New-York tribune., 1898-12-18
TO BUILD UP CUBA'S INDUSTRIES.
MOTIVES WHICH GOVERNED THE PREPARATION
OF THE NEW TARIFF

Washington. Dec T.-An explanatory statement
concerning the Cuban tariff which will go into
effect January says 1t is revision OF the tenn
porary military tariff adopted on August by the
War Department for the port OF Santiago. which
was a general reduction of G. per cent the tariff
imposed By Spain all imports into CUBA from the
United States and all other countries except Spain.
The rates in the tariff about TO go into force with
a few except ms are greatly below the rates now
in force at Santiago.
The new tariff has been framed with view to
the rehabilitation Of the island. The duty paving
stones. which likely to cut important figure
in the sanitary rehabilitation of Havana. has been
abolished, and the duties chemicals tar and
pitch and crude oil are heavily cut The iron ore
and steel rail duties have been reduced 20 per
Coal and agricultural implements put the
free list. Slight changes have been made In the
schedules relating TO common soap. perfumery and
raw materials of which these articles were
manufactured. with a view to encouraging the man
ufacture OF these articles In Cuba. Quinne has
been placed on the free list and common salt cut
down than two-thirds of the old rate OF duty.
In cotton and manufactures thereof. II has been
deemed advisable TO make Increase on the San
t!ago tariff that the reduction from the Spanish
tariff will average % per cent. instead OF Is per
cent Classif1catfons have been altered with view
to tightening the rates OF duty on the lower grades
Of cotton cloths
Hemp and manila have been put on the free
list with a view to the establishment in Havana
Of the manufacture OF sugar bags and for the pro-
lection OF the rope and twine industry already
established there Spun tute has also been placed
on the free list, for the reason that an American
Arm now located In Havana has given assurances
that II allowed to import spun jute it will start
a factory I'm Havana within two months In the
paper schedule. reduction has been made OF
about 20 per cent from the Spanish tarir. instead
of nearly II per cent, as In the Santiago tarin.
Glass 9 is a most important schedule for the lurn-
her interests OF the United states and those en-
gagged I'm various Cuban Industries. especially agr-
culture. The first things necessary after the sup
plies OF cheap food available Will be TO remove
MS far as possible the impediments to a supply OF
chesn lumber for rebuilding what has been de-
stroyed by the war. 1t has been decided to make 4
tSrm sGhsus Re ppopased SI s maks
charge of 81 head on all imported eatte IN pace pace
eminent for slaugherne the animals when used
for food Prss,Sents orde, for free admission OF
cattle has been carried into effect indicates that
prescribed than by farming 1t out. as the Spanish
did to companies, whose emssaries harassed pant
ers in It's collection. II is deemed inadyisa6ie PIE 10
abandon all revenue from this source The duties
other animals such al ne horsss nomnn muss sheFp
The duties Instruments machinery ana ap,,
parats employed in ssren@ToI naGsTy ne 10 "nd nd
C Vaorem. and it is believed that the reduction Of
duty made on 70 Td 20 ps In a
will aid in the restoration OF the smalier sugar
plantations. ....., 49,. 81.
The food schedule has been reconstructed so as
to make II more equitable In Its classincation-. ana
Ia eradicate so far possible serious discrepancies
in rates In view OF the fact that Cuba genera
ton ago exported lN.0oWo pounds OF coffee. and
that IL produces a fine grade of this important
article II has been deemed advisable TO restore
the duty on coffee 10 the maximum Spanish rate
tarN was altogether too low TO prevent the i'm
portation 10 Cuba OF inferior grades Of tobacco
and its re-exportation as Cuban tobacco, has been
put at rate In the proposed tariff which II is be-
ileyed will effectuay prevent any dishonest prac-
t.ces Of this kind. In regard 10 export duty on
Cuban tobacco. Commissioner Porter says that ex-
mort duties are un- American ana against the policy
OF the United States and II IL were not for the
necessity Of revenue Recommendation Tor their
total abolition would be made. Under present con
ditions the export duty has been reduced more
than two-t thirds on Havana tobacco, and as an ex-
pediency measure II is hoped That this VIII meet
the views of the Cuban planters.