $3.50 per 100 kilos, $3.50.
Potatoes. 80 per 100 kilos, S1.l0.
Rice, $3.50 per 100 kilOs, S2.75.
Wrapping paper, common, $3.50 per lOC
klOs, $500.
Manila, 81 per 100 kilos, 81.
The arguments of the Spanish govern
ment as regards it's actions i'll thus in
creasing the duties have been based on tht
contention that it was the inevitable
consequence of the reciprocity agree
ment by our tariff act, and that the eft
feet of this was to exclude the Unitec
States from the benefits of the minimum
tariff, no matter what the disposition Of
the Spanish government may have been
| in fact. that it was the result of our OWL
act. But at the department of state It il
held that the reciprocity agreement hac
nothing to do with the case. For years
before the signing of the agreement the
United States suspended the discriminate
mig duties upon Spanish commerce or
proof that the Spanish government haC
| done the same for our commerce, anC
while our government was perfectly viii
| ing TO accept renewal of the relations
that existed Immediately before the con
summation of the reciprocity agreement
under the Mckinley act, it was entirely
unwilling to recur to the state of affairs
| that prevailed seven years before tina,
| time. or at least if Spain insisted uDoI
doing so. then the United States would
be compelled to restore the flag duties
Indeed it is held that the president has M
discretion under the law, but must re
| impose these duties as soon as he is salts
fed that the Spanish government is dis
eliminating against our commerce
| From far off Southern Africa CONF
orders for Dr. Prices Cream Baking
| Powder.
OFF FOR JAPAN.
Washington, Dec. 27.-John w. Foster