The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-23

WASHINGTON, March 22.-Letters
from persons intere sted in the re-en-
actment of reciprocity laws continue to
be. received by the subcommittee of
the WAYS and means committee on re-
ciprocity and commercial treaties. A
communication from the National AS
sociatfon of Farmers signed by its
president. T. c. Search, of Philadel-
phia. is considered by the sub-com-
mittee one of the most important that
las yet come to hand Speaking for
the interests represented by this as
sociation, Mr. Search says he desires
to present arguments bearing upon the
ADVANTAGES OF RECIPROCITY
as a general principle in international
trade.
MY view of this matter" he says,
lis taken from a purely business stand
point without regard to any political
considerations, for there is probably no
feature of our tariff system, past or
present, that has come so near as re-
ciprocity to being a purely business
matter To this fact may be attribut-
ed the enthusiastic support which the
principles of reciprocity have received
from men of widely differing political
views"
He refers to what he regards were
the benefits derived from the act of
1850, and says that it requires but
glance at the conditions under which
the treaties of commercial reciprocity
were negotiated to reveal how much
was gained by this country, and how
little was given in return. The vary
ing
EFFECTS OF TRADE
with Brazil under the treaty and after
ats repeal are cited.
1T is in our dealings with Cuba,
however, says Professor Search, that
the benefits of reciprocity have been
most strikingly shown. Sugar, which
formed the largest item in our imports
from Cuba, was placed upon the free
list conditionally upon the reasonable
treatment of American products in
those countries from which sugar was
imported into the United States. Under
normal trade conditions, Cuba would
have looked to the United States for
her supply of breadstuffs, etc, but in
order to control the trade of her West
India colonies, Spain imposed duty
of nearly $3.50 per barrel upon Ameri-
can flour. Under the reciprocity treaty
which Secretary Blaine negotiated
with Spain, the
DUTY ON FLOUR WAS REDUCED
to 81 per 22O pounds; large reductions
were made in the duties on other
breadstuffs; the duties on fifteen lead
ing commodities were reduced one half
and about forty items were added to
the free list
Under three years of reciprocity. it is
stated, our trade with Cuba reached
the highest point ever touched. show
inprpa @ al -,
and Sl4,000,000 in imports. Upon the
passage of the customs law of 1894.
which compelled the abrogation of this
treaty, Spain Immediately retaliated by
increasing the duty on flour to AIS per
10 pounds, which caused a great fall
ing on IN our exports of that article.
1 wish to give particular emphasis
TO the Importance of our relations with
Cuba under the reciprocity treaty.
President Search says. because that
island is our nearest and best customer
To the southwark. With the advan-
tages enjoyed under reciprocity. the
UnIuad States was assured the practi-
CAD
CONTROL OF THE CUBAN TRADE
Mr. Search argues that reciprocity
commends itself as a sound and Judi
clal business principle; that it should
De considered upon a strictly non-par-
tisan political basis; that practical an
plication demonstrated the ability of
reciprocity treaties to extend and en-
large our foreign trade under exceed
angly favorable conditions; that they
rendered valuable service in effecting
more cordial relations between the
United States and other nations: that
reciprocity treaties, particularly with
Latin-American countries, are neces-
sary as a matter of self-protection. for
treaties of this character are being
or have been negotiated between Eu-
nopean governments and the South
American countries.
In behalf of the enormous industrial
interests represented by the associa-
tion," the letter concludes, Il desire
to urge with
ALL POSSIBLE EMPHASIS
the necessity for such treaty relations
with foreign nations as shall insure the
utmost possible favor to American pro-
ducts in the market of the world
Other replies favoring reciprocity
have been received from various sec
tons of the country, the west being
we'll represented
Replies favorable to reciprocity were
also received from persons interested
IN manufacturing carpets, flour, drugs,
st'est cars, engines, iron, steam gem
orators, linseeG oil, mattresses, silks
harvesters, tricycles, ETC.
The Cleveland (Ohio) chamber of
commerce, Sioux City Commercial as
ISOLATION Milwaukee chamber of COM
merce and other commercial bodies re-
piled in favor of reciprocity.