The evening times., 1896-11-21
MERCHANTS TALK TARIFF
Baltimore Exporters, Movement to Peti-
tiOn Mckinley for Reciprocity.
MUST CHANGE PRESENT LAW
BraziI's Favot's to European COun-
tries Given as an Example-Tax
on Coffee Would Bring the South
Americans to Terms-S sherman
and the Republican Caucus.

The question of revision of the tariff
is not interesting politicians alone.
Merchants are taking the matter up, and
already the exporters and importers of Bal
timore have made the firsV steps. They
expect to secure the cooperation OF the
large merchants of New York, Philadel-
phia and other cities.
Their memorial and their wishes on the
subject viii! have great weight in deter
mining the calling of an extra session.
i ne Baltimore merchants heii.ci maze
Maryland a Republican State, ana their de-
sires, added to the growing demand for
an extra session, will probably bring it.
The fact tAds the business men oi the
country demand any certain thing will
have great weight.
BRAZILIAN MERCHANTS.
The Baltimore merchants. who are tax
ing these steps, are those who are dealing
with Brazil Their plan Will he to either
establish reciprocity tariff relations with
that South American country. or. falling
to secure the concessions demanded, to
impose an i'm port duty on coffee that will
speedily bring the Brazilian government
10 terms In other words. they want reel
procity.
The principal import trade Of eAn-ericans
from Brazil is in coffee, hides and rubber
being an Important item. but Iar behind the
principal In exchange for these Items
America sends to Brazil flour. lard, pork
and other comm Uditics, but principal flour.
An import ddt of about 20 cents barrel
is imposed TN flour in Brazil This duty
paid and the flour landed in Rio. it must
largely depend upon consumption in that
city.
s.uy effor; to distribute il throughout the
interior of tie countr is rendered almost
useless by cSoriIitant and discriminating
least three times higher on the American
product as against the local flour. All the
local flour in Rio is manufactured by mills
operated by Eugllsh capital, and the prn-
Cipal railroad into the interior is also oper-
ated by English capital.
In some way this syndicate has secured
an inside track and is vigorous using
American products. Wheat Is admitted
free into Brazil, but the most of this cereal
comes from Argentina, which is much
nearer, and from. which country wheat
can be landed at much !bwer prices
LUMBER AND COFFEE.
Lumber, il is said. would also form an
important feature of American cNporta-
ton to Bralii, were II not for the almost
prohibitory duty. Pork and lard also suf-
fer, although the best pro ducts Of tits SORT
that are delivered at Rio are ackIo WI
edged to come from baltimore.
1t is ESTIMATED that from nine to ten
pounds of coffee per capita is consumed
each year in the United States. II has been
figured that a duty can be placed on cof-
Zee that will not materially increase the
cost 10 ihe consumer, vet which will raise
a large additional revenue. In. fact, coffee
importers say that if it is 70 und necessary
to increase the source Of revenue for the
United States government, rOthlng better
could be found upon which to impose
tax than coffee. The bulk Of Rio coffee
comes to America, while the most Of tie
Santos product goes to Europe.
Tie usual crop Of Brazil is about ,00O.-
600 bushels. although this wear IL viii
probably reach over :, 600 900 bushels. At
least e,-seyenths of the entire crop of
Brazil comes to America, without which
market that country would be practically
ruined. The reciprocity treaty arranged
under President Harrison's administration
worked 10 the entire satisfaction Of Amer
lea. and IT is intended TO make an effort
for tie re-c>tablishment OF such relations.
NAY FORCE IT.
The question ar laying an import tax on
coffee is being seriously considered now
by politicians. democrats are anxious to
see such measure up, with tea, sugar and
beer added. Now that the business men Of
tie country may cry out for it, the matter
becomes more than a mere move ON the
political hoard.
Senator Sherman has announced that he
will call a meeting of the Republican sena-
torial caucus Just as soon az Congress
meets. A this caucus the matter OF tariff
will be brought up and thoroughly dis
cusSed. Tue Senator is known to favor
action this winter. He is opposed to an
extra session, thinking il bad policy. He,
with others, holds that the present Ways
and Means Committee could prepare
tariff measure and have it really for the
opening of the Fifty-fifth Congress in De-
cember, 1897.
But ii the plan to be pursued by the
Baltimore merchants should become gen
eral among the business men of the coun-
try, Senator Sherman and his friends would
have to give way. An extra session would
be a necessity, and reciprocity would come
the sooner.